Food Allergies in Dogs vs Environmental Allergies
Dog Breeds Most Affected By Food Allergies
Breeds with >50% chance of food allergy vs environmental allergy:
- Shih tzu, Lhasa Apso, Wired hair fox terriers
- Pugs, Dachshunds
- French bulldog, Boston Terriers, Scottish Terriers
- Boxers
- Poodles, Cocker Spaniels
- German shepherds
- Labradors
- Golden retriever
- Pomeranian
- Rhodesian ridgeback
- Basenji
Dog Breeds Commonly Affected by Food Allergies
- Four Breeds accounted for 40% of affected dogs.
- Golden retriever
- German Shepherd
- Labrador
- West Highland white terrier
Dog Breeds With 50/50 Chance of having Food Allergies or Environmental Allergies
- Any Breed
- West Highland White terriers, all terriers, Maltese
- Dalmatians
- American Staffordshire terriers (Pit Bulls), Yorkshire terriers
- Beagles
- Asian dogs.. Shar Pei, Shibu Innu, Akita.
- Bichon Frise
- Lhasa Apso
Age of Onset of Food allergies
- Any age
- Food allergies can start at 10 weeks to 18 months of age vs Environmental (70% 1-3 years)
- 50% food allergies start 12-18 months
- Environmental allergies less likely before 1 year, very unlikely starts before 6 months.
- Allergies that start at less than 6 months of age and start older than 6-8 years are very likely food allergies.
Food Allergy Symptoms involving Skin Ears and Paws
- 80% of dogs have ear inflammation/infections
- 60% lick paws.
- Itching lower back, lower abdomen, upper back, chin, lower lips
- Perianal, itchy butt, mimics anal gland rubbing or licking
- “Rears and Ears”
- Skin infections, hair loss, pimples, paw infections, nail bed infections.
- Itching is non-seasonal winter and summer.
Gastrointestinal Signs of Food Allergies
- Vomiting, diarrhea, squatting for long periods to poop (straining)
- Belly pains (colic), cramping, upset stomach, gas, burping, gurgling or growling stomach, eating a lot of grass.
- Regurgitating food right after eating, large voluminous poops, or more then 3 poops a day.
- Licking inanimate objects, floor, carpet, blankets or clothes.
- Fresh blood, mucous, black tarry-looking stools
- Acute episodes of digging behavior, heavily panting or hyperactivity
Timing of Gastrointestinal Signs Prior
to Onset of Skin problems
- About 20-30% of dogs may show GI signs as previously listed at the same time as skin, paw or ear problems.
- The other 80% of dogs presented with skin problems do not have any current GI problems at the same time as the skin problems.
- However a large number of these dogs may have a previous history of GI problems prior to any skin problems developing and they resolved before the skin, ear, paw issues developed.
- In otherwards the Food allergy pre-emptively may affect the GI system first some months before any skin, ear or paw problem and resolves before moving to the skin, paw, or ears
