Effective Solutions for Dog Allergies: Tips & Remedies

When a beloved pet like experiences a food allergy reaction, parents are often in a state of panic, frantically searching the internet for information, consulting with veterinarians, and learning about feed formulations. As soon as they come across the keyword "allergy formula," they don't hesitate to add the product to their shopping cart, all in the hope of bidding farewell to the allergy.

Today, professional veterinary clinics can offer "allergen testing" services, which can clearly identify what specific substances a pet is allergic to. This not only saves parents time but also reduces the "unspoken" suffering of their little ones during the care process.

What are the common allergens in dogs' food?

Some food ingredients are more likely to cause allergies, such as barley, corn, soybeans, rice, and inexpensive fibers, which are common components that can weaken the immune system. Some pets may be allergic to specific foods. The real challenge, however, is not the treatment but identifying the allergen! Once found, simply avoiding the specific food is usually enough to have the pet recover without medication.

For dogs, there are seven common allergen ingredients to be aware of, for reference only, as each pet's constitution may vary.

Beef: A common ingredient in many pet foods, which can also be a factor in causing allergies in dogs.

Dairy Products: Some dogs have difficulty digesting lactose, which may be due to lactose intolerance. Lactose intolerance and dairy product allergies can lead to bloating, diarrhea, or vomiting. The only difference is that dairy product allergies can affect the skin, causing itching and other symptoms, while intolerance is only related to the digestive system.

Wheat: Some dogs may have an allergic reaction to wheat.

Eggs: Egg allergies are mainly due to the protein content in the yolk. Dog foods with egg ingredients are not common, so just by reading the label carefully, you can avoid them.

Chicken: Although it is a common source of protein, some dogs may still be allergic to it.

Lamb: If a dog is allergic to beef, chicken, and lamb, it is recommended to try venison.

Soy: Eating soy can indeed cause allergies, and studies have shown that in addition to allergies, it can also lead to other health problems, such as reproductive development issues, thyroid disease, and liver disease. Therefore, when a dog food contains soy, it is important to pay attention to its content.

How to determine if a dog's allergy is due to food rather than something else?

Allergies have many symptoms, and different allergic diseases often occur together, making it difficult to make a judgment. It is usually a preliminary judgment based on the location of the onset, such as around the eyes, mouth, limbs, feet, ears, abdomen, neck, armpits, and perineum. These are all common locations for foodallergic dermatitis.

However, due to the presence of a large number of pathogenic bacteria in the environment, when a pet is suffering from a food allergy, the bacteria do not stop either. If the pet has small wounds on the skin due to itching, they can crossinfect and produce lesions, which may not be just redness and itching. Instead, it may be severe hair loss, skin inflammation, ulcers, infections, and even cellulitis. Therefore, when treating food allergies, it is also important to control secondary infections.

How to confirm the allergen in a dog's allergy?

In addition to professional medical methods, parents can also try the "dietary elimination method" for experimentation.

Start daily recording

Include all the food the pet eats (even occasional snacks or stolen food); also include all symptoms, such as how often the pet exhibits itching behavior, the condition of the skin, etc.

Exclude other causes of allergies

Food allergies may only account for 10% of all pet allergies. First, consider what might cause the pet to be allergic: pollen, dust, dander, mites, fleas, cigarettes, prescription drugs, shampoos, cleaning products, etc.

Start a 12week dietary elimination trial

The first week can choose a lowallergen meat like lamb or duck for experimentation. In the following weeks, gradually add the ingredients that previously caused a reaction, observing tolerance levels, such as itching, soft stools, skin redness, swelling, and heat. It is essential to record the food used and the reaction in detail during the dietary elimination treatment. Pay special attention: during the sensitivity test, only feed the pet with feed or a restricted diet to avoid accidentally feeding other things (including snacks). You can also discuss a more detailed plan with a veterinarian.