How to Know If Your Dog Is Suffering from Food Allergies
As a dog parent, one of the things you should know about your pet is their food allergies. Food allergies in dogs are a serious problem that can negatively affect their behavior and health. It can cause them to have itchy skin, experience hyperactivity, weight loss, lack of energy, aggression, and even digestive disturbances such as vomiting or diarrhea.
If you don’t want your dog to experience these challenging conditions, you should know how to determine if your dog is suffering from food allergies. This way, you can apply preventative measures and help them if they are currently experiencing food allergy symptoms.
Read on to find out signs of food allergies in dogs.
What Are the Most Common Symptoms of Dog Food Allergies?
Symptoms of food allergies in dogs are tricky because some are not indistinguishable. Sometimes, you might think it’s just a normal environmental allergy, but in reality, your dog is already suffering from allergic food reactions. Here are the common signs you’ll see:
- Sneezing
- Ear infections
- Restlessness
- Chronic diarrhea
- Itching (aka pruritus)
- Itchy paws
- Hot spots
- Skin rashes
- Scaly or oily skin
- Pigmented skin
- Leathery skin texture
- Eye discharge
- Red Eyes
- Hair loss
- Secondary yeast or bacterial infections of the skin or ears.
Once you’ve noticed at least one of these signs in your dog, you should take them to the veterinarian right away. Don’t wait for the signs to get worse because your dog will only suffer more.
What Are the Symptoms If Your Dog Is Suffering from Gastrointestinal Food Allergy?
As mentioned, food allergies in dogs can cause them digestive disturbances. It includes gastrointestinal (GI) problems. However, not all dogs suffering from gastrointestinal issues means that they have food allergies. That’s why you should take your dog to a veterinarian, to be sure. In case their GI problems are caused by food allergies, they will more likely experience the following symptoms:
- Diarrhea with or without blood or mucus in stool
- Straining to pass stool
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
What Are the Rare Symptoms of Food Allergies in Dogs?
There are also rare symptoms of food allergies in dogs that you might miss. Be wary of these signs because your dog might be suffering from allergies if you’ve noticed these symptoms in them:
- Nasal discharge
- Breathing issues
- Seizures
- Secondary urinary tract infections
- Weight loss
What Behavioral Changes That May Happen If Your Dog Has Food Allergies?
Symptoms of food allergies will not only manifest in your dog’s physical state. It might also show in their behavior. To know if your dog is suffering from food allergies, notice if they do the following behavior:
- Frequent scratching of self on furniture, owner’s leg, or other things
- Can’t rest properly
- Frequent shaking of ears or scratching of ears
- Biting at paws, rear end, or tail
- Withdrawal or reduced interest in playtime
- Not accepting any kind of food
Conclusion
Looking out for these symptoms can help you determine if your dog is suffering from food allergies. As a fur parent, you should take this guide seriously because this can help your dog live longer, healthier, and happier. If their food allergy is left untreated, they will not be able to enjoy their life as a dog, and they may only suffer from more severe health issues that can make them weak. So, make sure to watch out for your dog and give them the attention that they deserve so that they can stay with you for longer in their healthiest state.
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