Dogs with food allergies

by Lenda | May 7, 2020 |

One day you notice that your dog is restless, itchy, and that he is scratching more than usual. If these itches are not due to any type of external injury or aggression (for example, a sting), and after ruling out scabies, it is probably atopic dermatitis as a result of the reaction to an allergen. If the picture is completed with vomiting and diarrhea or respiratory problems, it is more than likely that your dog has developed an allergy .

As always, we recommend that you do not put your dog’s health at risk and that you go to the vet to consult this problem, but in the meantime we will try to answer some of the most common questions :

My dog ​​has never had an allergy, why now? Where did you catch it?

The allergy is not spread. Sensitivity to an allergen is present in the genetic load of the animal, although it is normal to detect a food allergy in the adult life of the dog. Most often, the allergy develops between the first and third year, but a dog may not manifest its allergy symptoms until a few years later. During that time, sensitivity to an allergen substance is increasing due to continued exposure, until it is already very evident with constant itching and other external signs. Therefore, it is possible to develop an allergy to a food that has been consumed for years.

In fact, some dogs don’t show symptoms until a mature age, when their defenses are lower,

What tests must be done?

Blood tests are usually not very reliable in most cases, so tests are almost always observational, requiring dreams to be heavily involved.

 How do I know which food you are allergic to?

The process recommended by veterinarians is usually that of elimination: it consists of giving them a strict hypoallergenic diet , and if this works and the itching stops, gradually reintroduce each food until they find the one that causes a reaction. Keep in mind that it is possible (in fact, it is quite common) that you have developed an allergy to more than one food.

 Is allergy the same as food intolerance? What is the difference between them?

An intolerance is a rejection of a food in the intestinal process, and generally produces diarrhea and vomiting. In the case of allergies, rejection comes from the entire immune system, so it can be more serious. However, they have something in common: their treatment, which consists of eliminating the food that causes rejection from the diet.

In order to differentiate both processes, one must look at the symptoms: in the case of intolerance, they are all of the gastrointestinal type (gas, diarrhea, heavy digestion, vomiting …) and in the case of allergy, it can include respiratory and skin disorders.

 Why are there so many allergic dogs now?

It is estimated that 15% of the world’s dog population suffers from a food allergy. There are several factors that can influence, but it is summarized that dogs are now more exposed to toxic and allergenic substances, which increases their sensitivity. Also keep in mind that many cases of allergies used to be confused with other health problems or simply not treated.

 Are there races that have more allergies than others?

There are some breeds that show more hypersensitivity to some foods such as lamb, starch or chicken, for example in certain  terriers , (such as  Scottish  or  cairn) , and in setters,  retrievers  and Dalmatians.

 Is the allergy cured? Do I have to give him any medication?

There is no cure for the allergy, and in principle no medication is usually necessary, it is controlled almost exclusively through diet. That is why it is important that you tell other family members and friends, so that they do not give them small sweets or food scraps that could worsen their situation.

 Now what do I feed him?

Once you detect the food or foods that react to it, you can give it the ones that do not contain those ingredients. For example, if you are allergic to lamb, you can give it a salmon-based feed. Of course, taking into account that allergies almost never come alone, we recommend that you give them high-quality food. At Lenda we exclude from all our food the main causes of food allergies.

• Free from beef, dairy, soy and wheat (gluten)
• No artificial colors, flavors or preservatives
• Rich in omega-3 oils to lower allergic response