If your pet dog is continuously scratching, shaking his/her ears, and uncomfortably tilting his/her head to one side, then it could mean indicate a food allergy. But other health conditions might mimic the same symptoms, so before concluding that it is indeed food allergy that your dog is falling victim to, let’s learn about the nine apparent symptoms of food allergy that your beloved pet can exhibit.
Skin
These symptoms on the skin normally depict food allergies in dogs:
- Constant itching or rubbing against furniture or any hard surface
- Scratching/biting near the tail, groin area, belly, and armpits
- Sustained pawing at the face
- Hair loss on the face, mouth, and around the eyes
- Red or pink crusty coat with infections signaling inflammation
- Bald spots where the hair has come off because of the constant itching
Eyes
One must be sure to check for these signs in the eyes:
- The dog’s eyes might seem glazed or become red
- There could be discharge/tearing due to over-active tear ducts
Ears
The following symptoms of food allergies in dogs can be seen in their ears
- Rubbing his ears with paws because of an unrelieved prickly feeling
- Brownish-yellow waxy discharge from the ears accompanied by a foul stench
If even after being treated for bacterial, yeast, or fungal infections, these rear infections reappear, then food allergy might be the cause
Nose
These nose-related symptoms must not be ignored
- Incessant sneezing
- Nose might feel hot and dry rather than cold and wet
Mouth
The following signs can be observed
- Excessively thirst due to dehydration
- Looking for other sources to quench the thirst
- They possibly will start to drooling sticky viscous fluids without respite.
Heart and Lungs
Do not ignore these signs in your dog:
- Panting without in fact doing a lot of running around or exercising
- You might observe unusual, erratic breathing patterns
- Heart rate could be elevated
Gastrointestinal issues
These symptoms are quite common:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Pain in the abdomen
- Lack of interest in eating even favorite foods
Feet
Normally, these signs related to the feet are seen
- Redness and inflammation due to biting and chewing between the fingers and pads
- Discoloration of nails to a reddish-brown color
Other general symptoms include
- Losing weight and feeling weak because of the improper intake of nutritious food
- Feeling lethargic or disinterested in any activity
Food allergies are relatively difficult to diagnose. An experienced veterinarian might be able to rule out other possible health issues depending on what symptoms your dog exhibits. Under his careful guidance your pet’s diet plan can be altered to find out the underlying cause of the food allergy. Discard one or more of the foods that are causing the allergy in your dog and replace it with a new source of nutrition.
