Food allergic reactions are responsible for about 10 % of all of the allergic reactions observed in dogs. Additionally they are generally what make up 20 % of the causes of itchiness and constant scratching in dogs. Precisely how a dog becomes sensitized to a particular agent within the food, which produces an elaborate antibody response within the dog’s digestive tract, is not so well understood. Despite our lack of knowledge of how these food allergic reactions affect our dogs, we do, however, understand a lot of things: the signs and symptoms, how you can identify food allergic reactions, as well as how you can treat them. Food allergic reactions affect both male and female dogs, and may appear as soon as twenty weeks and dogs that are 12 years old. But many cases occur once the dog is between 2 and 6 years old.

The signs and symptoms of food allergic reactions act like most other allergic reactions observed in dogs. The main symptom is scratchy skin that mostly affects the face area, feet, forelegs, ears, underarms, and also the area surrounding the anus. Signs and symptoms may also include chronic or recurrent hair thinning, ear infections, hair thinning, hot spots, and skin ailments that do react to antibiotics, but then reoccur after antibiotics are stopped. Dogs with food allergic reactions sometimes come with an elevated incidence of going number 2 throughout your day.

To be able to identify food hypersensitivity correctly, owners can begin their dog on a food trial. A food trial means feeding your dog a meal source the animal hasn't eaten before - composed of protein and carbohydrates - not less than 12 weeks. Rabbit or venison are great options of protein since they're rarely utilized in most manufacturers’ dog food. For the carbohydrate, you can use potatoes. The brand new meal source must be the only food the dog should consume for that full twelve weeks. What this means is no goodies, flavored medicines, pig’s ears, or rawhide. Only the special food and water are allowed during the food trial time. Plus, your dog shouldn't be permitted to roam as he could get access to other food outdoors or garbage. When the dog shows a reasonable reduction or removal of the signs and symptoms following the 12 weeks, then your animal can go back to its normal food routine. When the signs and symptoms return after returning to the original diet, the diagnosis of the food hypersensitivity is confirmed.

Feeding dogs a home-made meal is a terrific way to avoid giving your pet meals that they're allergic to. You are able to periodically offer your dog new food elements that will determine the precise elements which are leading to the food allergic reaction. When the dog's signs and symptoms have gone away using the special diet, you'll be able to include a meat that they have experienced previously -- like beef or chicken -- for 2 weeks. When the dog shows no signs and symptoms, you'll be able to include an additional different component. When the dog starts to exhibit signs and symptoms again, you'll be able to conclude that the latest component put into this diet was one thing your dog was allergic to. Home-made diets are an easy way to make sure that proper ingredients are utilized and balanced as well as the correct quantity of minerals and vitamins.