More and more people with food allergies turn up. One is allergic to nuts, the other to shellfish. But did you know that this condition sometimes affects our pets? More and more people come to the vet with their sick animal to have it tested for a food allergy. With a food allergy, the animal’s body (immune system) reacts very strongly to certain nutrients in the feed. These are then called the allergens. This can be very annoying for you and your pet. It is therefore important to know what you can and cannot give to your pet.
Food allergy or food intolerance?
Often the terms food allergy and food intolerance are used interchangeably when they are really two different conditions. With a food allergy an activation of the immune system takes place and histamine is formed, while with a food intolerance the immune system is not activated at all and this is a non-allergic reaction. The symptoms of a food allergy are usually much clearer than with a food intolerance.
How does food allergy arise?
Food allergy is therefore caused by allergens that are in your pet’s food. The allergens are usually the basic ingredients of the food. The most common allergens are dairy products and beef and chicken. When the animal ingests one of these allergens through the feed, they will be absorbed through the intestinal wall and thus induce an allergy reaction. The allergic reaction can manifest itself in skin complaints (itching, inflammation, redness, swelling, strong odor) or gastrointestinal complaints (vomiting, diarrhea). The skin and gastrointestinal complaints can also occur together. With itching, it is also the case that the animal will scratch and bite and in this way make it much worse (resulting in baldness, ear infection, footpad inflammation, etc.). Predisposing sites for itching in the dog are the groin area, armpit, legs, ears and trunk. Please note: itching can also be caused by other conditions such as stress, autoimmune diseases, ear infections, ecto-parasites, etc.
In which breeds and when does an allergy develop?
In principle, all dog and cat breeds can get a food allergy. The age at which it occurs is also different. This can range from 2 months old to 14 years old (it can occur suddenly). There are of course certain breeds that are extra sensitive to food allergies, such as: West Higland White Terrier, Sharpei, Lhasa Apso, Cocker Spaniel, Springer Spaniel, Labrador Retriever, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Dachshund and Boxers.
How do I know if my pet has a food allergy?
This can only be determined by means of an elimination diet. This is a diet in which all possible allergens are omitted from the food. Of course you do not know which nutrient your pet is allergic to, so all nutrients are omitted from the food. But what can your pet eat on this diet? There are three choices for this.
Self-prepared diet
You must determine the diet composition yourself. You then choose a protein source (read: type of meat) that your animal has never eaten, because an allergen is, after all, a nutrient that your animal has been in contact with before. Examples of this are duck meat or ostrich meat. And in addition, you choose a carbohydrate source such as potato or rice. It is best to cook the meal because of bacteria.
Hydrolyzate diet
The proteins are made so small by the manufacturer that the immune system no longer recognizes them as allergens.
Unique protein source
For food based on a unique protein source, the manufacturer has added a unique protein source (read: type of meat) that is not in dog food and your pet has never eaten. This principle is the same as the home-cooked diet, but here the manufacturer has already cooked it for you.
The most reliable elimination diet is the home-cooked diet. It is very important with an elimination diet that you do not give your pet anything other than the diet, so no cookies, etc. The diet must be maintained for 6 weeks and if after 6 weeks there are still no signs of allergy, it is most likely a food allergy that your pet has. To be sure, a provocation test is carried out in which you then add all the nutrients that your pet has previously ingested back to the food and then see if your pet shows any allergic signs. Just be careful not to feed your pet that elimination diet throughout its life.
What food should I feed my allergic pet?
Your vet / dermatologist will search with you for food that your pet can tolerate. So consult your vet / dermatologist.