Food allergies affect a significant proportion of dogs, causing chronic skin and gastrointestinal problems that substantially reduce quality of life when undiagnosed or mismanaged.
Dogs with undiagnosed food allergies experience relentless pruritus - itching so intense that animals cause self-trauma through scratching and chewing. Chronic skin infections secondary to food allergies cause pain, odor, and social withdrawal. The diagnostic process requires strict dietary control that can be challenging for owners, meaning many dogs suffer for months or years before receiving an accurate diagnosis. Recurrent ear infections associated with food allergies cause pain and potential hearing loss. Once the causative allergen is identified and eliminated, most dogs experience dramatic quality of life improvements, making accurate diagnosis transformative for animal welfare.