How long does it take for dog food allergy symptoms to go away

How to Tell if Your Dog Has Food Allergies

Food allergies in dogs can be tricky to identify. The symptoms arent what many pet parents expect, and there are a lot of myths out there about food allergies in dogs. True food allergies are not that common in dogs, for one.

Heres how you can figure out if your dog has food allergies and what you can do about them.

Reasons to Suspect Dog Food Allergies

When people think about pet food allergies, they often jump to gastrointestinal issues. However, food allergies in dogs may or may not come with an upset stomach.

The most common symptoms of food allergies in dogs actually show up as reactions in their skin.

Skin and Ear Problems in Dogs With Food Allergies

Skin problems are common in dogs with food allergies. At first glance, this seems kind of odd, but it makes more sense when you think about how people react to food allergies.

Dogs with unchecked food allergies may also have trouble with their ears.

Some of the most common health issues associated with legitimate dog food allergies are:

Similar symptoms may be caused by environmental allergies to triggers like pollen, mold, and house mites, but these, at least to start with, are often seasonal.

For this reason, its important to track whether your dogs symptoms ebb and flow with the changing of the seasons.

When Do Dog Food Allergies Develop?

Its important to remember that food allergies can develop at any time. A food your dog has consumed for years with no troubles may suddenly cause an allergic reaction, or symptoms may develop soon after you change your dogs diet.

How Are Dog Food Allergies Diagnosed?

Diagnosing food allergies in dogs isnt always a straightforward process. Its not like theres a simple test that can instantly tell what your dog is allergic to or, if indeed, he has food allergies at all.

You have to start at the beginning, with the help of your veterinarian, to know for sure whether your dogs skin or ear issues are caused by food allergies.

Rule Out Other Health Issues

Your veterinarian will take a full history on your pet and do a general exam.

Next, they will likely run tests to rule out conditions with similar symptoms like mange, ringworm, yeast infections, bacterial infections, flea infestations, and environmental allergies.

Ruling out those conditions comes first because true food allergies are relatively uncommon.

If there is no other apparent cause for your dogs symptoms, your veterinarian may begin to suspect that food allergies are behind your dogs itchy skin or ear infections.

Even if your vet finds a reason for your dogs skin problems, they may still suspect that an adverse food reaction is at least partially responsible since, for example, yeast infections can develop as a result of food allergies.

Once a diagnosis of food allergies seems to be a reasonable possibility, your vet will recommend a food trial.

Starting a Food Trial

Starting your dog on a food trial means your pet will eat a prescription diet and absolutely nothing else for a couple of months to see if symptoms resolve.

If they do, some veterinarians will suggest going back to the dogs old diet to see if symptoms return to ensure that the dog is truly allergic to one or more ingredients in their regular diet.

Evaluating a Food Trial: Food Allergies vs. Food Intolerance

Seeing results from the food trial are not a guarantee that your pet has food allergies. In some cases, you may find out that your dog has a food intolerance.

Food Allergies

Food allergies occur when the immune system responds inappropriately to something (usually a protein) found in the diet.

Instead of treating this perfectly innocuous substance as it should, the immune system treats it as a threatan invader of sorts.

Food Intolerance

A food intolerance is different from an allergy in that the symptoms are not caused by an immune reaction.

In dogs, food intolerances typically cause tummy troubles; they may vomit or have diarrhea, be seriously gassy, or have a poor appetite.

Treating Food Allergies in Dogs

The only effective way to treat a food allergy in dogs is to change their diet.

While grain-free foods are often touted as good for food allergies, science tells us that protein sources are more likely to be the culprit. According to a study published in 2016, the top three most common causes of food allergies in dogs are beef, dairy, and chicken.

Diets for Dog Food Allergies

Here are a couple of different approaches to treating food allergies in dogs.

Novel Proteins

This approach involves feeding proteins that your dog has likely never been exposed to in an effort to avoid an allergic reaction. Rabbit, venison, and other novel ingredients are used in place of more common protein sources. Allergy-friendly foods must be completely free of your dogs triggers.

Hydrolyzed Proteins

Rather than changing which proteins are used, hydrolyzed protein prescription diets break proteins down so that the immune system no longer recognizes them as a threat.

Treating Itchy Skin and Ear Issues Caused by Food Allergies

The only way to treat a food allergy is to remove the offending food from the dogs diet, but there are options for temporarily treating the symptoms caused by food allergies.

Oral and topical medications are sometimes prescribed to help minimize itching. Any secondary problems, like skin or ear infections, will also have to be addressed.

If youre concerned about any symptoms your dog is experiencing, or youre simply wondering whether the food youre offering is the best choice for your pet, speak with your veterinarian.

By: Jennifer Coates, DVM

Featured Image: iStock.com/monkeybusinessimages

Food Allergies in Dogs: What to Know

Your dog is scratching and licking, keeping you awake, ruining their show coat, and giving themself a handy excuse for breaking that stay. Its driving you crazyimagine how they must feel.

While your first instinct may be to assume that your dog is suffering from a food allergy, true food allergies arent as common as you might think. Confusing food allergies with food sensitivities is a common mistake, not only among dog owners but also among veterinarians.

Food Allergies vs. Sensitivities

True food allergies are much less frequent than food sensitivities and reflect a more immediate immunological response. A classic example of a food allergy is anaphylactic shock, which could occur after ingesting peanuts or being stung by bees. As soon as the person or animal comes in contact with the allergen, their airway closes and they cant breathe. This response is rapid, as the antigen triggers an immediate and sometimes life-threatening reaction due to hypotension and shock.

A less severe but still serious form of allergic reaction is accompanied by the development of dermatologic signs, such as hives, facial swelling, or itchiness. These can be accompanied by gastrointestinal signs, such as acute vomiting or diarrhea. These signs occur fairly rapidly but less than in the anaphylactic reaction.

Food sensitivity, on the other hand, is usually a chronic condition and often doesnt involve an immunological response. Its usually a cumulative response to an offending agent. Although theyre generally not life-threatening, food sensitivities can affect many different aspects of the dogs physical wellbeing. Common signs of food sensitivity include diarrhea with or without vomiting, poor skin or itchy coat, and chronic ear or foot infections.

Symptoms of Food Allergies in Dogs

We most often associate allergies with sneezing and respiratory problems in people, but in dogs, allergies are most often associated with the skin and gastrointestinal (GI) tract. About 10% to 15% of dogs with food allergies will have both skin and GI signs, and about 20% to 30% of dogs with food allergies will also have itchy skin from other non-food allergies.

GI signs are most often seen as loose stools, with an average of three a day, or vomiting and belching. A skin sign is usually itchiness, and it appears the same as itchiness due to other allergies.

According to one recent study, nearly 8% of dogs presented to a referral dermatology practice had food allergies. This represented about a third of all the dogs presented there with allergic skin disease.

Some people use the phrase ears and rears to refer to the characteristic location of itchiness. But its typically a bit more widespread than just those regions. In one study, dogs with food allergies suffered from itchy ears in 80% of the cases (and in fact, only the ear was affected in a quarter of all cases); itchy feet in 61%; itchy groin region in 53%; and itchy armpits, anterior foreleg, or eye regions in about 35% of cases.

Secondary ear and skin infections often arise from self-inflicted trauma from scratching and chewing. Along with removing the offending food, you must seek treatment for these infections in your dog.

Does My Dog Have Food Allergies?

Allergies can appear at any age, but most dogs eat an offending food for two years before symptoms appear. Some dogs can develop symptoms as early as two months of eating the offending food. Allergic reactions arent something that normally appear immediately after introducing a new food. But once symptoms appear, their onset is often sudden and serious.

Most dogs react to one or two allergens and about 20% react to more. Theres a greater chance that dogs react to animal products from the same species or from related species (cattle, sheep, and deer, for example).

Some breeds, such as Cocker Spaniels, Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherd Dogs, Poodles, and Chinese Shar-Pei, may be at greater risk for food allergies, though they can appear in any breed.

Diet trials are inconvenient and tedious. But compared to your dogs discomfort, theyre a small price to pay to identify the culprit. Unfortunately, there is no cure for food allergiesexcept to avoid the offending foods.

How Long Does It Take for A Food Allergy to Show Up After Eating?

As a vet, I know having an allergic dog with a sensitive stomach makes you more careful, but exactly how for a dog with a food allergy, how long after eating will the symptoms show up?

Food allergy is common in dogs and you can notice it when you introduce new food. It also happens in other pets and even in humans at any age.

The level of an allergic reaction can be mild to severe depending on the dogs immune system.

Studies reveal that it takes between 6 to 24 hours for allergies to show up in dogs. This appears on the skin and is more visible in a dog with short hair. The allergic reaction produces itchy red bumps that cause a lot of irritation. If your dog hasnt shown any reaction within 6 days, it probably not going to.

The allergic reaction to a certain triggering substance is called anaphylaxis. It is a condition that is life-threatening and dogs react differently to allergies. It can cause distress and even body weakness.

Of course, different substances can cause allergy in dogs, and one of the main causes of allergy in dogs are foods that are rich in proteins. These foods can include beef, chicken eggs, gluten from wheat, and dairy products among other foods.

When a dog is used to a certain food such as foods rich in proteins as I have mentioned, changing the food may cause allergies. This is called gastrointestinal food allergies.

How long after eating will dog food allergy give symptoms

As I have already mentioned, it takes up to 24 hours for the allergy symptoms to show up in dogs. In some cases, it happens immediately after the dog feeds on the new food. This as mentioned also depends on the strength of the dogs immunity and age.

The symptoms that you are likely to see can vary from one dog to another. Generally, most dogs would experience itching and irritation of the skin, vomiting, sudden diarrhoea, seizures, signs of shock, noisy breathing, and excessive drooling among other symptoms.

How long does an allergic (food) reaction last in dogs?

It takes about 6 to 8 weeks for the reactions to clear. In some cases, it may go even for as long as 12 months. The gastrointestinal allergies using the trial diet for two weeks. This is according to Veterinarian Dr Fatcheric.

When should you change your dogs food?

As the puppy grows into an adult dog, you may need to change the food. This is because while feeding a puppy, you use only specific types of soft food. Of course, you dont just transition from one food to another quickly without training the dog to adapt gradually.

It is also important to note that a dog is good at eating the same food all the time. The problem sets in when you start trying new foods or changing from one food to another. Therefore, if you want to change the food, do it gradually.

Reasons to change your dogs food

One of the reasons you should change your dog food is due to allergic reactions. Some foods may not go well with your dog. After feeding your dog with specific food and you realize it doesnt go well, then it is good to change. This is because some dogs may develop allergies to certain ingredients.

When a dog reacts to specific foods by portraying allergic signs, you need to change and adopt a limited ingredient diet. The other factors that necessitate the need for food change include the following:

Age

I have mentioned that, as puppies grow, food also needs to change. Food for younger dogs have higher calories. This is because puppies grow faster and high calories help to compensate for that growth.

Senior dog foods have fewer calories compared to younger dogs. This is because, at this age, the dog is less active and may only need a few calories and rich minerals for joints.

Weight problems

When the dog starts to become overweight, that is a red sign and you need to change the diet. It is important to note that obesity also affects dogs. According to veterinarians, feeding the dog with wet food is a solution since the dog will get full faster. This with time will reduce obesity or overweight in dogs.

Similarly, if a dog starts losing weight, perhaps it is time to change its diet. This can be a solution if there is no other underlying condition.

Boredom

Dogs may get bored eating the same food every day. Just like you can, the same food is boring when there is no change. Some breeds of dogs are even selective when it comes to food while others can eat anything served to them.

Therefore, when a dog gets bored with food, that is a sign that you need to change. A dog can be hungry and bored and hence can just stare at food without eating. This shows how bored the dog is with that specific food.

Stomach upset

Vomiting or diarrhoea can be a sign of a prolonged diet. When you feed to dog the same food continuously for days, at some point it may lead to indigestion resulting in the signs that I have mentioned.

In this situation, first, it is important to understand what is causing the issue, and whether the food is safe or not. If there is a need for change, then you should implement it slowly to avoid aggravating the problem.

Symptoms of changing dog food too quickly

When it comes to changing dog food, as I have mentioned, you need to do it gradually or slowly. This is to give the dogs system time to adjust to the new food accordingly. According to veterinarians, these changes should take between 5 to 7 days.

Therefore, when changing diet, you should follow the diet transition schedule. In this schedule, on the first day, you need to feed the new food in proportions, on the third day in the proportion, on the fifth day in the proportion, and on the seventh day 100% new diet.

Changing the food quickly may, therefore, result in diarrhoea. This is the most common sign when a dogs stomach suddenly reacts to new food. When this happens, the stomach begins to secret water into the intestines hence diarrhoea. Symptoms of changing food may be classified into:

Skin conditions

When you change the dog food too quickly, an allergic dog may react to the food leading to skin conditions. These include skin inflammation, itching, and hair loss. This largely depends on the breed of the dog, sensitivity to the new food, and general immune system.

Gastrointestinal signs

This is the most common symptom in most dogs. It includes diarrhoea, vomiting, nausea, and changes in appetite.

These are other symptoms that you may see in different dogs in reaction to new food. These include sneezing, itchy or runny eyes, hives, and swelling of body parts.

Why do dogs get sick when you change their food?

Changing a dogs food may cause the dog to get sick. This is because the dog may not be well acclimatized to the food. It is also important to note that some dogs are allergic to certain foods while others have sensitive stomachs. That means, it is not the food that is bad but the reaction of the body towards the new food.

Therefore, after changing food, you may notice some changes in the dogs feelings. This may be accompanied by diarrhoea or vomiting that may last for a while.

The most common reason why most dogs get sick when you change their food is largely dependent on the immunity system.

In this case, the body may react to a new food as a foreign substance in the body, and in this process, the stomach secretes a lot of water into the intestines hence signs of diarrhoea and vomiting happen.

Switching dog food without mixing (I ran out too soon)

I did mention that changing dog food should be done gradually. This is according to dog experts and veterinarians. In this process, when introducing a new food, you need to mix it with the normal food in small proportions as you increase gradually.

On the first day, for instance, you can serve 25% of the new food, and 75% of the usual food. On the third day, you can serve 50% of the new food and 50% of the usual food. On the fifth day, you can serve 75% of the new food, and 25% of the usual food. And on the seventh day, you can serve 100% of the new food. The table below makes it even clearer.

From the above table, you can see that the new food is introduced in small amounts and then mixed with large amounts of the usual food. That is the order to ensure that your dog does not show allergic reactions to the new food.

Sometimes you may run out of the old food and be left with no option but to switch totally to new food. This, as I have mentioned may bring problems to your allergic dog. Of course, some dogs are non-allergic and may not react to new food.

Therefore, it is important to mix new food and old food in gradual proportions as highlighted above.

How long does it take for a (non-allergic) dog to react to a new food?

When a dog is fed new food, it may take a while to respond to the new food. For allergic dogs, it takes as early as immediately. Normally, it can take between 6 and 24 hours for the allergic signs to show.

For non-allergic dogs, it can take a longer time to react to the new food than for the allergic ones. This also may be different from one breed to another.

How long will a dog be sick after switching food?

Introducing new food can make your dog sick. Most dogs adjust to the new food faster and it should take about 2 to 3 days for the dog to adjust. That means, that while diarrhoea and vomiting are part of the sickness, it should not last for more than 3 or 4 days.

When the dog becomes sick for longer than 4 days, then it is an indication that you should see a vet doctor. You dont need to confuse this with how long an allergic reaction can last in dogs.

The latter means the length of time the dog will have allergies to the same food. But for sickness, this is the period when the dog is severely affected and shows signs of sickness.

Conclusion

To sum up, food allergies are common in dogs regardless of breed. While others are sensitive to the new food, some are not affected much. The age of the dog also matters when it comes to reacting to new food.

In that regard, it takes about 6 to 24 hours for the allergic reaction to show up in dogs. In some instances, the allergic reactions show up instantly depending on the dogs immunity.