Dog Allergy Symptom & Food Diary
Is it a food allergy or something in the environment? The only reliable way to tell is a strict elimination diet trial run with your vet, usually at least 8 weeks on one diet with nothing else, followed by a re-challenge with the old food. This one-page diary sets out the signs that point each way and the trial rules that matter most, and gives you a daily log for itch, ears, paws, stool and anything extra your dog ate, so you and your vet can see the pattern. Facts come from the Merck Veterinary Manual and a 2015 review in BMC Veterinary Research.
Fillable · bilingual EN/ES · vet-sourced, not a scanned template.
Got the free sheet? The full version → Dog Allergy Tracker & Elimination Diet $6.73 What's inside
- Food vs environmental allergy: the signs that point each way, in four short cards
- The elimination-diet rules that make or break a trial: one diet, no treats, unflavored parasite meds, other pets fed apart
- A fillable daily diary: itch score, ears, paws and skin, stool, anything else eaten, notes
- When to call your vet now, and when to book a visit
How to use it
- Start the diary the day your vet starts the trial diet, and fill in a line every day.
- Score itch the same way each day (0 is none, 10 is constant) so changes are easy to spot.
- Write down anything extra your dog ate, even a lick of a plate: it can explain a flare.
- Bring the diary to every recheck, including the re-challenge at the end of the trial.
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- How long does an elimination diet take?
- Usually at least 8 weeks. A 2015 review in BMC Veterinary Research found more than 90% of food-allergic dogs had improved by 8 weeks, the Merck Veterinary Manual mentions up to 10 weeks, and many vets plan 8–12. Your vet sets the length.
- Can I give treats during the trial?
- No. Treats, table food, rawhide, pill pockets, flavored supplements and flavored parasite medications can all contain the proteins you are trying to avoid and spoil the result. Ask your vet for unflavored or topical versions of any medication.
- Can a blood or skin test diagnose a food allergy?
- Not on its own. Allergy tests show exposure, not a diagnosis. The reliable test is improvement on the trial diet and a flare when the old food goes back in.
- What foods do dogs react to most?
- The Merck Veterinary Manual lists beef, dairy, chicken, wheat and lamb as the most common food allergens in dogs.
Free educational printable. Not veterinary advice, and not a substitute for your vet's official records or an emergency call. Full disclaimer → · Leer en español →