What foods cause eczema in dogs?

When we welcome dogs into our homes, they become the warmest companions in our lives. We sincerely hope that our dogs will grow up healthily and happily. However, sometimes dogs may unexpectedly develop eczema. Seeing them scratching their itchy skin and feeling uncomfortable, the owners' hearts ache with worry. Among the many factors that trigger eczema in dogs, food plays an important role.

A dog's digestive system is relatively more sensitive than that of humans. Some foods may cause allergic reactions, which in turn lead to eczema. Protein-rich foods are common allergens. For example, beef, which is a main ingredient in many types of dog food, can be the source of an allergic reaction for some dogs. Certain protein molecules in beef may be misjudged by the dog's immune system as foreign harmful substances, thus triggering an immune response. Once the immune system is over-activated, it will release chemicals such as histamine. These substances will dilate the blood vessels in the dog's skin and increase its permeability, resulting in eczema symptoms such as red patches and itching on the skin. Just imagine that a once lively and lovely dog becomes uncomfortable due to eating beef and keeps scratching with its paws, even scratching the skin until it bleeds. How heartbroken the owner must be.

Dairy products are also a type of food that can easily cause eczema in dogs. Many dogs lack lactase, an enzyme that can digest lactose in milk, and thus cannot fully digest and absorb it. The undigested lactose ferments in the intestine, which will change the intestinal environment, increase the permeability of the intestinal mucosa, allowing some large-molecule substances to more easily enter the bloodstream, and then trigger an allergic reaction. This is manifested as eczema on the skin. Some owners feel sorry for their dogs and occasionally feed them milk, but they don't expect that their well-intentioned act turns out to be a bad thing. When they see patches of red rashes on their dogs' bodies, they feel filled with self-blame.

Seafood is quite attractive to dogs, but it also poses hidden risks. The special proteins contained in seafood such as shrimp, crab, and shellfish can also be allergens. After dogs consume them, they may develop eczema symptoms such as skin redness, swelling, and hair loss. Especially for dogs with an allergic constitution, the probability of being allergic to seafood is even higher. For example, a dog that usually likes to eat snacks, after eating snacks containing seafood ingredients, quickly experiences itching on the skin around its face and ears and keeps rubbing on the ground. When the owner discovers this, they are extremely anxious and rush to take the dog to see a veterinarian.

In addition to the above types of foods, some grains may also cause eczema in dogs. For example, gluten contained in wheat may cause allergies in some dogs. In some inexpensive dog foods, wheat is widely used as the main source of carbohydrates. If dogs eat this type of dog food for a long time, they may gradually develop skin problems, such as an increase in dandruff and more severe itching, which may then progress to eczema.

When suspecting that a dog's eczema is caused by food, the owner can try a food elimination test on the dog. First, stop feeding the foods that may cause allergies, and choose a hypoallergenic dog food, or make homemade food mainly composed of a single protein source (such as relatively less allergenic meats like duck meat and venison) and specific vegetables. Observe the changes in the dog's skin condition over a period of time (usually 2 to 3 weeks). If the eczema symptoms are relieved, it is very likely that the previous food caused the allergy. After that, other foods can be gradually introduced, adding only one type at a time, and observing the dog's reaction to determine the specific allergen.

As dog owners, we should always pay attention to the dietary health of our dogs. When choosing dog food and snacks, carefully check the ingredient list and try to avoid foods containing common allergens. When a dog develops eczema, don't panic. Patiently look for the cause and adjust the diet. Because dogs give us unconditional love and companionship, we have the responsibility to protect their health with scientific methods, so that they can stay by our side for a long time and continue to bring joy to our lives.