As a pet parent, you want what is best for your furry buddy. But food allergies are a reality. They are not just uncomfortable, but your dog might have it without you knowing it. 

Here are some common causes that can lead to food allergies and the early signs you should be aware of:

• Chicken
  Chicken is one of the most common protein sources, but it is also a common food allergen. If you feed your dog chicken every day, then it can become allergic to it. This applies to other types of meats, such as beef as well.
• Soy
  Soy can lead to food allergies. While it might be a preferred food for many humans, there are many risks involved if they consume soy for dogs. Soy can lead to thyroid, growth issues, and liver disease too, in some dogs.
• Wheat
  Wheat is one of the most common causes of food allergies in dogs. Although many dogs are prone to have food allergies due to meat, some dogs experience food allergies due to wheat and other grains. You should speak to your vet to know which grains are alright for your dog and which aren’t.
• Lamb
  Lamb is one of the common causes of food allergies, and back in the day, when many dogs were allergic to beef or chicken, the lamb was the preferred option. However, dogs can be allergic to lamb meat too. If your dog is allergic to lamb, then you can opt for sweet potato instead.
• Dairy
  Dogs can have trouble digesting lactose, but this is often due to lactose intolerance. Lactose intolerance and allergy exhibit the same symptoms. However, a food allergy will lead to frequent itchy skin.

Early signs:

•   Bronzing around the lips
  An early sign of food allergy is inflamed and pink feet, lips, or skin. This can be caused due to food allergy. This is more noticeable in those dog breeds which have white coats. You should rule out sunburn and yeast infection first. If your dog itches those inflamed areas, then it can be a food allergy.
• Watery eyes
  You might notice your dog has a goopy discharge from his eyes or he scratches his eyes frequently. You might even notice it sheds tears quite often, which stain his eye area and cause irritation too. You should rule out eye trauma first.
• Chronic ear infections
  If your dog requires two or more ear infections treatments, it can mean he has food allergies. You should rule out swimmer’s ear, yeast infections, and ear mites, though. Ear infections smell bad, and they have a build-up that looks brownish or blackish.
• Dull coat, red underbelly, and itchy skin
  When all of these signs appear together, then it can mean your dog has a food allergy. You might notice your dog is losing patches of hair in certain areas due to constant itching. You will notice the skin is pinkish or reddish, inflamed, and dry.
• Brown, red, or bronze-colored nail beds
  You should look for signs of different colored nail beds. Your dog’s nail beds might appear bloody, in which case it can indicate food allergies. Generally, a healthy dog without food allergy will have white nails. You should rule out thyroid disorders and foot injury.