Food intolerance symptoms in dogs are somewhat like symptoms a human would have to a food he does not agree with. Like people, dogs can also be allergic to certain foods and materials. Food allergies in dogs can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are similar to other conditions and it can be hard to identify the ingredient that is causing the allergies. To learn more about food intolerance symptoms in dogs, continue reading.
Common Symptoms of Food Intolerance in Dogs
Every dog is different, and many will show different symptoms of food intolerance and allergies. There are various possible symptoms your dog may show, and they may vary in severity. Common food intolerance symptoms in dogs include the following:
- Flaky skin
- Constant itching or scratching
- Itchy paws or feet
- Chewing or biting areas of the skin
- Dry or rough skin
- Loss of hair
- Hives
- Rashes
- Yeast infections in the ear
- Skin irritations, or hot spots
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Several bowel movements a day
- Nausea
- Lethargy
These symptoms may not be apparent right away, and may show up suddenly. Dogs can develop allergies to foods they have been eating for a long period of time with no symptoms, as well. Symptoms of food intolerance may gradually get better or worse with time, and new symptoms may arise as time goes by.
How to Treat Food Intolerance and Allergies in Dogs
The best way to treat food intolerance in dogs is to change the diet. It may be difficult to figure out what source the allergies are coming from, so it is advised to eliminate one ingredient from the pet's diet at a time. Pet owners should continue to do this until the food that is causing the allergies can be identified.
If you remove the food from the diet and the dog's symptoms disappear, this will show that this particular food was likely the cause of food intolerance in your pet. Even so, it is also possible that more than one ingredient is causing allergies and food intolerance in your pet. Commonly, ingredients such as beef, dairy, wheat, chicken, eggs, soy, or corn may cause allergies in pets.
There are multiple pet foods available that contain special ingredients for dogs with food intolerance issues and allergies. If your pet is allergic to corn, wheat, beef, or chicken, he may benefit from eating a specially made dog food that does not contain these ingredients. Alternative dog foods commonly contain ingredients such as lamb, rice, potato or duck. Feeding your dog an alternative food should solve the problem of food allergies, once the offending ingredient has been found.