Just like humans, pets have complex and varied nutritional and dietary needs, and not all pets should be eating the same food. If you’re feeding your pet the wrong food, it can affect his energy level, mood, and overall health. If your pet is showing symptoms of allergies or other health problems, his food might be to blame. Make an appointment with your veterinarian to find out if you should change up your pet’s diet. Here’s a look at the most common food allergies in pets:
Common Allergy Triggers in Dogs
Your dog’s allergies might be triggered by his diet, particularly if it contains one or more of these common allergy triggers in dogs:
- beef
- chicken
- soy
- dairy
- lamb
- rice
- pork
- egg
- wheat
Common Allergy Triggers in Cats
Cats sometimes have different allergy triggers than dogs do. The most common allergy triggers in cats are:
- fish
- beef
- chicken
- dairy
- lamb
- egg
- wheat
Symptoms of Pet Food Allergies
While the ingredients above might make it more likely that your pet suffers from food allergies, an allergy can develop at any time against any protein source in your pet’s food. Your pet might eat a certain food or ingredient for years without issue and then suddenly develop an allergy. There are a lot of telltale signs and symptoms that your pet has food allergies that are being exacerbated by his diet, such as:
- redness of skin and ears
- itching
- dry skin and/or dandruff
- oily skin, hair, or coat
- repeated ear infections or inflammation
- over-grooming
- hot spots
- hair loss
- digestive issues
- increased bowel movements
- watery and/or red eyes
- sneezing and/or reverse sneezing
- swelling of the eyes or face
If your pet is showing signs of food allergies or health issues, make an appointment with your veterinarian to have his diet and health evaluated.