Dogs can have food allergies. Some breeds are more predisposed than others, but just because your dog breed is not on the list that does not mean he is not at risk. And if you have a mixed breed you never know what is going to pop up. According to Modern Dog Magazine, some of the breeds at risk for developing food allergies include Boxers, Cocker Spaniels, Collies, Dalmations, German Shepherds, Lhasa Apsos, Miniature Schnauzers, Retrievers, Shar Peis, Dachshunds and several types of terriers including Soft-Coated Wheaten Terriers and West Highland Terriers.

A dog, just like a person, needs to be exposed to an allergen in order to develop a sensitivity to it. This means a dog could eat the offending food for a long time before becoming allergic. Beef, dairy, wheat, eggs, chicken, lamb, soy, pork, rabbit and fish are the most common foods that cause allergies in dogs. Symptoms vary but your dog could develop gastrointestinal problems like vomiting and/or diarrhea. He could also show signs of itchy skin by constantly scratching or biting himself, resulting in skin irritation and injuries, inflamed ears, hair loss and chronic skin infections. One or all of these can make for a very uncomfortable and unhappy dog.

If you think your dog might have a food allergy, schedule a visit to your vet. One of the things she might do is to put your dog on an elimination diet, where the dog is given a protein source he has never had before, such as venison, to see if the symptoms subside and then slowly add protein sources back to the diet to see what the dog reacts to. She might suggest a hypoallergic diet, one where the proteins in the food are already broken down to prevent the body from reacting to them.

My border collie Rocket is allergic to chicken. We adopted him from the shelter at approximately 6 months of age, so we had no background on his parents or any early gastrointestinal problem. When he first came to live with us he was very hyper and scratched constantly. We thought it was just because he was a border collie pup and the breed is quite active by nature, especially puppies. But when it did not improve after a few months, I began to consider that it was something else. I had never heard that chicken is such a very common allergen in dogs – it is EVERYWHERE in dog foods and treats. I switched what I was feeding him to Natural Balance Limited Ingredient dog food and after a few weeks he was no longer scratching, less hyper and much more comfortable. I could tell a huge difference! Rocket thrives on Potato and Duck formula, but they have other options like Sweet Potato and Fish or Bison or Venison or Chicken, Potato and Kangaroo or Rabbit. Also they make a number of other combinations using legumes or brown rice. So whatever your dog turns out to be allergic to, they have a formula that should help him thrive!

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. All opinions are entirely my own.