Food Allergies and Pets: We’re Here to Help

Treating a pet with allergies can be perplexing. It’s not always possible to distinguish food from environmental allergies (atopy). Except for flea allergies, where flea dirt can be seen, clinical signs are usually not enough to identify the allergy involved. At Dupont Veterinary Clinic, we’re committed to providing the highest-quality care to help your pets feel their best.

Identifying Food Allergies

Like other allergies, the primary clinical sign of food allergies is red, itchy, and inflamed skin. Sometimes, food allergies have a gastrointestinal component, often manifested as diarrhea. Whatever the cause, we are up to the challenge of getting your allergic pet feeling better.

Diagnosis

Pinpointing what allergy is affecting your pet involves careful observation and testing. Here are some key points:

• Seasonal Clues: Atopy tends to be seasonal, often occurring in spring or late summer and fall, and subsiding in winter. However, indoor allergens can cause year-round symptoms.
• Year-Round Symptoms: Most pets with food allergies show signs year-round since their diet remains constant. The skin will remain affected equally regardless of the season.

The Food Trial Method

The only definitive way to diagnose food allergies is through a food trial. While some companies offer blood tests for food allergies, board-certified veterinary dermatologists generally consider them unreliable. A special diet is essential for an accurate diagnosis.

Food Trial Rules: 

• Duration: The trial lasts three months. While some pets improve quickly, others take longer, so patience is vital.
• Strict Diet: Only the special diet and water are allowed. Even a tiny nibble of the wrong food can skew results.
• No Treats: Yes, it’s difficult. But it’s essential for successful diagnosis.
• Vet-Recommended Diet: Trust us to pick the proper diet for the trial.
• Manage All Pets’ Diets: All pets in the house must be on the same diet, or access to other pets’ food must be restricted.
• Heartworm Prevention: Check with us before using any preventive to ensure it won’t affect the trial.
• Feed Liberally: Feed your pet slightly more than usual to prevent them from searching for scraps.

Exploring Non-Allergenic Diet Options

Choosing the proper diet is crucial when managing your pet’s food allergies. Here are some options that can help reduce allergic reactions and keep your pet healthy:

Home Cooked Diets

Most researchers believe that processed food is more allergenic. Home-cooked diets are considered the best for food trials, but require access to specific ingredients and significant preparation time.

Novel or New Ingredient Diets

The goal of an elimination diet is to feed the pet one protein and one novel carbohydrate. Pets can become allergic to common ingredients such as beef, chicken, dairy, and grains, so we will choose a diet that excludes these items.

Limited Ingredient Diets

These diets focus on minimal ingredients to reduce allergy risks. We’ll guide you to trusted brands to ensure no cross-contamination from other foods.

Hydrolyzed Diets

Hydrolyzed diets break down common ingredients into particles so small that your pet’s body doesn’t recognize them as allergens. This simplifies the process, bypassing the need to identify new ingredients.

Managing Food Allergies Long Term

If we determine that your pet is indeed food allergic, we can reintroduce individual food items to identify the problematic ingredient. For example, if your pet reacts to chicken, we can look for a commercial food without chicken. While limited antigen diets are safe for long-term use, we may switch them for cost savings, as they can be expensive.

Steroids can sometimes control food allergies, but may have significant side effects. Therefore, finding a diet that eliminates the need for these drugs is preferable.

Learn more about diagnosing and managing pet allergies in our related blog post. 

Partner with Dupont Veterinary Clinic for Your Pet’s Health

At Dupont Veterinary Clinic, our team cares about you and your pet. We want to be your partner in making your pet comfortable and itch-free. If you have questions about your pet’s allergies or would like to schedule a wellness visit, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

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