Chronic ear infections are one of many side effects of food allergies in dogs. Caused by yeast, these infections will often reappear until the food allergy is diagnosed and the problem ingredient removed from the dog's diet.
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Significance
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Food allergies can cause recurrent yeast infections in a dog's ear. The food allergen causes changes in the ear, affecting the dog's natural defenses against organisms and infection and creating an environment where yeast can easily grow and multiply.
Symptoms
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To determine if a canine ear infection is caused by food allergies, look for other signs of food allergies. Symptoms include intense itching, recurring skin infections, sneezing, coughing, watery eyes, vomiting and diarrhea. Ear infections can cause itchy and smelly ears along with swelling, discharge, buildup and redness.
Considerations
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Food allergies develop over time and are often caused by the colorings, preservatives and fillers in commercial dog foods or treats. Hypoallergenic or specialty foods given to the dog for a prescribed amount of time can relieve symptoms and allow you to introduce certain foods back into the diet to determine which is causing the allergic reaction.
Prevention
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Common causes of food allergies include corn, rice, soy, beef and chicken. Choose a healthy dog food with a small number of quality ingredients and talk to your vet about a healthy diet for your dog for every stage of life.
Warning
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Symptoms of food allergies can be similar to other health conditions, such as mange and flea hypersensitivity.
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