Food allergy in dogs and cats is a disorder that involves hypersensitivity to certain food substances. Food allergy or hypersensitivity is the third most common allergy in dogs and cats after flea bite allergy inhalant (Atopy)

What symptoms do food allergies cause?
Food allergies primarily affect the skin, and the symptoms can appear very similar to many other skin problems. The most commonly seen symptom is itchiness that seems to affect the pat at all times of the year. Unlike other forms or allergies, this itchiness does not improve with oral steroid medications. In cats, this itchiness is often around the face. Also, some animals with food allergy develop vomiting, diarrhea, or increased mucous in their stools.

There have not been any age, breed, or sex predilections reported for canine or feline food allergy.

What foods cause food allergy symptoms?
Any food can cause allergies in a susceptible animal. Often a change in the diet may precede the skin problems. However, approximately 70% of the affected animals have been consuming the allergy causing diet for over two years! Many ingredients in pet food and in other food items can contribute to allergy symptoms in animals, including: cow's milk, beet, mutton, pork, chicken, rabbit, horse meat, fish, eggs, oatmeal, wheat, corn, soy, rice flour, potatoes, kidney beans, dog foods and biscuits, artificial additives, and preservatives.

How is a pet food allergy diagnosed?
Once a suspicion of food allergy exists, your pet is placed on a hypoallergenic diet for three weeks of longer. the itchiness should markedly decrease within fourteen days. After that time, the regular diet is fed and if symptoms recur (often within hours), the diagnosis of food allergy is made. Your pet is then placed on a long term hypoallergenic diet. There is also a blood test (RAST) available for food allergies, but at this point, test accuracy has been variable.

What is a hypoallergenic Diet?
A hypoallergenic diet is a diet that does not contain the ingredients that cause the food allergy. Often these diets include lamb as a proteins source and rice as a carbohydrate source. Vegetable oil, and vitamin mineral supplements are sometimes added as well. It is not sufficient to switch brands of commercial pet foods, simply because all of these foods contain similar ingredients.

Can my pet have any treats?
During the time that your pet is on the hypoallergenic diet, it is very important that no other foods or snacks are fed. Small amounts of another food can cause symptoms for days. In addition to withholding treats and table scraps, it is important that chewable vitamins, chewable heartworm preventative, bones and rawhide are withheld. they all contain beef or chicken flavorings that can trigger allergic reactions.

Food allergy in dogs and cats can be managed successfully once the allergy causing substance is found and eliminated from the pets diet. If you suspect your pet has a food allergy or has a skin problem that doesn't seem to clear up, please let us know, we would be happy to help find the answer.