what does dog food allergy look like

Food Allergies in Dogs: What to Know

Your dog is scratching and licking, keeping you awake, ruining their show coat, and giving themself a handy excuse for breaking that stay. Its driving you crazyimagine how they must feel.

While your first instinct may be to assume that your dog is suffering from a food allergy, true food allergies arent as common as you might think. Confusing food allergies with food sensitivities is a common mistake, not only among dog owners but also among veterinarians.

Food Allergies vs. Sensitivities

True food allergies are much less frequent than food sensitivities and reflect a more immediate immunological response. A classic example of a food allergy is anaphylactic shock, which could occur after ingesting peanuts or being stung by bees. As soon as the person or animal comes in contact with the allergen, their airway closes and they cant breathe. This response is rapid, as the antigen triggers an immediate and sometimes life-threatening reaction due to hypotension and shock.

A less severe but still serious form of allergic reaction is accompanied by the development of dermatologic signs, such as hives, facial swelling, or itchiness. These can be accompanied by gastrointestinal signs, such as acute vomiting or diarrhea. These signs occur fairly rapidly but less than in the anaphylactic reaction.

Food sensitivity, on the other hand, is usually a chronic condition and often doesnt involve an immunological response. Its usually a cumulative response to an offending agent. Although theyre generally not life-threatening, food sensitivities can affect many different aspects of the dogs physical wellbeing. Common signs of food sensitivity include diarrhea with or without vomiting, poor skin or itchy coat, and chronic ear or foot infections.

Symptoms of Food Allergies in Dogs

We most often associate allergies with sneezing and respiratory problems in people, but in dogs, allergies are most often associated with the skin and gastrointestinal (GI) tract. About 10% to 15% of dogs with food allergies will have both skin and GI signs, and about 20% to 30% of dogs with food allergies will also have itchy skin from other non-food allergies.

GI signs are most often seen as loose stools, with an average of three a day, or vomiting and belching. A skin sign is usually itchiness, and it appears the same as itchiness due to other allergies.

According to one recent study, nearly 8% of dogs presented to a referral dermatology practice had food allergies. This represented about a third of all the dogs presented there with allergic skin disease.

Some people use the phrase ears and rears to refer to the characteristic location of itchiness. But its typically a bit more widespread than just those regions. In one study, dogs with food allergies suffered from itchy ears in 80% of the cases (and in fact, only the ear was affected in a quarter of all cases); itchy feet in 61%; itchy groin region in 53%; and itchy armpits, anterior foreleg, or eye regions in about 35% of cases.

Secondary ear and skin infections often arise from self-inflicted trauma from scratching and chewing. Along with removing the offending food, you must seek treatment for these infections in your dog.

Does My Dog Have Food Allergies?

Allergies can appear at any age, but most dogs eat an offending food for two years before symptoms appear. Some dogs can develop symptoms as early as two months of eating the offending food. Allergic reactions arent something that normally appear immediately after introducing a new food. But once symptoms appear, their onset is often sudden and serious.

Most dogs react to one or two allergens and about 20% react to more. Theres a greater chance that dogs react to animal products from the same species or from related species (cattle, sheep, and deer, for example).

Some breeds, such as Cocker Spaniels, Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherd Dogs, Poodles, and Chinese Shar-Pei, may be at greater risk for food allergies, though they can appear in any breed.

Diet trials are inconvenient and tedious. But compared to your dogs discomfort, theyre a small price to pay to identify the culprit. Unfortunately, there is no cure for food allergiesexcept to avoid the offending foods.

7 Dog Allergy Symptoms to Look For

Allergies are common in dogs. About 1-2% of all dogs have a food allergy, and as many as 25% of dogs with skin problems have a food allergy.

When you throw in dogs with inhalant or environmental allergens (like pollen or mold) and flea allergies, youre looking at a sizeable portion of the canine population thats suffering from allergies.

How can you tell if your dog has allergies?

Many diseases can cause the same symptoms as allergies in dogs, so it will be up to your veterinarian to determine for sure whether allergies are to blame, and if possible, the cause of those allergies.

Look for these signs and go to the vet to confirm whether your dog does, in fact, have allergies.

Your Dog Never Stops Scratching

One of the most common symptoms of allergies in dogs that pet parents notice is itchy skin.

The severity of the itchiness can vary from quite mild, in which case the skin and haircoat look mostly normal, all the way to nonstop scratching.

In the more severe cases, hair may be missing, and the underlying skin can appear to be red, raw, and inflamed.

Classically, the epicenters of itch include:

Importantly, itchiness of the lower back, specifically near the base of the tail, is a hallmark sign of flea allergies.

Over time, these areas may become hyperpigmented, or dark in color. The skin may become quite odorous and can take on a notably different texture.

Your Dogs Feet Smell Like Corn Chips and They Wont Stop Licking Them

While most humans think that the corn chip smell is normal for a dogs feet, its actually a sign of bacteria. If your dog is also licking their feet, its not because theyre cleaningtheir feet are itchy.

If your dogs hair is a light color, you may notice fur staining of the feet, a symptom in which the fur takes on a dark red, coppery color due to the dogs saliva.

The classic corn chip odor of the feet, which many people believe to be completely normal in dogs, is caused by skin infections, either from bacteria (usually Staph) or fungi (usually yeast). So how is this symptom related to allergies?

The inflammation associated with skin allergies breaks down the normal skin barrier over time. As a result, opportunistic microbes like yeast and bacteria can go from resting peacefully on the surface to diving deeper, where they set up infections and cause problems.

Addressing these secondary infections will be one of the first steps that your veterinarian will want to take in treating your allergic dog.

Your Dog Has Chronic Ear Infections

Relatedly, many dogs with allergies will experience ear infections that recur frequently or never seem to fully go away. As with the feet, this problem is often caused first by the allergies.

The allergies break down the healthy skin barrier, then opportunistic bacteria or yeast create an infection, which all further contributes to the itch (although ear infections unrelated to allergies are common as well).

Dogs that have gone years with allergies that are either undiagnosed or undertreated will often have ears that are raw, smelly and thickened.

In severe cases, ear infections may become so resistant to treatment that surgery to remove the ear canal may be required. To avoid this situation, it is important to have your dog examined by your veterinarian as soon as you suspect that your dog may have allergies or ear infections.

You Notice Recurring Hot Spots

Formally known as pyotraumatic dermatitis, hot spots are common in dogs, especially in breeds like Goldens, Labs, and Saint Bernards.

Like ear infections, hot spots can arise on their own, or they can be secondary to underlying allergies. If you feel like youre always treating a new hot spot on your dog, talk to your veterinarian about allergies.

Your Dog Suffers From Chronic Diarrhea and Related Symptoms

You might think that the skin is the area thats most commonly affected by allergies in dogs, but the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is just as likely to suffer when a dogs allergies are poorly controlled.

GI-related allergy symptoms include:

Your Dog Has Red Eyes

Its less common for dog allergies to manifest in their eyes, but it is possible.

When certain parts of the eye become red and inflamed, especially if both eyes are affected, an allergy may be at play. The term for this condition is allergic conjunctivitis.

The redness may be accompanied by squinting or pawing at the face.

Your Dog Is Coughing

A nonproductive cough that worsens during exercise may be yet another sign of allergies. Known as allergic bronchitis, this condition is more common and more severe in cats, but it is a possibility in a dog with allergies.

Talk With Your Veterinarian

As always, talk to your veterinarian if you suspect that your dog may have allergies. They may perform tests to rule out more common or more serious diseases that can cause similar symptoms.

To decide whether allergies are likely the culprit, your veterinarian will also take into account:

• The age of onset (environmental allergies typically show up in a dogs first three years of life, whereas food allergies are seen in dogs 5-7 years old)

• Your dogs breed

• The seasonality of the symptoms

• Previous and current diets

Featured Image: iStock.com/Przemysaw Iciak

Types of Dog Allergies and How to Treat Them

Have you heard someone tell you that their dog has allergies? Has your veterinarian suggested that allergies could be a problem for your dog? Do you suspect that your dog has allergies? If so, then youve probably realized that allergies in dogs are not quite as simple as we might wish. For starters, there are several different types of allergies that could be causing your dogs symptoms.

Allergies are a misguided reaction to foreign substances by the bodys immune system, which, of course, people and pets can suffer from. There are quite a few different types of allergies in dogs. Skin allergies, food allergies, and environmental allergens all pose challenges for dogs and their owners, and to make things more complicated, the symptoms of all these different types of allergies can overlap.

Symptoms of Allergies in Dogs

The symptoms of allergies in dogs may vary depending on the cause. A dog that goes into anaphylactic shock, for instance, will have a drop in blood pressure followed by shock, which is very different from a skin condition.

In general, however, the following symptoms could be a sign of an allergic reaction.

• Itchiness
• Hives
• Swelling of the face, ears, lips, eyelids, or earflaps
• Red, inflamed skin
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Sneezing
• Itchy ears
• Chronic ear infections
• Itchy, runny eyes
• Constant licking

Some of these symptoms could also be a sign of another condition. Make an appointment with your veterinarian if you notice changes in their behavior to get an accurate diagnosis.

Types of Allergic Reactions in Dogs

Allergic Dermatitis in Dogs

Skin allergies in dogs, known as allergic dermatitis, is the most common type of allergic reaction in dogs. Skin allergies in dogs are mainly caused by one of three things: fleas, food allergies, and atopicor environmentalallergies.Flea allergy dermatitis is an allergic reaction to fleabites, and some dogs are allergic to flea saliva, which can cause their skin to become red, inflamed, or scabbed because their skin will feel extremely itchy. Its the easiest type of allergic dermatitis to treat, since you can apply flea medication for dogs to help heal their skin.

Another cause of skin allergy in dogs is from food allergies and sensitivities. Just like humans can be allergic to certain foods or ingredients, dogs can be allergic, which can cause itchy skin. Dogs with food allergies usually have itchy ears or paws, sometimes along with gastrointestinal symptoms. Dr. Klein, Chief Veterinary Officer for the AKC, says that food allergies are not as common as you might think. True food allergies result in an immune response, which can range in symptoms from hives, facial swelling, and itchiness to gastrointestinal signs like vomiting and diarrhea or a combination of both.

Environmental allergens can also affect the skin and be the cause of allergic dermatitis. Things like dust, pollen, fungus, and mold can cause these reactions, but in most cases, these allergies are seasonal. As with food allergies that affect the skin, the most commonly affected areas are the paws and ears (but also include the wrists, ankles, muzzle, underarms, groin, around the eyes, and in between the toes).

All skin allergies pose the risk of secondary infection. As your dog scratches, bites, and licks at his skin, he risks opening up his skin to yeast and bacterial infections that may require treatment.

Urticaria, or Hives, in Dogs

Also known as urticaria, hives on dogs are very itchy but are not life-threatening. Hives appear as a reaction anywhere from 6 to 24 hours after exposure to allergens. This consists of itchy, swelled skin, that usually looks like a red rash. Its easiest to spot hives on dogs that are hairless or have short coats. Dogs with longer hair can get them too, but its more likely that youd be able to fee the hives rather than see them. Your vet will prescribe an antihistamine in order to treat urticaria in dogs.

Edema of Face or Throat

Swelling of the throat or face looks severe, but its actually almost never fatal. This area of swelling, which can also include swelling of the eyelids or ear flaps, is known as angioneurotic edema. Its actually pretty easily treated, and despite how it looks, its a good sign in terms of allergic reactions.

If your dog has edema of any of these areas, the time for a fatal allergic reaction has most likely passed, and they arent in as much danger. Angioneurotic edema occurs anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours after exposure to an allergen, and can also come with hives.A veterinarian will often give dogs with this reaction an antihistamine injection. Untreated, it may take a day or two for the swelling to subside.

Anaphylactic Shock

Perhaps the most alarming of all the types of allergic reactions in dogs is anaphylactic shock. Like people, dogs can go into anaphylactic shock if they have a severe reaction to an allergen. This happens when antibodies produced by the host react negatively to the allergen, dropping your dogs blood pressure rapidly and sending them into shock. This can be fatal if not treated, but luckily, anaphylactic reactions are rare in dogs.

This can be a response to any allergen, most commonly bee or wasp stings, or vaccine reactions. Because of this, your vet will always recommend keeping a close eye on your dog after theyve been given any new vaccine, drug, or food item, as they might be allergic.

If a dog has had a past incident and survived, the owner may carry an epipen, but sometimes the first occurrence can lead to death. Fortunately these reactions are very rare in dogs.

In some rare cases, a severe food allergy reaction resulting in anaphylaxis can occur, similar to severe peanut allergies in humans. The best way to diagnose and treat a food allergy is to work with your veterinarian to manage your dogs symptoms and discover the ingredient causing the reaction.

Diagnosing Allergies in Dogs

Flea allergy dermatitis is typically the easiest allergy to diagnose. It is usually diagnosed by identifying fleas on your dogs body and applying a product that kills fleas before they can bite to see if that solves the issues.

The first thing your veterinarian will do in allergy testing is rule out any other condition that could be causing your dogs symptoms. If your veterinarian feels that an allergy is a likely cause, they may propose allergy testing to try and determine the cause of the allergen that is causing the reaction. However, keep in mind it may not always be possible to determine the cause of an allergy with testing.

If you have ever undergone allergy testing, then you know that diagnosing allergies is often complicated. Its the same for dogs, but its worth it to understand what to stay away from when it comes to your dog.Food allergies are often diagnosed using an elimination diet. A food trial consists of feeding a dog one source of protein and carbohydrate for 12 weeks.

Treating Allergies in Dogs

The best way to treat an allergy is avoidance of the cause and allergen, which may not always be possible. They type of treatment depends on the type of allergy your dog has. For example, the best way to treat flea allergy dermatitis is to kill the fleas, whereas the best way to treat a food allergy or food intolerance is a change in diet.

Depending on the cause and severity of your dogs allergic reaction, your veterinarian will prescribe different things. For hives, they might suggest antihistamines, cortisones, medicated shampoos, whereas with food allergies they might suggest fish oil or other Omega-3 fatty acid supplements. For skin allergies, they might prescribe dog-safe anti-inflammatory wipes or shampoo on skin to provide irritation relief.

In addition to any lifestyle changes that might be necessary, your veterinarian may also prescribe an allergy relief medication for your dog that will help control the signs associated with the allergic reaction, such as itching and any secondary skin infections that might have developed as a result of the irritant.

If your dog has a severe allergic reaction, your best course of action is to get them to an emergency veterinary hospital as quickly as possible.