Dog Food Allergy Symptoms: Diagnosis & Management of an Allergic Reaction
Introduction
Pet food allergies continue to be a growing concern among pet owners and veterinarians. It is easy to get sucked into the abyss of scientific data, anecdotal evidence and commercial pushers. While food allergies in pets can be confusing and commonly misdiagnosed there are some basic building blocks all pet owners need to understand about what a food allergy is, how it differs from other types of allergies, as well as proper diagnosis and treatment. In this article, we try to unravel the mystery behind food allergies in pets (with a focus on canine) which seems to be more prevalent.
What is a Food Allergy?
A food allergy is when a pet's immune system incorrectly identifies a certain ingredient in their diet as something it needs to defend against, just like how an immune response would react if the body encountered dangerous bacteria or viruses. When this immune response occurs, it sets off a chain reaction that can result in anything from mild symptoms (diarrhea) to the most severe allergic effect there is being Anaphylaxis although luckily an incredibly rare event for pets. While proteins are the most likely problem (i.e., potential allergens) in pet food, any ingredient can cause an allergic response.
Food allergies vs Food sensitivities The difference is, food intolerances are typically simpler to diagnose than their autoimmune counterpart since they do not involve the immune system and as a result are generally less severe. You should know that there is a big difference between the two and this becomes important in taking care of the health of your pet.
The Truth About Pet Food Allergies
Disclosure: The issue of food allergies in pets is an ongoing debate. In a 2018 report obtained from Banfield Hospitals (3), food allergies occur in fewer than one percent of dogs and cats, affecting under.1% for dogs. Other research, however, has indicated higher numbers of cases possibly being undiagnosed. This difference in data highlights the problem of reliably diagnosing food allergies in dogs.
Symptoms of Food Allergies in Your Pet
While food allergies frequently present with a wide range of symptoms, these are commonly attributed to other conditions. Some of the most frequent symptoms encountered in dogs and cats include mild to severe, persistent pruritus which is not season related. It can also cause rashes, pimples and sores, with darker or thickening skin; as well hair loss. In dogs, other signs of allergy to food are digestive symptoms as with diarrhea, vomiting Sometimes flatulence and less appetite.
Food allergies in dogs tend to result more commonly as overall itching (i.e. toes, face and ears) rather than tail or perianal disease with approximately 10% of food allergic patients presenting both clinical signs [12]. Whereas cats may show scratching around the head, neck and ears. They can also develop eosinophilic granuloma complex lesions which are red, slightly raised to intensely itchy plaques of the skin.
Because the symptoms of this illness might resemble other health issues among pets, it is crucial for pet owners to consult with a veterinarian if they see any signs in their animals. Getting a correct diagnosis can avoid needless suffering and results in effective treatment.
How to diagnose food allergies in pets
However, food allergies are a complicated problem to diagnose in pets and other potential causes must be eliminated first. At first, veterinarians will cover fleas and other allergies that can produce these symptoms or rule out conditions such as mange or hypothyroidism. During this time, blood tests for a flea allergy are most likely and skin scrapes as well prescription strength treatments to kill fleas.
After ruling out other causes, a diet trial may be necessary. This means feeding the pet for a humble, probably 8-12 weeks with an exclusively specially made diet, keeping everything else out of food –'dog treats and supplements.' The idea here is to objectively see if the symptoms go away when an animal goes on a limited or novel diet.
Deciphering Confusing Symptoms- The Role of the Elimination Diet in Pinpointing Food Allergies
Food allergies accurate diagnosis in the dogCanine food allergy — elimination diet The diet usually features a novel (non-previously encountered) protein source, or is hydrolyzed – meaning the proteins have been broken down into smaller components that are less capable of inciting an immune response.
Over-the-counter 'hypoallergenic' diets should also be avoided, as they often have multiple protein and carbohydrate sources or are manufactured in a plant which is not dedicated to the production of that food only. Do NOT use over-the-counter (OTC) diets, as they are counterproductive to the treatment of many cases; only prescription or home-cooked anti-allergy diets — under a veterinarian's supervision – should be fed.
The trial requires the elimination of any possible food allergens, this includes flavored medications and treats, and even other pets' water bowls. Owners of pets must remain vigilant because even a slight deviation from the prescribed diet can disqualify the study.
Post-Trial: Determining Food Allergies
If the pet has gotten better while on an elimination diet, then you can move to challenge feeding and add back in (slowly) that originally suspected food allergy. If the symptoms return within a fortnight, this will serve as confirmation of the food allergy diagnosis for your veterinarian. This step is followed by determining which exact component causes an allergic reaction / immune deviation.
Beef, chicken, wheat and dairy are some of the most common canine food allergens Beef Food Allergy in Dogs: Canine beef allergy is a reaction to any c…Histamine Intolerance Histamine intolerance occurs when there's too much histamine Laughing Dog Causes Brown Tree Snake Alarm In Hawaii The laughing tree snake - known for its vibrant red tongue. Next, the vet will walk owners through re-adding each individual ingredient back into pet food one at a time (for two weeks per allergen) to determine which components are causing allergic reactions. This slow method ensures that none of the problem ingredients are in their long term diet.
Diet Therapy for Animals with Food Allergies
What to Do About Food Allergies in Pets The first line of treatment for food allergies is taking the offending ingredients completely out of your furry friend's diet. Even if this is very difficult especially in case of multiple food allergies, it is an absolutely necessary solution. In addition, pet owners have to be scrupulous about reading food labels prohibiting treats and making sure all the family members are on board.
Localized FAD is dependent upon avoiding contact with the allergen and may require other treatments to control secondary infections or flare-ups due to accidental exposure. If your symptoms occur on episodes, you may be prescribed antibiotics, antifungals and allergy medications (such as Apoquel® or Cytopoint® )Christensen et al
Is it Possible for Pets to Develop Food Allergies as They Age?
The body is not designed to eat the same diet for several years or decades, a common misconception in that more time consuming the product will cause no allergies. It can actually take months or even years for the immune system to become sensitive to a specific ingredient. i.e. one day your pet can tolerate a food for years and out of nowhere develop an allergy to it.
In addition, although most food allergies are diagnosed in pets by the age of five years at the latest stage, they can surface after this point or develop as soon as a pet is six months old and earlier than 15 years. No matter what stage of life your pet is in, it's essential for us to always be on alert -- even if you've never perceived food allergies before.
Conclusion
Diagnosis and dietary management of food allergies in pets is complicated, to say the least. But with an appropriate method, which also contains various elimination diets and audits may be having a deserved accomplishment in listing as well showing allergens from the pets diet. This not only enhances the quality of life for your pet, reduces veterinarian care and medication. If you think your pet may have a dietary allergy please contact us to help guide you through the process of getting an accurate diagnosis, and proper management.
