My dog has red, swollen, irritated eyes. Is it food allergies?

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to see and hear that Buddie is having problems. Of course food can be a reason but other things may be involved also. Allergies are very high this time of year. Late summer/early fall allergies due to weed pollens affect many people and pets. This is due to an inhaled allergy or breathing in the allergens. Other reasons could be due to an environmental irritant (not an allergy), bacterial infection around the eyes involving the eyelids, or some problem directly related to the eyes themselves. Any problems in this area causing eyes to be red, swollen, eyelid changes like you describe should be investigated as soon as possible. I would advise getting Buddie seen by your veterinarian so they can gather a detailed history including food/treat changes, etc and then they can do a complete examination, eventually focusing in on the eyes. Eye tests which may be performed include corneal stain to check for ulcers/scratches, tear production, and pressure measurements inside the eyes themselves. These will assess the health of the eyes and this is important since the eyes are very important sense organs and eye problems can deteriorate rather quickly. Once a diagnosis is made or suspected, your vet can discuss and implement a sound treatment plan. Good luck with Buddie. I hope he gets more comfortable soon.