It is not as simple as having a simple test as there is not one available. It is likely your vet would try to rule out other problems first before he comes round to considering food allergies. Once he has reached that time, he will start a series of food elimination diets in an attempt to discover what is causing the dog to react.
If the problem is with more common food allergens, then it may not take too long but if it is something less common, then this process can go on for many months. What further complicates matters is that it is very likely a dog may be allergic to more than one thing and it can take a full 12 weeks to finally come up with any solid idea of what food is causing the dog problems.
Stable staple diet
It has often been said that when a dog is doing well on a particular brand then stick with it. May seem a little boring for the dog but the logic is that if he is not reacting negatively then why take risks with introducing new sources into his diet. However, generally switching food is ok as long as you are aware of the fact that new food can mean introducing something to the dog that he is allergic too.
Best to simply monitor food changes and not change it around too much as allergens can take a long time before they show themselves. If you added beef to his diet say 6 weeks ago and he is showing signs of a reaction then remove beef from his diet and if he regains his former glory then it is most likely the beef.
Study the ingredients of any new brand you try him on. Keep it as similar as possible to the one you have been feeding him. Introduce changes slowly.
The guilty foods
The most common offenders are chicken eggs, chicken, lamb, fish, corn, soy and wheat. The most likely cause is commercial dog foods that often carry these ingredients.
Prevent
Prevention is always better than cure and there are many of less allergenic dog foods on the market like holistic dog food.
It is not too surprising that many people simply put their dog on a commercial dog food diet as they are the least expensive and the cost of some of these holistic brands can be very high.
You will be feeling the dog has more spent on his diet than your own. If you are using a commercial dog food and he is showing no signs of problems then fine, stick to it as your dog is probably one of the 90% that does not develop a dog food allergy.
Intolerance
Dog food allergies and food intolerance are not the same. Food intolerance is simply that the dog’s system is rejecting certain foods and thus the vomiting and diarrhea. The same process of food elimination diets are the way to discover the offending food that the dog is rejecting.
Monitoring everything your dog eats is a good way of staying on top of the situation, as even if the dog is not having problems, you never know when he may suddenly start to. Being fully aware of his diet and changes in his diet can hasten diagnosis.
As in all cases of any allergic reaction, take your dog to the vet. Yes, the tests to eliminate other allergies are somewhat expensive but leaving it too long can mean your dog suffering for an unnecessary long amount of time.
For a more informed read on dog food allergies, their causes and treatment, click here.