How can you tell if your dog has food allergies? (labrador, allergic)

[PitBullMommie1206]

We thought that our three APBTs had food allergies because they weren't able to get use to their food. They had soft stool the whole time they were eating it and their stool was almost slimy looking (sorry, I know that's gross). We didn't suddenly change their food or anything like that, we don't give them people food, though they do get some plain yogurt with all of the active cultures in it every now and then, nothing had changed, but they just weren't getting any better. They were eating and drinking like normal and they were throwing up or acting sick, they just had soft stool all of the time. So, we decided to switch them to a food that is good for dogs with food allergies. We switched them from Natural Balance Ultra Premium dry dog food to Natural Balance Duck and Potato dry formula. So, we switched them over slowly and got them eating the new food. They did seem to be making an improvement, but when we went to go get more food they were out of the Duck and Potato, so we got the Ultra Premium. They had some Duck and Potato left still so we were able to mix that with the other so they didn't get sick. Anyway, we are about to switch them back to the Duck and Potato so that they can have some time to really get use to it and see if that helps. But before we switched their food again, I wanted to see if it sounds like they do have food allergies or not. So, how can you tell if a dog has food allergies? Is this something I would have to talk to the vet about or are there ways I can tell and just put them on a food that's for dogs with food allergies? Also, if they do have food allergies, will there still be some foods that they can't eat, even if it is a food that's good for food allergies? Like Natural Balance has the Duck and Potato that's good for food allergies and they also have Sweet Potato and Fish that's good for food allergies. Would it be possible that one would work better for them than the other if they do have food allergies?

[Hopes]

Okay. I can answer this one with confidence!

My labrador's ears were infected. I read online that allergies can cause ear infections.

When I took him to the vet, I asked if allergies were possible. My labrador licks his paws all year long. My beagle/basset scratches himself during ragweed season. The vet told me that since the labrador seemed to have symptoms all year long, it was most likely he was allergic to his dog food. I switched him from Purina One Lamb & Rice to an expensive brand of Venison and Rice. Within two weeks, he quit licking his paws. This is a 10 year old dog that licked his paws his entire life. He licked them in an obcessed way---sometimes he would shove his entire paw into his mouth.

As to your question for which is better, duck or fish, pick the one they have not ever had in their life. If you think they've eaten table scraps of fish ever in their life, go with the duck. You need to switch them to a food that they've never had previously. Furthermore, if you saw an improvement with the duck, stick with the duck for a few months. They say that you need to have them on the new food for a couple of months to know for sure.

btw, mine didn't have slimy soft stools while he was eating his old dog food. If your problem doesn't resolve, see a vet because there could be something else wrong---like parasites perhaps? I did a google search which revealed slimy stools could be a whipworm, large intestine or pancreas problems. One site said it could simply be because the dog needs it's volume of food cut back---don't go by the serving guidelines on the dog food package because the dog food manufacturers always want you feeding your dog more food then necessary so they can make more money.

Good luck!

[dogpaw]

Seems odd to me that all three would have the same food allergies. When I switched foods I switched all three dogs with the same food, I tried several different foods. some of the food gave them loose stools, and one food made them all poop a lot more then normal. I didn't think it was allergies. The food may be to rich for them and cause the loose stools. Biker does have food allergies, he will get sores on his belly and one ear would get infected. Usually allergies show up as skin problems, stuff in the eyes and ear infections. But it wouldn't hurt to talk to your vet. I'm no expert but this is my experience with food allergies. Hope you get it figured out.

[Hopes]

Dogpaw, you make a good point about it being unlikely that it's an allergy since all three have the same problem. I remember when my labrador was a puppy, someone explained to us that dog food that had a lot of fillers will cause dogs to poop in larger quantity. High protein dog foods without too much filler will produce less poop. So maybe it's just the brand she was using.

I've switched both of my dogs to high quality dog food. It freaks me out thinking about what's put into many of the dog foods. My next step will be switching them completely to people food if these recalls start affecting the premium brands.

[PitBullMommie1206]

Brooklyn and Jayda mess with their paws, they will lick them and chew on them every now and then. Brooklyn is a lot worse than Jayda though and Destiny hardly ever messes with her paws. They all three have the same problems with their stool though. Again, I know this is gross, but they all have very soft stool, it has a very dark greenish tent to it, it's almost slimy looking and it smells a lot worse than it really should. It's weird because when we had them on poor quality foods like Beneful and Iams, they never had these problems. When we first switched them to a good quality food (Natural Balance) it took them a while to get use to it, but they eventually were fine. We just assumed that they were so use to crappy food it would just take a bit longer to get use to a good food. Then they just all started having the same problems. Brooklyn has always messed with his paws, no matter what we feed him and Jayda just started not too long ago. I don't know if they can develop food allergies or if it's just something they have? I don't know much about it. I do know that APBTs are prone to hip dysplasia, I know that they tend to have very sensitive stomachs and they are prone to skin problems. They have all been to the vet within the last month and Jayda has another appointment coming up on the 25th of this month, all of them are healthy, so I don't know what's going on? I was thinking about just going a head and switching them back to the Duck and Potato or the Fish and Sweet Potato (which they have never tried) and just keeping them on it, but I don't know if it's bad to have them on those foods if they really don't have food allergies or if it's okay? I don't know if this would help at all, but I'm going to post the ingredients in the two different foods we have been feeding them and the ingredients in the food that we are thinking about trying...

This is what we first switched them to, before we put them on the allergy food. This is the Natural Balance Ultra Premium dry dog food...

Chicken, Brown Rice, Lamb Meal, Oatmeal, Barley, Duck Meal, Potatoes, Carrots, Chicken Fat (preserved with natural mixed tocopherols), Tomato Pomace, Natural Flavor, Canola Oil, Brewers Yeast, Salmon Meal, Salmon Oil, Whole Ground Flaxseed, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Spinach, Parsley Flakes, Cranberry, Lysine, L-Carnitine, Yucca, Kelp, Vitamin E Supplement, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Manganese Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Riboflavin (Vitamin B-2), Vitamin D Supplement, Folic Acid (Vitamin B).

This is the food we switched them to when we were worried that they had food allergies, Natural Balance Duck and Potato dry formula...

Potatoes, Duck Meal, Duck, Canola Oil (preserved with natural mixed tocopherols), Potato Fiber, Natural Flavor, Salmon Oil, Flaxseed, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Lysine, L-Carnitine, Yucca Schidigera, Vitamin E Supplement, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Manganese Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Riboflavin (Vitamin B-2), Vitamin D Supplement, Folic Acid (Vitamin B).

And this is the other allergy food that we haven't tried, but were thinking about trying, Natural Balance Sweet Potato and Fish dry formula...

Sweet Potatoes, Potatoes, Salmon, Salmon Meal, Canola Oil (preserved with natural mixed tocopherols), Potato Fiber, Natural Flavor, Salmon Oil, Flaxseed, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Inulin, Taurine, L-Carnitine, Vitamin E Supplement, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Manganese Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Riboflavin (Vitamin B-2), Vitamin D Supplement, Folic Acid (Vitamin B).

And here's the NB website if that helps with anything at all.. Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance® Pet Foods :1

What are the different things that dogs most commonly have allergies to? Is it possible that they all have allergies to the same things? I have talked to the vet about this and we thought that it was just because they were getting use to the better and/ or new food, so the vet said that's probably what it is. They are healthy and have been healthy, but for some reason they just don't seem to be getting use to either of these foods or they are having some kind of reaction to something that's in both of these foods. Can I get them tested somehow to see if they have food allergies? My moms two dogs had the same problem with their stool and once my mom started feeding them the NB Sweet Potato and Fish they got better, so that's why I was thinking about trying that next. I don't know, I just don't want their tummies to hurt, I don't want them to feel sick or uncomfortable and we have been trying to get this to go away for at least two months now. I guess I'll talk to the vet on the 25th and see what they say we should do.

[dogpaw]

Licking of the paws is sometimes due to grass allergies. It could also be a habit they have gotten into. Rita licks her paws as well.

If they like the Duck and Potatoe and their stools are good then I would keep them on that food. How long have they been on the new food?

[cleosmom]

The top three common allergens in a dog's diet are corn, wheat and soy.

Moving on to stools; stools should be firm, not hard or soft. If it starts out firm and then goes soft toward the end of the BM then they are getting too much food.

I do know some breeds; Boxers, Bullies (English and American) have issues with Lamb. If you were in my retail I would suggest placing them on either Blackwood 5000 which is catfish and potato or Eagle Pack Duck and Oatmeal.

Make certain if you're giving them treat they are consistent with the diet; same brand and same blend.

[cleosmom]

Originally Posted by dogpaw

Licking of the paws is sometimes due to grass allergies.

Agreed, was going to suggest they could also have environmental allergies that could compound any food allergies. I know when my hayfever is active my food allergies are more so than normal.

[Hopes]

My labrador licked his paws due to a food allergy. Ever since we switched him from lamb and rice, he hasn't licked his paws at all.

[Turtle]

As people have mentioned, food allergies are commonly expressed through licking, itchiness, and a variety of skin problems. It sounds more like the dogs digestive tracts are just really not adjusting to the food. There are alot of really high quality foods out there that some dogs just don't tolerate in some way. I would get fecal sample tested and make sure there are no parasites in there, and if it comes back negative, maybe think about changing the food. Since it doesn't sound like there is any diarrhea where the dogs are actually unable to control it, I wouldn't be super worried for there health, but it may be worth considering a change to find something that keeps them 'normal'. You can also try adding a very small amount (like a small spoonful) of canned pumpkin to the food. My moms dog has a super sensitive stomach and if something changes in her routine or if she is on medication for something, she always gets diarrhea, and it helps her. One of my vets recommended it, and it has really helped her.

Good Luck