Pet Allergy

Dietary sensitivity, an adverse reaction to food, is a term used to describe a clinically abnormal response to the ingestion of a particular food.  Pet Allergy to food or hypersensitivity is an immunological response to that particular food.  Any protein has the potential to induce a pet allergy, in dogs, cow’s milk, beef, corn and soy account for many reported cases. 

When symptoms are outward in appearance (ie hot spots) these cases would be labeled food allergies. Food intolerance is a more appropriate term for symptoms such as diarrhea, gas, vomiting etc. Food intolerance may result from pharmacological, metabolic, toxic reactions, or an inability to digest the food.

Adverse reactions to food generally manifest as dermatological or gastrointestinal disease. The most common clinical signs are pruritus, vomiting, and diarrhea. Occasionally, dogs will present with signs involving both systems. Elimination diets, with subsequent re-challenge with the original diet, are the only way to confirm a diagnosis of food allergies and intolerance in dogs. The aim is to feed a complete and balanced diet while strictly limiting the protein and carbohydrate sources by feeding protein sources to which the dog has never been previously exposed.

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