Yes, believe it or not, your furry friend may be allergic to things like wheat or beef! Dogs and cats can develop food allergies at any age, at any time of year.
The most common signs of an allergy issue in your pets are skin and coat problems. Your pup or kitty will be itchy and dry, with flaky skin or a dull coat. Other symptoms to watch for:
- Frequent head shaking
- Ear inflammation
- Licking paws endlessly
- Rubbing/scratching face on carpet or furniture
- Sneezing
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea/flatulence
- Wheezing
Any of these symptoms could be signs of some other issue — they are not restricted to allergies. Head shaking could be a sign of ear infections, for example. However, combine symptoms from the list with itching and skin problems and you may have an allergy on your hands. It is your responsibility as the loving owner to watch for changes in your pets’ behavior and call your vet if something seems to be wrong.
Wheat and beef seem to be the most popular causes of allergic reactions, but your pet may also be allergic to pork, chicken, eggs, milk, or fish! Some pets have issues with the preservatives used in commercial foods.
If your vet suspects that your pet has an allergy, it’s time for an exclusion diet. Your vet may give you a special food to use for a few days, to see if the symptoms clear up. When my Lally was having allergy problems, she was sentenced to a fish-and-potato diet. As it turns out, it was the plastic in her bowl that was the problem, not the food! Your vet may also recommend immediately switching to a hypo-allergenic food, because exclusion testing can be very time consuming.
Switching to a wheat-free or beef-free (or allergen-free) diet isn’t impossible for your pets. Read the ingredient labels on your pet foods and avoid kinds that use your pet’s particular allergen. Higher quality foods aren’t necessarily better for the allergic dog — they may have less wheat-based fillers, but you’ll still find the same protein sources as you will in lower quality foods. Your vet will be able to guide you in picking the best food for your allergic pets!