Dog owners spend a lot of time deciding the food they give to their pets. Some of the food can cause an allergy leading to a lot of complications. This article on the symptoms and triggers for food allergies in pets explains food allergy problems faced by dogs.

Why are dogs allergic to certain foods?
Foods contain different kinds of proteins. Sometimes the immune system may consider any of these proteins as an allergen that poses a threat. When this happens, the immune system goes on an overdrive. It tries to remove the allergen and protect the body.

During this process, there are various reactions. This causes different kinds of symptoms like itching, vomiting, among others. Many of these symptoms are due to histamines released by the immune system.

When the digestive system finds a problem with any of the proteins in food, it causes vomiting and diarrhea to expel it from the body. Normally, food does not cause such reactions. Some dogs can have a weak immune system that leads to these allergic reactions.

Is food intolerance the same as an allergy?
Food intolerance is limited to the digestive system. This happens when the digestive system cannot process a particular food. For example, lactose intolerance makes it difficult to digest milk causing digestive problems.

A food allergy can cause reactions anywhere on the body and is more serious than food intolerance.

Common symptoms
The symptoms and triggers for food allergies in pets would vary from one dog to another. Some of the common symptoms dogs experience due to food allergies are:

Skin problems
Itching of the skin can happen due to allergic dermatitis, as a reaction to some food. Itching commonly experienced near the ears, stomach, and the anus. Sometimes the paws can be itchy. Some foods lead to the skin becoming red with bumps forming. This could be hives.

Itching leads to loss of hair and the smooth texture of the fur coat is affected. It also causes bleeding and injuries.

Digestive problems
When the allergy is related to digestion, it can lead to a stomach upset. This can cause vomiting and/or diarrhea. It may also increase flatulence and cause abdominal pain.

Some other symptoms of food allergies include coughing, wheezing, swelling of the face, and poor growth if the dog is young.

Triggers
There are certain foods that can commonly cause a food allergy. These foods include beef, chicken, and milk products. This again would vary from one dog to another. Some dogs may enjoy all these foods, while others can experience severe allergies.

Apart from these common foods that trigger an allergy, there are other things that can cause an allergy if your dog eats it. These include:

• Corn
• Rice
• Barley
• Wheat
• Eggs
• Lamb
• Fish

The only way to treat allergies is to remove the trigger food from the dog’s diet.

The symptoms and triggers for food allergies in pets should be known to the pet owners. It is important to identify the food that triggers an allergy and remove it from your dog’s diet. If the situation escalates and gets worse, you should consult a vet at the earliest.