The most common form of allergy among dogs is flea and atopy or inhalant allergy. The symptoms of these allergies can be easily noticed in your dogs. Next to the flea and atopy ones stand for the food allergy. It is very hard to determine the exact cause of food intolerance among dogs, as the symptoms developed are almost similar to the symptoms of other forms of allergy.

The symptoms of food allergy would be noticed in between 2-6 years. The ingredients of dog food constitute of various types of fillers, proteins, fibers etc. and are rarely taken care of. And it is very likely for a dog to develop allergic reactions from several types of food. One important thing to be kept in mind is that just one exposure to a food does not trigger allergic reaction. It requires a long and more than one exposure so as to develop allergic reaction.

However, it is not easy to identify what is causing the allergic reaction to your dog. But to get a brief idea, if it is caused by food, then the allergic reaction would be prevalent all year round, your dog, which is still young, may develop chronic skin and ear problems.

Studies have shown that some food ingredients are likely to cause allergic reactions than other ingredients. The most common foods that are highly responsible for causing allergies are:

1) beef, chicken, eggs, pork lamb, fish

2) Dairy products such as milk

3) Wheat, corn, soy, yeast

4) Preservatives and coloring etc.

And most of these are the typical common ingredients of dog food. Not only these but also those foods which cause allergic reaction to humans cause the same to dogs as well. For instance; tomatoes, egg white, fermented cheese etc. should be avoided.

Now, there is a difference between food intolerance and food allergy. When we talk of food allergy, it is usually associated with symptoms like itchiness, skin rashes, excessive scaling etc. in short, it develops only skin related problems. But when we talk of food intolerance, then the dogs usually suffer from chronic diarrhea and vomiting, just the way we suffer from it, when we have an upset stomach.

To figure out whether your dog is suffering from food hypersenstivity or not, the best way is to go for diet elimination. Substitute your dog’s diet to simple homemade food which should include brown rice, meat, bone meal etc. for a couple of months and see whether your dog still continues to develop the symptoms; if it does not persist then you can start reintroducing the normal diet, that was fed to your dog earlier.

And if your dog develops any sign of irritation, then you have got the culprit which is responsible for causing the irritation. Once you rule out the allergen, it is very easier to control it. All that you have to do is, to hunt around for natural dog foods and other commercial foods that have been designed specially for sensitive dogs. However, commercial foods contain preservatives which can cause hypersenstivity in dogs and is likely to cause serious problems relating to liver. As isolation of the allergen is not possible, it is best to isolate the ingredient.