If you have never had a dog with a food allergy, you probably have no idea what symptoms to watch for. In fact, most dog owners don't understand the indications of a food allergy until they lead to a veterinarian's visit. Here's a look at some of the things that you should watch for that may help you recognize a food allergy in your dog before it leads to serious illness. 

Hot Spots

Itchy, red, balding spots on your dog, often called hot spots, are a sign of a potential food allergy. These can also be an indication of flea allergies or something similar, so make sure you treat your dog for fleas and ticks before assuming that hot spots are the result of a food allergy.

Leg Chewing

Some people think that a dog chewing on its own leg is just a quirky personality trait, but the truth is that it's an indication of an itch reaction, typically caused by a food allergy. If your dog is chewing and licking its legs more frequently than you would expect them to be, that's a sign that your pet may have a food allergy.

Paw Licking

Dogs with a food allergy often lick their paws frequently and, sometimes, obsessively. If your dog spends a lot of time licking paws, that's another sign that there may be a food allergy issue. This usually occurs because the pads of the paws get irritated as a result of the allergic reaction.

Soft Stools

When your dog routinely eats something that triggers an allergy response, you may notice frequent soft stools. This is a systemic response because of the allergy. If you have dewormed your dog and ruled out worm infestation as the cause for soft stools and you're seeing any other indications of a food allergy, you'll want to talk with your veterinarian.

Face Rubbing

Food allergies can trigger itchiness in the face. If your dog is struggling with itches from a food allergy, you might notice a lot of face rubbing, on the floor, ground, furniture, and any other surface that your dog can reach.

Ear Infections

When you fail to recognize many of the other indications of a food allergy, your dog is likely to develop an ear infection as a result of the yeast and bacteria accumulation from the inflammation. If you fail to identify the food allergy trigger, those ear infections will continue to recur. 

These are some of the most common indications that your dog has a food allergy. Talk with an emergency veterinarian clinic such as South Seattle Veterinary Hospital about your concerns to determine what your dog might be allergic to so that you can eliminate it from their diet.