Dogs can have food allergies, just like people. Dogs can be allergic to certain foods or ingredients, or they can be intolerant of them. If a dog is suffering from a food allergy, it may exhibit a variety of different symptoms including scratching, diarrhea, licking their feet or rectum, gas, loss of appetite, lethargy, and stomach pain. Food allergies are genetic and are triggered by exposure to the allergen. The most common dog food allergens are beef, chicken, soy, rabbits, fish, gluten, dairy, and various grains.

The best way to treat a dog’s food allergy is to introduce them to foods that do not contain the ingredients that cause the allergy. Here are some excellent options:

1. Gluten free dog food

Dogs that are allergic to the gluten in their dog food can suffer from severe gastrointestinal problems that cause gas, constipation or diarrhea, and stomach pain. The symptoms can become so bad that the dog eventually refuses to eat. There are many gluten free dog foods on the market. These dog foods typically contain other natural ingredients that can help heal the dog’s gastrointestinal problems and help it recover from the allergic reaction.

2. High protein dog food

Dogs require some form of protein, so finding out your dog has a protein allergy can be daunting. The right high-protein diet can help improve your dog’s skin, reduce hives and prevent rashes.The key is to find out which protein your dog can tolerate and then find a high protein dog food that only contains that type of protein. Most dogs are only allergic to specific types of protein. If your dog has a beef allergy, look for a high protein dog food that contains only chicken. You can also find dog foods that contain plant-based proteins.

3. Grain free dog food

Many people confuse gluten and grain allergies. While there are many grains that include gluten, there are others that don’t. If your dog has a grain allergy, it’s not enough to choose a gluten-free dog food. You need to find one that is grain-free too. If your dog can tolerate some grains that do not contain gluten, then you may want to include those grains in its diet, but ensure that the food you choose contains only the grains it can tolerate.

4. Dairy free dog food

Dairy allergies are common in dogs, and most dog foods contain dairy products. You can find dairy-free dog foods at many specialty pet stores or online. Dogs with dairy allergies may suffer from diarrhea or constipation as well as severe gas and vomiting. Once the food that contains dairy products are removed from the dog’s diet, the symptoms should include quickly.