Your dog can be allergic to anything that it is exposed to, wether it is environmental, or ingested. It only needs to happen once for the body to have a histamine (h2) response to it. That h2 response known, as the allergic reaction, can happen in various degrees and stages. The problem arises when the dog has a fast immediate reaction and the airway begins to close, this being worse case, many owners keep Benadryl (diphenhydramine hcl) on hand for this very reason. Most allergic reactions start with itching as the body realeses histamine, generally it will begin in the more tender areas, ears, between pads of their feet, belly, and groin area. They can start off small, but with continued exposure, can begin to look like welts. In worst cases, the face will swell as will the throat, and eventual airway will close if immediate intervention is not given. Basenjis often have food allergies, mostly to grains. I recently bought new salmon treats and about 30 minutes after giving it to our male, he became very restless, then he started licking his feet, then he started chewing between the pads of his feet. I gave him some Benadryl and kept an eye on him the rest of the night, but 45 minutes later he was sleeping just fine, but no more salmon anything for him. Once the dog is exposed to an allergen, every time they are exposed, you risk more histamine being released into the blood stream which could result in a bigger allergic reaction than the first time. It's best to check with your vet for the correct dosage you should give your basenji in that 'just in case' moment, and how often. Hope this helps.
