My dog is itchy. How to tell if it's food or environmental allergies?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Boston Terrier | Male | neutered | 22 lbs
My Boston Terrier has become very itchy! How can I tell if it’s food allergies or environmental allergies?
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on September 15th, 2019
I'd have Mushu seen by a vet. Typically environmental allergies are much more common than food allergies (only 10% of dogs with allergies have a food allergy), but the vet can run tests and may suggest a diet trial to diagnose what is going on. I hope this helps!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on December 3rd, 2018
There are many possibly allergens for dogs. We can have a flea allergy (the most common allergy in dogs), an allergy to a food ingredient (most often the protein source such as chicken, soy, dairy), or an airborne/environmental allergen such as dust mites, grasses/pollens. You can read more about allergies in dogs at https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952662 .
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Health & Wellbeing
What are some symptoms of food allergies in dogs? How are they different from environmental allergies?
The most common sign of a food allergy in dogs is persistent, intense itching. Similarly, food allergies can lead to ear infections and recurrent skin infections. Unless a dog’s diet is changed seasonally, food allergies tend to result in year-round itching, whereas environmental allergies wax and wane throughout the year.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Food & Nutrition
My dog has a chronically itchy butt, even after having her anal glands expressed. Lately she's also been rubbing her face on the carpet, blankets, etc. She doesn't have any gastro issues, no hot spots, ear problems or itchy paws. Could this be food-r
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing her allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. This could be either environmental or food related. Unfortunately, it is not specific to any of those possibilities. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Training & Behavior
My dog has some red spots and they got a bit bigger like if he’s scratching there all the time, and he scratches the eyes too
Poor guy. It sounds like Bruce has skin allergies. Allergic dermatitis can be caused by something in his food or the environment, or both. THe top food allergens are chicken, beef, turkey and lamb, so these protein sources should be avoided. Its best to go with novel proteins such as rabbit, duck, kangaroo, etc. Here is a website link that talks about skin allergies more in detail. https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951973 I would then consider starting a food trial with him with prescription foods from your vet. However, since a food trial can take 2-3 months to show improvement its best to take him to your vet to start allergy medication (i.e. Apoquel, Cytopoint) to help calm his skin down immediately while we try to implement long term management treatments. My top hypoallergenic foods are Royal Canin Rabbit and Potato, Royal Canin ultamino and Hll's Z/D ultra. Best of luck with Bruce and his itchy skin and eyes! Take care.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
What are the most common things that dogs develop allergies over?
There are many possibly allergens for dogs. We can have a flea allergy (the most common allergy in dogs), an allergy to a food ingredient (most often the protein source such as chicken, soy, dairy), or an airborne/environmental allergen such as dust mites, grasses/pollens. You can read more about allergies in dogs at https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952662 .
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dog is scratching and licking constantly. We first thought a food allergy but have tried numerous brands of grain free (including the blue buffalo brand), I only bathe him monthly to avoid drying his skin out but wipe him down every night since he
Poor pup! It sounds like you are trying a lot to help him. He could have environmental allergies, fleas, or mites causing the itching. If he isn't up to date on his flea treatment, he will need a spot on treatment such as Advantage or Revolution. You will need to disinfect the environment as well. If he is up to date on his flea treatment, I recommend taking him into the vet for an exam. The vet can do blood tests and skin scrapings diagnose allergies or mites. Once the cause of the itching is found, the vet can prescribe the appropriate treatment. I recommend taking him into the vet tomorrow during normal business hours.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My nine year old Schnauzer has severe itching. The vet says it is allergies. The dog seems to have thinning of fur and you can see round, black marks on skin. Also, the skin that is very thin looks red. He has had shots and oral meds for itching
Hello, and thank you for your question. Allergies are challenging problems, and most cases are never cured, but only managed long term. Have you ruled out whether his allergies are related to food, or environment, or both? To rule out food allergies, your dog will need to be on a veterinary hypoallergenic diet for at least 8 weeks with no other treats. If he improves on the diet, then we know he has a food allergy. However, a lot of dogs also have concurrent environmental allergies. There are tests that can be done to test for allergies to pollen, trees, molds, dust mites, etc. I would always start by doing a hypoallergenic diet trial. During this time, he may need to continue on some type of anti-inflammatory medication for the itching (and many allergy dogs need to stay on medication life-long). There are newer allergy drugs on the market now that are safer than steroids - I would ask your vet about these options. Oftentimes allergies are accompanied by secondary bacterial or fu
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
How do I know if my dog have allergies from the food?
Hello and thank you very much for reaching out to our service. The most common clinical symptoms of a dog who is allergic to their food have elements of gastrointestinal and dermatologic. So the gastrointestinal signs will be soft store or diarrhea off and on. The dermatologic symptoms of food allergies are licking chewing at paws, chronic ear infections, and chewing or rubbing its rear end. If your dog is displaying any of the symptoms, I urge you to take him to the veterinarian as soon as possible for them to start a 8-10 week hypoallergenic dietary trial. I hope this information has helped you. Have a great day.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
What is the most accurate allergy test?My dog is suffering from severe allergies . She’s on the steroid rn and special food,but I would like to know for sure what is causing her allergies. Than you in advance.
For food allergies, the best test is a food trial in which your dog doesn't eat any of a particular food for 3 months, and then if the allergy symptoms go away, you feed the old food again, and if the symptoms come back with the old food, it means she was indeed allergic to the food you were testing. As far as environmental allergies, there isn't a clear conscience on what the best test is. It can either be a blood test or a skin test. I think most dermatologist still recommend the skin test as best, but it does require going to a dermatologist and having her off steroids for some number of days (the amount depends on the particular dermatologist). I would also recommend checking with a dermatologist to make sure it's ok for her to be on steroids when you do the blood testing if you go that way. The results of either type of test for environmental allergies are used to make shots to help the body learn to react less to the allergens. This takes several months to a year. Wishing you t
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My pet has rashes in his knees and some kind of allergy on his skin . Is it due to food ? What else could it be ?
Skin allergies can be due to environmental allergens such as pollen, or flea allergy, as well as food allergies. However, food allergies are the most rare of the causes. It is also possible that Mitu has a secondary bacterial or yeast infection as well- they are very common sequelae to skin allergies. A soothing oatmeal based shampoo may bring some comfort while you are trying to get in to see the veterinarian.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dog still has allergies, it's been a really long time and still no cure. I eliminated chicken from the diet and substituted with fish. However he still scratches, he seems to be losing weight, has hair loss, mostly scratches his neck area. Is it p
I would not try a vegan diet with Toughy. It is not nutritionally appropriate for dogs. I would recommend talking to your veterinarian to see if you can get something called Apoquel or Cytopoint where you are. These are great allergy medications that helps tremendously. It most likely is environmental allergies. Thank you for using Boop by Petco.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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