Dog Allergies

Why do dog food allergies happen?
Over time dog food allergies can arise from build-up of intolerance to beef, dairy products, chicken, wheat, chicken eggs, corn and soy. Most of these are found as common ingredients in dog foods.

Some of these offending proteins are similar in form and the incidence of dog food allergies are probably associated with the amount of exposure like and antigen, some proteins might be slightly more antigenic than others. It is these antigens that cause the dog food allergy. Most pet foods have been made up of beef, chicken, corn, and wheat. This type of food allergy can also occur in cats.

Just like their human companion, over time people can develop food allergies to things like peanuts, and other substances, dog food allergies can develop over time, usually sometime between ages two – six years of age; dog food allergies can occur at anytime. Dog food allergies can occur as early as five months and as late as twelve years. Many times there are also inhalant or contact allergies in pets with dog food allergies. Dog food allergies are nothing new; they’ve been around for as long as there has been dry dog food.

Dog food allergies equally affect males and females, neutered or not. I have found that not all brands of dog food are created equal. Changing the pet’s diet can mimic dog food allergies. The only way to diagnose dog food allergies is by trial and error. You might also need the help of your veterinarian to help in the determination of dog food allergies in your pet.

While dog food allergies are problematic for the animal and their human companion, there are ways to combat dog food allergies with the help of professional intervention. Dog food allergies can be overcome with time and patience.

Dog food allergies are common to pets, but, they don’t have to be the only thing that can cause the animal discomfort. There are many other conditions besides dog food allergies that can cause skin problems, vomiting and other symptoms. Only a veterinarian can determine the cause of any condition in your pet, be it dermatological, or dog food allergies.

As a pet owner you should always be aware of any changes in your dog’s coat, skin, and bowel habits and treat any changes immediately to avoid the pet’s suffering for any allergy, including dog food allergies.