Many pet owners are unaware that dogs can have serious allergies to the foods that they eat.  Pet food allergies do not manifest in the same way that food allergies do in people.  One might expect their pet to experience stomach upset or facial swelling if they are allergic to the food that they eat.  However, pet food allergies most commonly trigger skin itching and rashes in dogs.

Dog food allergies are a very common cause of rashes in dogs and can develop at any time in your pet’s life.  There are many different foods that your dog could be allergic to.  The most common allergens include certain proteins, such as chicken, beef and eggs.  Dogs also commonly have allergies to grains like corn and wheat.   Unfortunately many of these products are available in commercially prepared foods that line supermarket shelves and are marketed to you using dog food coupons and aggressive advertising.

If your pet experiences frequent ear infections, itching or hair loss don’t just ignore it and treat the symptoms with Benadryl for dogs.  Visit your vet and ask to get to the bottom of your pet’s allergies.  Simple substitution of a regular dog food with a hypoallergenic dog food brand may be all it takes to deduce that your pet has a food allergy.  Dog allergies to food can then be narrowed done through introduction of certain products back into the diet and monitoring for a reaction.

Never try to determine the cause of your pet’s health problems without the advice of your vet.  There are numerous potential causes for your dog’s itchy skin and experimenting with foods could leave a more serious diagnosis left untreated.