People wonder what possible difference allergies could make to a dog. After all, people with allergies get along just fine in life. But people are also in a position to observe any ill or annoying effects that an allergen may have on them. Their reactions might be as extreme as becoming physically ill and suffering anaphylactic shock to a mild case of hives or jitters, or sneezing, depending upon how reactive their bodies are to a particular allergen.

The same is true for dogs, and just as in humans, most reactions to food allergies tend to be on the mild side. Still, allergies, even subtle ones, can impact your boxer's behavior, health, longevity, and overall well-being. It is therefore wise to pay attention to what you feed your boxer and to notice how he reacts.

According to Dr. Alfred Plechner, researcher and expert in the field of allergies in animals and author of Pet Allergies: Remedies for an Epidemic, allergies are often a form of unrecognized deficiency disease. Recognizing that pet allergies signal a nutritional deficiency can help you to make the necessary adjustments to your dog's diet.

How can you tell if your dog has allergies? Hives, gunky ears, redness in the haws of the eyes, or a lackluster coat with dandruff or other related symptoms are early warning signs. Here is a checklist of other things to watch for:

All of these conditions can happen with any boxer, but they should only happen occasionally. If one or more of them is occurring frequently, or continuously, it is time to have your vet do an allergy test on your boxer to find out what is causing the condition or conditions.