Food allergy
Food allergy can be caused by an allergic reaction to one or more components of the food. Examples of allergens include beef or chicken proteins, dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt), eggs, fish, certain grains (soy, wheat, corn), preservatives and colorings.
Symptoms can appear at any age and even in an animal that has been fed the same diet for several years. Most often, the allergy will result in itching, skin redness, ear infections or sometimes other skin or digestive problems. It is important to first consult a veterinarian if you observe these symptoms, in order to exclude any other health problem or infection.
It is rare for an animal's condition to improve simply by changing from one commercial diet to another. Typically, these diets contain similar ingredients and preservatives. They are also often manufactured in the same factories using the same machinery, increasing the risk of cross-contamination of allergens.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of food allergy is established by following a hypoallergenic elimination diet. When a hypoallergenic diet is started, it can take up to 10 weeks before the itching stops. It is therefore important to persist for 10 weeks before ruling out the diagnosis of food allergy. However, if the itching stops before the end of the 10 weeks, it will then be useless to continue the test diet for these 10 weeks, since the diagnosis of food allergy will probably have been established.
Guidelines to follow when undertaking an elimination diet:
1. Do not feed anything other than the chosen hypoallergenic food. Avoid: dog biscuits, treats, table scraps, bones (real or beef hide), commercial food, certain “chewable” medications (beef flavored or otherwise).
2. Avoid access to household waste. If necessary, walk your pet on a leash only and do not leave it outside unsupervised.
3. Use spring water preferably for drinking and cooking food.
4. If you are on a home diet and buy your meat from a butcher, mention that you have food allergies. Your butcher will then double clean his equipment before grinding your meat to avoid the risk of contact with residues from other meats.
6. Consult your veterinarian at the end of the 10 weeks of the elimination diet.
Treatment
If the itching resolves with the elimination diet, a food allergy diagnosis is highly likely. To confirm this, you must return to the old diet: if the itching reappears within a few days (maximum 2 weeks), the food allergy diagnosis will then be confirmed. At this point, it is suggested to restart the elimination diet until the itching disappears again and then, depending on your veterinarian's recommendations, you can continue the hypoallergenic diet in the longer term.
There are several effective commercial diets available. These diets are designed specifically for dogs and cats that suffer from food allergies. They are suitable for most cases, but not all. While being complete and balanced, they contain fewer ingredients than regular foods and the protein source is generally either less common (examples: duck, venison, fish) or hydrolyzed (proteins split into smaller particles, reducing the risk of allergy).
However, it is estimated that up to 20% of dogs with food allergies may be allergic to preservatives or other additives. In some cases, it will be better to do the elimination diet with home-cooked food, in order to avoid the test producing false negative results.
If a commercial hypoallergenic food of your choice is suitable for your pet, you can feed your pet this diet long term. In rare cases, it seems impossible to find a commercial hypoallergenic food that is suitable for the pet. In this case, it is necessary to feed your pet a homemade elimination diet and supplement with vegetable oil, calcium and vitamins, as recommended by your veterinarian.
In some cases, it is important, if not interesting, to know the ingredient to which the animal is allergic. To do this, a new ingredient (beef, dairy, eggs, fish, etc.) must be added to the balanced elimination diet each week, until the symptoms reappear. As soon as the ingredient responsible for the allergy is discovered, it will be possible to feed the animal a balanced diet (commercial if possible) that suits it.
In short, the world of food allergies is complex, and it is always best to be guided by an animal health professional, namely your veterinarian!
Symptoms can appear at any age and even in an animal that has been fed the same diet for several years. Most often, the allergy will result in itching, skin redness, ear infections or sometimes other skin or digestive problems. It is important to first consult a veterinarian if you observe these symptoms, in order to exclude any other health problem or infection.
It is rare for an animal's condition to improve simply by changing from one commercial diet to another. Typically, these diets contain similar ingredients and preservatives. They are also often manufactured in the same factories using the same machinery, increasing the risk of cross-contamination of allergens.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of food allergy is established by following a hypoallergenic elimination diet. When a hypoallergenic diet is started, it can take up to 10 weeks before the itching stops. It is therefore important to persist for 10 weeks before ruling out the diagnosis of food allergy. However, if the itching stops before the end of the 10 weeks, it will then be useless to continue the test diet for these 10 weeks, since the diagnosis of food allergy will probably have been established.
Guidelines to follow when undertaking an elimination diet:
1. Do not feed anything other than the chosen hypoallergenic food. Avoid: dog biscuits, treats, table scraps, bones (real or beef hide), commercial food, certain “chewable” medications (beef flavored or otherwise).
2. Avoid access to household waste. If necessary, walk your pet on a leash only and do not leave it outside unsupervised.
3. Use spring water preferably for drinking and cooking food.
4. If you are on a home diet and buy your meat from a butcher, mention that you have food allergies. Your butcher will then double clean his equipment before grinding your meat to avoid the risk of contact with residues from other meats.
- Boil or roast meat without adding salt, seasonings, butter or oil.
- If the meat is boiled, use the broth to cook rice or potatoes.
- Use brown or white rice (do not use instant rice).
- Make sure the rice is cooked thoroughly (otherwise it can cause diarrhea).
6. Consult your veterinarian at the end of the 10 weeks of the elimination diet.
Treatment
If the itching resolves with the elimination diet, a food allergy diagnosis is highly likely. To confirm this, you must return to the old diet: if the itching reappears within a few days (maximum 2 weeks), the food allergy diagnosis will then be confirmed. At this point, it is suggested to restart the elimination diet until the itching disappears again and then, depending on your veterinarian's recommendations, you can continue the hypoallergenic diet in the longer term.
There are several effective commercial diets available. These diets are designed specifically for dogs and cats that suffer from food allergies. They are suitable for most cases, but not all. While being complete and balanced, they contain fewer ingredients than regular foods and the protein source is generally either less common (examples: duck, venison, fish) or hydrolyzed (proteins split into smaller particles, reducing the risk of allergy).
However, it is estimated that up to 20% of dogs with food allergies may be allergic to preservatives or other additives. In some cases, it will be better to do the elimination diet with home-cooked food, in order to avoid the test producing false negative results.
If a commercial hypoallergenic food of your choice is suitable for your pet, you can feed your pet this diet long term. In rare cases, it seems impossible to find a commercial hypoallergenic food that is suitable for the pet. In this case, it is necessary to feed your pet a homemade elimination diet and supplement with vegetable oil, calcium and vitamins, as recommended by your veterinarian.
In some cases, it is important, if not interesting, to know the ingredient to which the animal is allergic. To do this, a new ingredient (beef, dairy, eggs, fish, etc.) must be added to the balanced elimination diet each week, until the symptoms reappear. As soon as the ingredient responsible for the allergy is discovered, it will be possible to feed the animal a balanced diet (commercial if possible) that suits it.
In short, the world of food allergies is complex, and it is always best to be guided by an animal health professional, namely your veterinarian!