Food Allergy in Dogs
My-Dog.info > Dogs, Diet & Food
Food allergies in dogs are thought to account for
approximately five per cent of all skin cases and 15 per cent of
allergic skin diseases seen in clinical practice. The most common
allergens are beef, dairy products, chicken, wheat, eggs, corn
and soy. However, dogs can be allergic to foods other than these
and to more than one kind of food.
In dogs, clinical signs of food allergy are related to the
skin and include itching, scratching, biting and/or chewing of
some or all of the following areas: ears, around the eyes and
muzzle, paws, underarms, groin, and anus. In some cases, there
may also be episodes of vomiting and/or loose stools, excess
flatulence, and stretching (posture of relief). Food allergy must
be distinguished from dietary intolerance, which does not affect
the skin but manifests itself primarily with vomiting and
diarrhea.
To determine if a dog has food allergies, you should ask your
veterinarian to place your dog on an elimination test diet. This
remains the most reliable and accurate method of diagnosing food
allergies. Once a diagnosis of food allergy has been made, your
dog can then be put on a commercially available
"'hypoallergenic" diet that avoids those foods to which
your dog is allergic.
If, on the other hand, your dog proves not to have a food
allergy, there are many other possible reasons for itching and
scratching in dogs. Your veterinarian can do other tests to try
to determine a cause
Reprinted with permission from www.animalhealthcare.ca
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