Food allergies can affect human beings and pets alike. Unfortunately for the latter, they have a harder time expressing distress, and the diagnosis depends on how fast the pet parents realize that something is wrong. To ensure they receive timely treatment, as a pet parent, there are a few common symptoms of food allergies in dogs that you should know about. These signs will tell you when to contact the vet.

• Chronic ear itching and inflammation:  Dogs can be used to a certain type of food all their life and suddenly get allergic to it. One of the most common symptoms of food allergies in dogs is itchy and inflamed ears. Do you take your dog regularly to the vet to treat ear infections? Does your dog keep itching its ear obsessively? The problem could be a food item they are allergic to.
• Non-stop scratching of the body:  For some dogs, only the ears itch because of a food allergy. For others, the whole body itches to an extreme extent. Some dogs with severe food allergic reactions seem to go mad, biting, scratching, and licking themselves all over the body, and this is one of the sure signs of a food allergy you should attend to.
• Discoloration around the lips:  Do your dog’s lips suddenly look inflamed, and is the area a vivid red or brown in color? The inflammation and the discoloration can both point to an allergy caused by a food item. Such inflammation can prevent the dog from eating normally. You should talk to your vet for some soothing solutions to help them.
• Coughing and sneezing:  Among the common symptoms of food allergies in dogs is chronic coughing and sneezing. When the dog develops an allergy towards an ingredient, the body considers the food a foreign particle and tries to push it out. This can lead to respiratory conditions that include coughing, wheezing, and even sneezing constantly. In dogs, constant sneezing is a definite symptom of an allergic reaction.
• Flatulence:  Food allergies can cause gastrointestinal trouble and the food that causes an allergy can be poorly digested by the system. This can result in flatulence or the passing of gas.
• Watery eyes:  Some dogs can develop watery eyes because of potential food allergies. The eyes can water and also have a gooey discharge that comes out. Just because the eye does not look hurt, does not mean that you should ignore the fact that this can be one of the symptoms of food allergies in dogs.
• Itchy rear end:  Compulsive itching and biting of the rear end can be a sign of digestive disorders because of food allergies. You should get this checked by your vet.

All these symptoms of food allergies in dogs can vary depending on the breed you own and the age of the pooch. You will have to follow the elimination method to stop the foods you commonly feed your dog and introduce them one by one to understand what caused the condition.