Allergies in dogs are common and can manifest in various ways. Food allergies form a specific category, in which dogs are hypersensitive to certain protein sources in their diet.
Identifying what your pet is allergic to can be a challenging process. There are several symptoms that may indicate an allergic reaction. These can range from skin problems, such as excessive scratching, licking of the paws, red skin with possible rashes or hotspots, a dull coat, and excessive hair loss, to digestive issues such as diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and foul-smelling flatulence.
To determine whether your dog has a food allergy, we often recommend switching to a hypoallergenic diet. This type of food contains only completely new and previously unknown ingredients for your dog. These may include unique protein sources known to rarely cause allergic reactions, or hydrolyzed protein sources. The latter are proteins that have been broken down into such small components that they no longer trigger an allergic reaction.
It is important to follow this diet for at least 6–8 weeks. Anything your dog eats that it is allergic to can cause symptoms for up to 6 weeks. During this testing period, it is also important not to give any other treats, as these can also cause itching, making it more difficult to determine the source of the symptoms.
If the itching persists after this test period, it is possible that your pet is allergic to something in its environment, and further diagnosis and treatment by your veterinarian will be necessary.