Allergies are becoming more and more common with people and dogs, particularly food and scent allergies. What are some clues your dog could be allergic to something?

Common dog allergy symptoms can include:

Itchy, red, moist or scabs on the skin Increased scratching Ear infection Itchy, watery eyes Itchy back or base of tail (most often this is a flea allergy) Itchy ears & ear infections Sneezing Vomiting Diarrhea Snoring caused by a swollen throat Paw biting/licking/swollen paws Rubbing the face Incessant licking

The worst of these canine symptoms is scratching, because an animal can scratch himself raw, which can possibly lead to secondary infections, excessive shedding, and loss of hair.

What Might Your Dog Be Allergic To? Tree, grass and weed pollens Cleaning chemicals Prescription medication Dust mites Mold spores Dander Feathers Rubber & plastic materials Cigarette smoke Food products Fleas and flea-control products Perfumes Fabrics Shampoo products

How to Identify What Your Dog is Allergic to

Are your dogs allergies seasonal or do the allergy symptoms for your dog seem to happen all year round? If the symptoms are all year round, one thing you can try is to switch out your dog's food. The most noticeable symptoms for dog food allergies are licking, scratching, and a variety of skin problems.

Have you recently made a change in your dogs routine since the allergy issues started? You may need to sort through the above allergy list one by one and possibly make changes until you have narrowed down the reason.

Remember, even though your dog might have the above issues, he may not have allergies. He may be having problems from any number of other medical conditions, such as fleas, worms, or hormonal disorders. See your veterinarian to be sure.

Might your dog have allergy symptoms? What are the symptoms for dog allergies?