Food allergies in dogs

Just like us humans, dogs can have various food allergies which, if left untreated, can become truly dangerous. This condition can appear at any age and can be triggered by a ingredient present in the quadruped’s dietOR on a genetic basis. For this reason, There are certain dog breeds that are more prone to developing food allergiessuch as Golden Retriever, Bulldog, Labrador, Pekingese, German Shepherd or Bichon.

The main ingredients found in pet foods that can cause food allergies are: proteinsespecially those derived from dairy products, lamb, chicken or beef. Additionally, some dogs may be allergic preparations based on eggs, soy or wheat gluten. But, depending on each individual animal’s body, any food ingredient can cause food allergies, including substances added to foods, such as additives or food colourings.

Food allergy occurs when a certain protein present in food reaches the body, which the body mistakenly interprets as dangerous. Subsequently, the immune system tries to eliminate it, thus causing discomfort to the quadruped.

What are the main symptoms of a food allergy in dogs

1. Itchy skin

Itchy skin, or allergic dermatitis, is the most common symptom of food allergy in pets. Due to persistent scratching, dogs will have irritated skin on their ears, paws or stomach.
Another symptom present here is the appearance of hives. This can occur anywhere from 6 to 24 hours after ingesting the problem food. When the animal suffers from itchy skin or hives, you will notice how it scratches, bites and licks the affected areas. These actions lead to weakening of the tissue, which can cause an open wound that, if left untreated, can become infected. Additionally, the affected area will be hairless.

2. Digestive disorders

Food allergy can cause a variety of gastrointestinal problems in the quadruped. When your dog exhibits these symptoms, he will experience vomiting, gas, or diarrhea.

3. Puffy face

Another common symptom of food allergies is inflammation of a certain area of ​​the animal’s face. Therefore, both the lips and the eyelids or ear flaps can be affected.

Detection of a food allergy can only be done with the help of a veterinarian, applying two methods:

• based on some analyseshowever, this method is still not 100% safe and accurate;
• based on the substitution of the type of food. This method is the safest and for this reason it is widely used for all predisposed quadrupeds. To identify the allergen, the quadruped’s diet will be modified for approximately 30 days, with a food containing only one type of protein, one type of carbohydrate, minerals and vitamins. After 30 days he will return to his normal diet. If the health condition worsens again, it turns out that the quadruped actually suffers from a food allergy. In this case, return to the 30 day diet and introduce one ingredient at a time from your normal diet. Once a suspicious ingredient is introduced, the health status of the quadruped is monitored.

Food allergy can be kept under control once the problematic ingredient has been identified by following a strict diet of hypoallergenic foods that do not contain the allergenic ingredients but provide the dog with all the nutrients it needs. Most manufacturers of these types of foods use hydrolyzed proteins, broken down into much smaller molecules, to reduce the risk of allergies. Whole proteins from animal feed can cause food allergies, while hydrolyzed proteins, being in a much smaller format, are not detected by the immune system, so they no longer have the ability to cause allergies.

Even if your four-legged friend can live peacefully and happily with his new diet, you need to be aware that once a dog has developed a food allergy, he could develop other allergies to another food in his current diet in the future. For this reason it is necessary to always monitor their health.

Food allergy in dogs can be cured by applying a desensitization method. This method involves gradually reintroducing the allergen into the animal’s food, starting from very, very small doses. This process can take up to 2 years. It should be emphasized in this regard that, once the problematic food is reintroduced into the dog’s diet, it should not always be made available and in large quantities, because the allergy in this case could recur.

Food allergy VS food intolerance

Even though it appears to be the same condition with more or less similar symptoms, there is a difference between food allergy and food intolerance. Food allergy triggers an immediate immune system response, while food intolerance does not work through the immune system. The latter is activated when the organism lacks the enzyme responsible for processing a certain food component. Since these are different conditions, it is very important that in any situation you consult your veterinarian to follow a specific treatment and prevention plan.