When most people consider Basset Hounds and health problems, the first issues that may come to mind are ear infections and obesity, but it is possible for a more common and less recognizable issues to plague your dog - food allergies. Allergies to food are not typically a main health concern for bassets, but this does not mean that they cannot and will not occur.

Food allergies affect an estimated 10% of all dogs and can develop at any time during a canine's life. However, the ages between two and six are usually when a pooch is most susceptible. Therefore, just like humans, basset hounds can suddenly become allergic to foods that once never bothered them. Moreover, a dog may also suffer from food intolerance, which is not the same as an allergy, and can cause digestive distress.

Should your basset ever suffer from a food allergy or intolerance, it is important that you recognize the symptoms so you can alert your vet and help provide your pet with relief. Here are some signs to watch for:

• Itching, scratching and biting the skin

• Ear inflammation

• Frequent head shaking

• Hair loss

• Face rubbing

• Decrease in appetite

• Excessive feet licking

• Itchy anus/ dragging bum across the floor

What foods typically cause intolerance and allergies in dogs, such as basset hounds? Since not all canines are sensitive or have negative reactions to the same food, it is not always easy to determine the exact substances that can cause issues. Nevertheless, the most common foods that trouble our four-legged friends include:

• Protein - chicken, pork, beef, turkey, etc.

• Grains - corn, wheat, soy, etc.

• Milk products

• Preservatives

Should you suspect that your pooch has an allergy to food, you will need to bring up your concerns with your veterinarian. Your vet will likely suggest placing your pet on a food elimination diet, as this is really the only way to determine what foods do not agree with your basset hounds. To start, you will probably be given a specialty allergen-free food brand, and you will not be allowed to feed your pal anything but this food for about two months. This means no dinner scraps, dog treats, nothing - just his new food.

If his symptoms improve, he will then likely be given a low-allergen food. If he is still doing well after another two months, you will gradually be able to slowly add different foods into his diet and study his reactions to each.

That being said, should it turn out a basset hounds allergy symptoms are not improving after being placed on the elimination diet, this could mean his allergies stem from another source such as from the outside or your home environment. Unfortunately, bassets can be allergic to anything from pollen and dust, to the type of laundry detergent you use. Therefore, try to provide your dog with the same type of food and treats as often as you can, wash his bedding and blankets with a scent-free detergent or bleach, dust and vacuum whenever possible, and observe his reaction to the outdoors during allergy season. Hopefully this will help you to catch and pinpoint any allergies that may occur.