Food allergies in pets

 

It might surprise you to learn that animals, like humans, have food intolerances and allergies. This was the case with several of our pets. One of these was a Siamese cat who could not tolerate commercially prepared foods or specialized prescription diets, reacting to additives in these foods with vomiting and decreased immune function. Our dog also has food “issues.” We knew she could not digest the prescription diet recommended by the vet because she promptly vomited up her meals

What we did not know was that she was allergic to chicken. Yes, chicken, which is found in many perfectly satisfactory dog entrees and biscuits, was a major irritant, causing skin rashes, bladder symptoms, and digestive problems. We found out about our pet’s food allergy because the humans in our family see a naturopath. He recommended that we get the dog’s allergies tested. Lo and behold, chicken was the culprit. We switched her to a lamb and rice-based diet, with good results.

Allergy testing for offending foods can be done in several ways. The cheapest is to try a rotation diet. Let your pet eat a suspect food (unless symptoms are likely to prove extreme) and then prohibit the food for five days. Then reintroduce the food and check for symptoms. Some may not be obvious—the animal might just seem tired or lethargic. Other adverse reactions, like vomiting, skin itching, or diarrhea, will be apparent.

Another way to check for food allergies is to have the animal’s urine, blood, or saliva tested. Practitioners who have the responsibility of reading these tests have to be experienced because tests can yield false positives. Look for a vet who has researched holistic methods of detecting allergies. 

There are also borderline food allergies, which both people and pets can suffer from. Foods do not produce overt reactions, but may weaken the immune system, cause fatigue, or affect the subject cyclically—one day the pet can tolerate the food, the next day it can’t.  Be flexible about trying new foods, and don't assume that prescription diet foods will all be well tolerated. Watch your pet carefully and keep a food journal-- you may be the best diagnostician of what ails your pet.