Allergies are a symptom of a suppressed immune system that at times have been pointed toward genetics. I would agree with issues such as grass or other natural substances but as a groomer, I have seen it over a thousand times...when a vet tells a client their dog has food allergies, the dog is on a poor diet or the dog is given treats ...junk treats with red dyes. Clients that listen to my suggestion for a higher quality dog food have excellent results. Veterinarians do not get schooled on nutrition. Sometimes they will tell clients to go with lamb and rice products but never mention higher quality. And sadly they generalize with meat products when most of the time the commercial dog food is junk. If the body is not getting the proper amount of nutrition, the immune system gradually wears down into suppression hence the allergies. Grocery store food...junk. Dr Pitcairns wrote a book on Natural Healing for Dogs and Cats. To read this, one would never give their dog kibble again. I am a true believer in "we are what we eat" and today things are quick and in a box. Did you know the AAFCO which approves dog food is legally allowed to stamp the bag with 100% complete nutrition as long as the food will keep your dog alive for 5 years?

Once the body is in a state of suppression, the dog will worsen when put on a better dog food as the toxins leave the body until the body has detoxed. So the average person runs their dog to the vet to have the vet prescribe Prednisone (synthetic steroid used to boost the immune system). Prednisone temporarily boosts the immune system but in the long run lowers it. So the client sees that their dog is getting better and when the body has to take over, again the immune system can not handle the allergens in the food. It becomes a vicious cycle. Now the one I love the most is when the vet will tell the client to put the dog on a food that is not much better than the grocery store food and is made at the same manufacturer with a different label. It's a vicious cycle. And if the dog scratches, which most dogs do because they are miserable, then a bacterial infection can set in resulting in antibiotics. The antibiotics heal the skin, the client thinks the dog is better, they feed the same foods but sure enough...back to the vet they go in due time. The vet makes money, the owner believes they are doing what is best for the poor dog and until the food is changed, the cycle continues until gradually the dog's body is too weak. Wolves never hunted for kibble.

Until a dog is serum tested to find out exactly what the cause of the allergen most vets will blame it on food and pass it off as genetics and poor breeding.