10 Myths About Food Allergies
- Food allergy is common in dogs.
An allergy is an immune system response, and a reaction to a food is not necessarily caused by an allergy. Confirmed cases of food allergy are quite rare; approximately 5-10% of allergic dogs have a food allergy*.
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Dogs are allergic to corn and other grains.
Although your pet can be allergic to any ingredient in a diet, allergies to corn and other grains are quite rare. Dogs are typically allergic to one animal protein, with beef being the most common, followed by dairy. In cats, beef, dairy, and fish are the top 3 foods most commonly implicated in food allergies. Many dogs are fed a grain-free diet and still develop symptoms attributable to a food allergy.
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My dog has a gluten allergy.
Although gluten is a protein, and dogs are usually allergic to a protein in their food, there are no scientifically confirmed cases of gluten allergy causing skin lesions in dogs. However, published studies report an inherited intestinal disease in Irish Setters linked to gluten sensitivity.*
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My dog is too old to develop food allergies.
It takes a while for an allergy to develop. The animal becomes sensitive to the offending allergen and over time, after prolonged exposure, the immune system reacts to the presence of that allergen. In addition, the immune system can change over time. Your dog can develop an allergy at any age, and the determining factor is usually exposure to a specific ingredient in their food combined with a genetic predisposition.*
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My dog doesn't have diarrhea, so it can't be a food allergy.
Although gastrointestinal signs can be the result of food allergy, most food allergies in dogs manifest as recurring skin diseases (itching, skin lesions, etc.) and recurrent ear infections.***
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My dog has been eating the same food for years, so he can't have a food allergy.
It takes a while for an allergy to develop. Your pet may become sensitized to certain ingredients in food that they have been eating for years, and may develop an allergy to those ingredients. Even if the diet has not changed, the immune system can change. Sometimes, food companies change the formulation of the diet, increasing the amount of a certain protein, which can trigger an allergy.*
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I made a food change and my dog is still scratching, so it can't be a food allergy.
There are several reasons for this. You may be changing the brand of food, not the protein that is causing the allergy. Or you may be changing the protein source, but you forgot to read the label and the protein that usually triggers the allergy is also present in small amounts. Some foods sold in supermarkets may also contain ingredients that are not listed on the food label.****
A 12-week food allergy test, which involves feeding your pet a hypoallergenic food approved by your veterinarian, remains the method of choice for diagnosing food allergy.***
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I tried a diet but my dog is still itchy so it's not an allergy to his food.
Before performing a food allergy test, your veterinarian should rule out skin infections (bacteria, yeast) and parasites (e.g. fleas, skin mites) as these can interfere with the proper allergy testing process. Additionally, it is so easy to fail at a diet trial. Have you given animal protein treats? Administered pills using Pill Pockets or cheese? Beef protein flavored medication? Has your dog been digging through the trash? Additionally, some dogs may have seasonal allergies and food allergies at the same time.*
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A raw meat diet is best for food allergies in dogs.
If the raw meat diet contains the protein that triggers the allergies, then that diet will still cause problems for your dog.
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I can prevent allergies by changing my dog's food often.
There is no evidence that changing food frequently will prevent food allergies from developing. On the contrary, you are simply exposing your pet to new protein sources, which can trigger the allergy. An allergy has a genetic component. There is no way to prevent it.*
References:
* Rosenthal, M. DVM, DACVD. 2013. Sleuth out allergy problems/10 allergy myths. Trends Magazine. May 2013
** Brooks WC DVM, DACVD. 2013. Food Allergy Myths. The pet nutrition corner. VIN.2013
*** Moriello, KA DVM. DACVD. 2009. Food Allergy: How to achieve a successful food trial. NAVC Conference.
****Tater K. DVM, MPH, DACVD. 2013. Real or not real: Top dermatology myths debunked. WINE Rounds. January 2013.
* Rosenthal, M. DVM, DACVD. 2013. Sleuth out allergy problems/10 allergy myths. Trends Magazine. May 2013
** Brooks WC DVM, DACVD. 2013. Food Allergy Myths. The pet nutrition corner. VIN.2013
*** Moriello, KA DVM. DACVD. 2009. Food Allergy: How to achieve a successful food trial. NAVC Conference.
****Tater K. DVM, MPH, DACVD. 2013. Real or not real: Top dermatology myths debunked. WINE Rounds. January 2013.
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