Does anybody else have a dog who developed food allergies in later life?

[surrealAmerican]

My 9-year-old dog, who has been on the same food since he was about a year old, now has all the symptoms of a food allergy. His food has not changed formulas recently, and there have been no other changes in his diet.

How common is this? I know allergies can develop with no known cause, but it just doesn't seem all that likely somehow.

I'm "transitioning" him to a homemade diet that includes none of the ingredients of his old kibble or treats. I hope his rash will clear up soon after the transition.

Any relevant advice, or anecdotes would be welcome.

[glinda]

1. Are you positive it is his food and not some new chemical in the house?

Where is his rash? Have you taken him to see a vet? I would. Rashes could be lots of things. Even or skin or flea bites or a bad immune system. Worth a blood test.

[surrealAmerican]

2. We've been to the vet, who, at first, thought it ...

... might be a seasonal allergy, but since he's still experiencing symptoms well into winter, he thinks dietary allergies are the most likely cause.

He first had anal gland issues, then a rash on his tail. Now his tail has cleared up (he's been on antihistamines), but he has a rash on his chin and chest.

We're not positive, but diet would seem to be a likely cause. Are blood tests conclusive for allergies, or would that be to rule out something else?

[glinda]

3. It does sound suspiciously like diet. Allergy tests are hit and miss but I was thinking more along

the line of a blood panel that might indicate infections or something.
I have a little five yr. old cat. About two years ago she started to get rashes and sore spots from licking her hair off. Indeed, she seems to have some mystery food allergies so is off all grains. She is even allergic to wheat and corn litter. She ate poisoned pet food 3 years ago too.I think this had something to do with bringing it on.
Bottom line issue for her is that we found out she has a compromised immune system as well as a heart deformity. Her diet has been changed and she gets some sort of a "shot" about three times a year which really helps her.
My Vet says he is seeing more and more dogs with allergies. What is your dog's diet?

[MadMaddie]

4. Yes. We have a Viszla mix who we fed the same food for years

he then started getting really bad ear infections. The Vet asked us what we were feeding him, at the time we were feeding him a chicken kibble, in fact it was the chicken protein that was causing his ear infections.

We immedietly switched his food to a "Trout and Sweet Potatoe" kibble and voila his ear infections cleared up. (Make sure to gradually change the food mixing the old kibble with the new kibble so your dogs tummy doesn't revolt).

On occassion he will get an ear infection if we try new treats and we usually find that the treat had some form of chicken protein.

The food we feed Max is Pinnacle Trout and Sweet Potatoe.
http://www.breeders-choice.com/dog_products/pinnacled.htm

Note: Our vet said that dogs and cats can develop allergies to different proteins, so in our case it was chicken, in your case it may be another type of protein.

Good Luck!

MadMaddie