Shar Pei dog skin problems

Remember, you can always . Submit a picture of your dog's skin problem along with the details of the situation and they'll get back to you right away with the best course of action.

Links to questions and answers about dog allergies submitted by other visitors can be found at the .

Dog Food Allergy

We have an entire page devoted to this topic here: .

Here are the basics...

Dog skin allergies resulting from food are caused by one or more of the ingredients in your dog's food or treats.

What are the most common allergens?

They're ingredients found in many dog foods...

• Beef products
• Chicken
• Corn
• Eggs
• Milk products
• Soy
• Wheat

It’s not clear exactly what causes some dogs to develop a food allergy. In certain cases a dog may experience a change in their immune system, causing certain ingredients to be perceived as foreign even if they are not harmful.

What does the body do? It attacks the “intruders”, often times in the form of dog skin allergies.

So how does your dog develop a food allergy in the first place? Can they be born with it or does it always just develop over time?

Both! Dog food allergies can be genetic or come about as their body’s systems change with age.

aren’t the only symptom of a dog food allergy. Your dog could also experience…

• Licking - most often they will lick and chew their paws, groin area and armpits.
• - can be painful for the dog, they may scratch at the ear, rub it along the floor or frequently and dramatically tilt their head to one side.
• Digestive problems - might show in a loss of appetite or unpredictable bowel movements (see our and pages for more on this)

Now on to the patience part…

The only way for you and your veterinarian to determine the cause of your dog’s food allergy is to put your dog on a hypoallergenic or for a minimum of 8-12 weeks.

The new diet will consist of ingredients not found in your dog’s previous food. The source of protein in the food is the usual cause of the allergy, so by substituting a different source of protein such as venison, fish or duck, you may find that the allergic symptoms improve.

Introduce one new ingredient at a time. If your dog’s body reacts to one, you’ll know the culprit.

Figuring out the allergen at home is also relatively easy to due through the use of .

Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD)

Dogs suffering from flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) despise fleas even more than you and your family do!

This form of dog skin allergy is a skin disease caused by an allergic reaction to flea saliva. For dogs with this condition, it only takes one bite to trigger intense itching and discomfort.