Food Allergies Can Dog Canines Too

"It certainly seems like we're seeing more dogs with food allergies, similarly to humans," says Mona Boord, DVM, co-owner of the Animal Dermatology Clinic in San Diego.

Veterinarians caution that there are two types of issues your dog may have with foods.

Food Intolerance
The most common problem is food intolerance, or food sensitivity, which means your dog isn't digesting a particular type of food well. Food intolerance is a non-immunologic response that can trigger such symptoms as gassiness, vomiting, diarrhea and borborygmus -- also known as stomach growling -- according to Korrin Saker, DMV, associate professor of clinical nutrition at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Food Allergy
More immediate reactions from a dog's immune system to an offending food are food allergies. Symptoms may include intestinal distress but typically will also involve itching around the muzzle, ears, paws and sometimes around the anus. The reason itchiness occurs in these places is probably because canines have more mast cells -- which contain histamines and play a key role in the inflammatory process -- in these locations.

Dog Food Allergy Culprits
A host of ingredients go into many commercial dog foods today. Most pets are fine and thrive on those foods, but a small percentage may be allergic to certain ingredients. Figuring out which ingredient is important to treating an allergic condition.

"It is often a protein source, such as chicken or beef, but it can include a carbohydrate, such as wheat, and in very rare cases corn," Dr Saker says.

Dogs can also be allergic to other ingredients, such as preservatives or additives. "I've seen dogs that were allergic to peanut butter and tomatoes," Dr. Boord says. Peanut butter is sometimes an ingredient in dog biscuits, while tomato paste may be an ingredient in dry foods.