As a dog owner, you must know the fundamental difference between food allergies and food intolerance. While the former may trigger an immune response, the latter causes difficulty in digesting certain ingredients. For this article, we will discuss the causes of food allergies in dogs to prevent discomfort and illness caused by its ingestion.

1. Beef
Proteins are often responsible for causing food allergies in dogs. If you feed your furry pets with a single food for years, they will likely develop intolerance or an allergy to its ingredients. Beef is often found in most pet foods, which is also the most common food allergen. This is why you must feed your dogs a raw diet and rotate their meats every week to reduce the risk of food allergies.

2. Dairy
Some dogs are lactose intolerant. Even though it is categorized as food intolerance that causes gas or vomiting, it can also lead to food allergies. It is hard to know if your dog is intolerant or allergic to dairy. But if you notice skin itchiness or related symptoms, then it is a sign of food allergies.

3. Wheat
While it is more common for dogs to be allergic to meat than grains like wheat, it may not always be the case with every dog. To be on the safe side, you must discuss with a pet nutritionist or vet about feeding grains to your dogs.

4. Eggs
When your dog experiences an allergic reaction to eggs, it is often due to their body’s reaction to proteins in egg yolks. Not many dog owners know this, but it is also one of the most causes of food allergies in dogs. The good news is that it is easy to avoid feeding eggs to your dogs by evading foods that contain eggs.

5. Chicken
As is with beef and eggs, chicken contains proteins that are causing an adverse reaction in their immune system.

6. Lamb
Lamb is often considered a good alternative to chicken or beef. But if you notice food allergy symptoms after feeding them lamb, consider switching it with sweet potatoes and venison for a healthier and safer option.

7. Soy
Studies reveal that eating soy can cause health issues in dogs that go beyond food allergies. Consuming too much soy for a long period of time can lead to problems, such as thyroid, liver, and reproductive issues. Since the health risks outweigh the benefits of soy products, it is best to avoid them for your dog’s wellbeing.

If your dog shakes their head constantly or itches a lot, then it could be a sign of food allergy. While you can try to treat these symptoms, if the food allergies are caused due to what you are feeding them, then the best treatment is to stop feeding them the foods that cause this reaction in the first place.