how do you know it's a food allergy?

[tigerfan90]

ok ... none of the dogs I've ever had had food allergies so this is new to me but we switched Zoe's food when we got her. The breeder had her on Southern States Advanced Puppy (I know) ... and we changed her to Innova Puppy. She has done well for the most part (no loose stools ever). But I noticed a red bump on her chin 3 nights ago (interestingly enough while on the forum and reading an article on puppy acne ... some said could be a sign of food allergy). Then this morning I was reading a post on a puppy who chews it feet and someone said that could be a sign of a food allergy. We noticed that Zoe has started this at well. She doesn't lick her feet but rather chews at them aggressively (honestly our first fear was fleas but we've checked her over and nothing?). So now I'm worried it could be a food allergy but how do you know? The only other thing she eats are Biljack training treats and string cheese (as a treat from time to time). Thoughts? I don't want to jump to crazy conclusions but with this being our first pug and reading so much about allergies I'm just not sure.

[tigerfan90]

ok just found the "sticky" forum notes and read up on allergies. I may stop all cheese for right now and see what happens. I guess my biggest question is does this sound like an allergy or is this too mild a reaction and could be nothing?

[Tinker's mom]

Might be a food allergy and elimination can tell you what the culprit is.Cheese is a good starting place.

[Oregon Pug Mom]

I would stop the cheese & see what happens. Sometimes pugs just do crazy looking things just to do them!!
I don't know how old your baby is but my girl is almost 6 months--I asked my vet about food allergies when we had a bout of diarehia & she said true food allergies are rare before about 2 years--it's probably a baby tummy just finding her food to protein heavy or rich--so I changed to a max 27% protein food of the same Blue Buffalo & problem solved! I think these guys need a couple of good walks aday & play time to use up some of their puppy energy & that helps curb chewing & licking. I know not all will agree but it's something to think about.....

[Pugpillow]

Food allergies tend to show up after 2 years of age, although this is not always the case. I tend to suspect food allergies before environmental because in my experience they are the most common. But they are also the easiest to figure out, once you know what to look for. The first thing to check is an allergy to grains - corn and wheat being the biggies. Here's what Biljak training treats contain:

Chicken Liver, Chicken, Chicken By-Product Meal, Corn, Glycerin, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Wheat Flour, Propylene Glycol, Phosphoric Acid, Calcium Propionate and Potassium Sorbate and BHA and Citric Acid (preservatives), Iron Oxide.

So I'd be stopping those.

Innova puppy kibble isn't a bad food and the only grain-like stuff in that are rice and flaxseed. So I'd be inclined to treat with pieces of kibble. Then you will know if the cheese and Biljak treats were the culprit and whether the Innova is okay or not.

The symptoms sound mild enough right now but could get worse over time so you want to try to ensure the food is not the problem. The foregoing should tell you that. But the spot under her chin could be a bacterial infection/acne which many puppies get. Make sure you use stainless steel or ceramic (never plastic) feeding and water bowls and wipe her chin after eating.