Can Dog Food Allergies Cause Ear Infections

Mass In The Ear Canal

Dogs with recurrent ear infections may have a mass or tumor in their ear canal causing the issue. Common ear canal tumors include polyps, ceruminous gland adenomas, and adenocarcinomas. These usually come with waxy or bloody discharge in one ear, a foul odor, head shaking or ear scratching, and swelling.

What Can Trigger An Ear Infection In Dogs

Dog ear infections are fairly prevalent and can be caused by a variety of factors.

One of the most common causes is allergies. Just like people, dogs can be allergic to pollen, dust, and other things in their environment. When their allergies flare up, it can cause inflammation in their ear canal, which leads to an infection.

Another common cause of ear infections is excess moisture in the ear. This could be from swimming, showering, or even just being out in the rain. When moisture stays in the ear for too long, it provides a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi, which can cause an infection.

In addition, a buildup of residue or wax can also collect in the ears, especially in dogs with floppy, long ears like Cocker Spaniels and Hounds.

If your dog is prone to ear infections, there are a few things you can do to help prevent them. First, try to keep their ears as clean and dry as possible. If they swim often, use a dog-specific ear cleaner after each swim.

One of the major factors contributing to dog ear infections is their nutrition. Up to 80% of dogs with food sensitivities may have an ear infection at some stage of life! Feeding a top-quality, hypoallergenic dog food is one of the best ways to avoid these nasty infections that can lead to several complications requiring more serious medical care.

Symptoms Of Allergies In Dogs

The symptoms of allergies in dogs may vary depending on the cause. A dog that goes into anaphylactic shock, for instance, will have a drop in blood pressure followed by shock, which is very different from a skin condition.

In general, however, the following symptoms could be a sign of an allergic reaction.

• Swelling of the face, ears, lips, eyelids, or earflaps
• Red, inflamed skin

Recommended Reading: Can Quitting Smoking Cause Allergies

Other Natural Ways To Treat Dogs Ear Infection

And if you prefer a more natural approach for treating your dogs ear infection, these tips might come in handy:

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple Cider Vinegar is the magic ingredient that could help kill bacteria and yeast and help your dog recover from an ear infection. The acetic content of the component can also help remove scale and dirt from the ears. However, be cautious before applying ACV on the ear if it appears too red or swollen. It can cause a lot of pain to your dog. Allow the infected area to dry up and gently apply the ACV with a cotton ball. See a vet if the problem persists.

Mullein and Calendula

The antifungal and antibacterial properties of these plants make them an excellent natural treatment for curing a dogs ear infection.

Add a few leaves of these plants in separate jars with garlic and olive oil. Let calendula sit for four days and mullein for 2-3 weeks. Strain the mixtures and apply gently with a cotton ball to the infected ear.

Oregano Oil

The natural oregano oil can help treat ear infection as it has rich antibacterial properties. Apply the oil directly on the infected ear if its not too red or itchy. You can choose to dilute the oil to avoid pain or irritation when doing it for the first time.

Coconut Oil

Signs Of An Ear Infection

Ear infections can be quite painful for your pet, so youll most likely notice signs of discomfort. Some more specific signs that are typical of pets battling an ear infection include:

• Crusting or scabs in the ear
• Redness or swelling in the ear canal
• Scratching at the infected ear
• Shaking or tilting their head

Don’t Miss: What Does A Gluten Allergy Look Like

Red Brown Or Bronze Nail Beds

This is easiest to observe in dogs with white nails, such as white bully breeds, Dalmatians, Boxers, Bulldogs and Spaniels.

What It Looks Like: You may notice that the base of your dogs nails are red, even bloody-looking. This is the sign of an inflammatory immune response. Your dogs white nails should be white, with a pink quick. A red, brown, or red-brown nail bed base indicates that something is up. Nails may be sensitive and your dog appears to itch or lick them often.

What It Means: Food allergy.

But First! Rule Out Foot injury , thyroid disorders.

Try This

Because this is systemic, youll want to conduct a food-elimination diet to identify the trigger food. Keep the space between your dogs toes clean and by using a cotton ball soaked in witch hazel.

In Some Cases Its Not The Food

While the bulk of ear infections are caused by food, dogs can also be allergic to dust mites, grasses, or any sort of pollen or plant material. This can sometimes manifest itself in ears and skin.

Those, of course, are a lot harder to avoid than foodand all these allergies are cumulative. So if your dog is allergic to something in their food and then they get hit with something in the springtime, that can compound and now you have a really uncomfortable and itchy dog with ear infections in both ears.

We always tell owners of dogs who have multiple ear infections that we want to address the food first, even if thats not the primary cause. Theres really no reason for the dog to be eating something that its allergic to.

Once we get them off of that food, hopefully, it helps keep the dog from getting additional ear infections. Then we can try to address the environmental allergenswhich is a lot more difficult because generally, that is where we end up having to do some sort of medication. Unlike with restrictive diets, avoiding the world just isnt possible.

Allergy shots can also be an option, but sometimes those arent as effective. It could be compliance of the owners giving the shots, or it could be that it takes a year for them to really take effect.

Either way, we usually end up doing some sort of allergy medication in the season that the animal is having a problem to try to prevent the ear infection.

Also Check: How To Give Allergy Shots

Dog Food Allergy Test And Other Diagnosis Methods

So, how can you tell if your dog is allergic to food? First, it’s helpful to know how you might distinguish a food allergy from an environmental one. “Environmental or flea allergies are far more common,” explains Shmalberg. If you suspect either of those, consult your vet, who can help identify and treat fleas, or do a combination of blood tests and/or intradermal allergy testing to assess environmental allergies.

But if your dog has the following signs, talk to your vet about setting up an elimination diet trial.

Telltale Signs Your Dog May Have a Food Allergy :

• If the symptoms occur at a very young agetypically, puppies younger than age 1 don’t experience environmental allergies
• If the symptoms aren’t tied to a seasonal change or don’t change in different parts of the country
• If the reaction doesn’t respond to steroids
• If your dog has both skin and gastrointestinal symptoms

Dog Food Elimination Diet

It’s also important you refrain from feeding treats, table scraps, snacks, and flavored medications and supplements of any kind that don’t match the specific ingredient combo you’re using for the trial. After at least eight weeks, to truly prove the food allergy, you must then feed the original foodthe suspected allergic protein or proteinsagain. If there’s a reaction or breakout at that point, that’s a pretty good indication of an allergy.

Other Types of Dog Food Allergy Testing

Aside from elimination diets, there are a couple of other test options worth a look.

What Is The Best Dog Food For Ear Infections

Since dogs with allergies are more prone to ear infections, feeding them a nourishing diet that avoids irritating additives and allergens is a great first step. In fact, some food allergies can even cause ear infections, so the best dog food for ear allergies will contain complete nutrition to maintain their health whilst avoiding ingredients you know will make your pup unwell.

A great way of ensuring that your dog wont eat anything theyre allergic to is by buying personalised food.

Preventing allergies is important because rubbing and scratching at itchy skin can cause infections. This is why many vets suggest trying a grain-free dog food for ear infections, as wheat is a common allergen and could trigger both skin and ear infections.

There are other ingredients that could be causing your pets illness, and a vet may advise a hypoallergenic diet to combat re-occurring infections. But, plenty of pups see a fantastic improvement in their health and reduced irritation when eating Pure.

Pure offers various grain-free dog food recipes and our plans are personalised to your pup so theyll never have to worry about eating a known allergen again.

Tell us more about your dog so we can recommend the perfect personalised recipe to help prevent allergies and infections, and ensure their bowls are licked clean and tails are always wagging!

Read Also: What Are The Side Effects Of Allergy Shots

Dog Food Allergy Treatment

Dog food allergy treatment boils down to one underlying principle: identify foods your dog is allergic to and avoid feeding him those. “That’s why the elimination diet and trial period is so essential,” says Shmalberg, “as it’s the only way to identify which foods, and food proteins, a dog can tolerate and which he can’t.” Now, if it’s a food intolerance rather than an allergy , a food trial is still helpful, but a simple change of diet can be just as effective. “A diet with a different composition from the one currently being fed is often enough to improve symptoms,” Shmalberg explains.

Unless formulated well, with the advice of a board certified or residency-trained veterinary nutritionist, many homemade diets are deficient in certain critical nutrients.

Aside from that, there are a few other tactics that come up in dealing with food allergies and intolerances. Here’s a brief overview, plus considerations, pros, and cons for each.

Antihistamines and Other Medications

Homemade Dog Food Diets

Vegan Dog Food Diets

Skin Conditions Caused By Parasitic Or Seasonal Allergies

Flea dermatitis is the most common reason for feline and canine skin conditions, followed by a seasonal allergy to pollen and mold. Biting at their skin, scratching until they break the skin and constantly licking their skin are signs your pet may have flea dermatitis. If you see tiny, black specks peppering your pets fur near the surface of the skin, the dirt is probably dried blood specks left behind by fleas which have feasted on your pets blood. Loss of hair, scabs and inflamed ears may indicate your pet is allergic to fleas or something in his indoor or outdoor environment.

You May Like: When Is Peak Allergy Season

Spotting Diagnosing And Treating Dog Ear Infections

As we travel around treating pets, we see a lot of the same problems popping up more often. One such issue thats always prevalent is dogs with ear infections. And as we treat them, we invariably end up answering a variety of questions about them.

Pet owners want to know things like:

• What causes dogs to get ear infections?
• What are the signs that a dog has an ear infection?
• What are some of the treatment options for them, both at home and vet-based remedies?

Given that dog ear infections are so common among our patients, we thought wed spend the time to answer some of those questions here.

Precise Diagnosis Needed For A Dogs Ear Infections

If your dog is showing any of the common signs of ear infections, its important to visit your veterinarian as soon as possible. Quick treatment is necessary not only for your dogs comfort , but also to prevent the spread of infection to the middle and inner ear. Do not try to treat ear infections at home.

Be prepared to provide your vet with a thorough history of the problem. This is especially important for first-time infections, or if you are seeing a new veterinarian. Your vet will want to know the following:

• Duration of any symptoms, such as pain, swelling, discharge, and odor
• If your dog has any allergies or other underlying medical conditions
• If your dog is on medication
• What your dog has been eating
• How often you clean your dogs ears and which products you use
• If youve trimmed or plucked the hair in your dogs ears
• Recent activities, such as baths, grooming, or swimming
• If your dog has a history of ear infections, when they occurred, and how they were treated

After obtaining your dogs history, your veterinarian will perform a physical examination. In severe cases, your vet may also recommend sedating your dog to facilitate examination deep within the ear canal. Your vet will evaluate both ears, and the exam may include:

Recommended Reading: Can Allergies Cause Inflammation In The Body

Most Common Dog Food Allergens

Wondering what is in dog food that causes allergies? Meat, dairy, and eggs are often thought to be the most common dog food allergens, says Dr. Shmalberg. Yet generally, its the protein part of those foods that tend to be problematic, rather than, say, the meat itself. Keep in mind, veggies can contain protein, so theyre not automatically safe.

BMC Veterinary Research identified some of the most frequently reported dog food allergens involved in adverse food reactions. Heres a look, from most-reported to least-reported.

Top Dog Food Allergens

Dr. Shmalberg calls out two important caveats to keep in mind here. First, newer research is needed. Many of the studies out there, and those sourced in this review, are older, when dog foods were being made and processed differently than they are today. Allergies tend to change over time along with foods, and as new studies emerge, we may see different allergens rising to the top of the list.

Second, the more common a food is, the more likely the allergy. For an allergy to a food to develop, a dog needs to be exposed to that food, says Dr. Shmalberg. That may explain why the proteins most commonly found in dog food, like beef and chicken, fall higher on the list.

Here are more facts about dog food allergens that are helpful to know:

Where theres one allergy, there may be more. Its estimated that more than a third of dogs with one food allergy are allergic to at least one additional food.

Types Of Dog Ear Infections

There are three types of ear infections that dog owners should watch out for – otitis externa, media, and interna. Otitis externa is the most common and causes inflammation which affects the cells that line the outer/visible part of your dog’s ear canal.

This type of infection occurs when the outer ear becomes infected with yeast, cocci bacteria or rod bacteria. Fortunately, otitis externa can be easily managed and treated but should be handled with urgency to prevent the infection from developing into the more severe otitis media or interna.

Otitis media is when the middle part of the ear becomes inflamed and likely infected by bacteria, yeast or fungi. Some dogs with otitis externa will also have otitis media due to the infection spreading or a foreign object penetrating the eardrum.

Otitis interna is the third type of ear infection and is identified by inflammation/infection of the inner ear. It’s usually caused by unresolved otitis media which spreads and gets progressively worse. Inner ear infections are commonly caused by bacteria, but fungus/yeast can also be to blame.

Also Check: What Kind Of Carpet Is Best For Allergies

What Does A Dog Ear Infection Smell Like

If you notice your dogs ears smelling musty or sickeningly sweet, she may have a yeast infection in her ears. This problem may cause pain, itching, swelling, redness, and sometimes oozing discharge along with the smell. It is a common problem in dogs ears because a dogs ears are a prime location for Candida to grow.

Common Sources Of Food Allergies

Soy, corn, wheat, eggs and dairy products are common triggers of food allergies suffered by dogs while cats may be allergic to dairy products, beef or fillers . Poor quality, large molecule proteins in these foods are difficult to break down, which causes the body to inadvertently absorb bigger than normal proteins that the immune system does not recognize. Consequently, your pets immune system releases chemical mediators and antibodies to combat these foreign molecules. In dogs and cats, classic signs of pet food allergies are called rears and ears symptoms and include:

• Recurring ear infections, especially yeast infections
• Increase in bowel movements
• Weight loss without reduced appetite

Food allergy symptoms can be mild or severe, depending on how much of the culprit food your pet eats and how strong his immune system reacts to protein allergens.

Also Check: When Does Allergy Season End Spring

How Can I Tell If My Dog Has An Ear Infection

There are a few ways to tell if your dog has an ear infection. Generally, if your dog is shaking their head or itching their ear with their back leg, they probably have an ear infection.

Sometimes, theres also a smell. Maybe theres a strong odor coming from your dog, and even after a bath, the odor persists. In this case, just do the sniff test at the ear. In most dogs, there is a yeast component, so it almost smells like a yeasty bread odor.

So while an ear infection can be as severe as seeing some discharge coming from your dogs ear, generally if they have an infection, theyll be shaking their head, scratching their ear, or have an odor that you cant identify.