At some point, your dog may develop a food allergy. Dogs can develop a dog food allergy at any time in their life. Dog food allergies would normally be as common as this allergy in humans, but the way dogs are fed makes them more susceptible. Dogs receive the same food practically every day, this would not happen in nature, and the food we give them contains many ingredients that dogs are often allergic to. To stop or prevent an allergic reaction to dog food, you will need to know what symptoms to look for and how to treat them if it occurs.
There are a few different symptoms that you will need to look out for. The main symptom of a dog food allergy is skin irritation. If you notice that your dog has been compulsively biting, scratching, or licking an area of his body, it may mean that he has an allergy. Both a food allergy and an inhalant allergy can cause a reaction like this. The difference is that an allergy to inhalants will likely be seasonal because they are caused by things like pollen. An allergy to certain foods can also cause your dog to get frequent ear infections. If your dog has an ear infection, you will notice that his ears are very dirty and you may even smell vinegar when you are near the dog’s head. Other common symptoms of a dog food allergy are coughing, shortness of breath, hot spots, and hair loss.