Do not underestimate the Food Allergy In Dogs
Food allergies account for about 10% of all cases of allergies in dogs, and is the third most common cause of allergy after a tick bite and allergens that enter through the respiratory (inhalant allergies).
It is not yet fully understood how dogs can be sensitive to a food substance, and how the antibody response occurs in the intestinal tract of dogs who have food allergies. However, the symptoms, how to diagnose and how to handle food allergies in dogs is unknown.
Food allergies can affect dogs and cats. Unlike inhalant allergies, no visible relationship between certain races with the risk of food allergies. Food allergies can occur in males and females, in animals that have been neutered or not. Symptoms can appear from the age of five months to 12 years, although the majority of cases seen in animals aged between 2-6 years.
You need to know is, unlike a food allergy intolerance. Food allergy exhibit typical symptoms, such as itching and other skin problems associated with allergies in dogs and cats. Meanwhile, food intolerance can cause diarrhea or vomiting, but does not produce the typical allergy symptoms. Symptoms of food intolerance in animals are similar to the symptoms of people suffering from diarrhea or an upset stomach from eating spicy foods. The good news, both food allergy and intolerance can be overcome with a diet that is free from substances trigger a reaction.
So, what food substances that can cause allergies to animals? Basically, there are so many food substances that can cause allergic reactions in animals. However, based on a number of studies, some nutrients are more commonly cause allergic reactions in dogs are beef, dairy products, chicken, lamb, fish, chicken eggs, corn, wheat, and soybeans.
Perhaps you are aware that, some groceries at the food ingredients are often used as dog food. This correlation is not a coincidence. In addition to the fact that some of the protein sources have substances that trigger reactions more than others, but basically most of the sources of protein contain similar substances, and the onset of the reaction is caused by the amount of exposure.
The next question is, how to recognize the symptoms? Symptoms of food allergy is basically similar to the symptoms of other allergies in dogs and cats. The main symptom is the onset of itching of the skin especially around the face, feet, ears, armpits and the area around the anus. Other symptoms are chronic or recurrent ear infections, hair loss, excessive scratching behavior and skin infections can be cured with antibiotics, but will reappear after the discontinued use of antibiotics.
There is also evidence that dogs with food allergies have increased bowel movements. One study showed that a normal dog (not an allergic reaction) bowel movements about 1-2 times per day, while some dogs with food allergies can urinate 3 times or more per day.
It is rather difficult to distinguish animals that have allergic reactions to food animals inhalant allergic reactions if only based on physical signs alone. However, there are some typical signs that increase the suspicion of food allergy. One is, a dog with recurrent ear problems, particularly yeast infections. Another factor is, a very young dog with moderate or severe skin problems. Note, too, whether the dog had an allergic reaction during the year or early symptoms appear only on winter only. Final clue is, a dog that has very itchy skin, but do not respond to steroid treatment.
Diagnosis
Process for the diagnosis of food allergy is very easy. However, considering the number of other problems that can cause symptoms similar, it is important to ensure that all possibilities of other diseases have been identified and treated prior to undergoing diagnosis for food allergies. Inhalant allergies, flea bite allergy, hypersensitivity to intestinal parasites, mange, and bacterial or fungal infection is the leading candidate whose symptoms are almost the same as a food allergy.
Food testing performed by feeding animals with new food sources that contain protein and carbohydrates for at least 12 weeks. Previously, many veterinarians recommend specific dietary patterns are run for 3 weeks, but the new study suggests that in dogs, only 26% were responded to within less than 21 days. Meanwhile, most of the animals will show a reaction interval of 12 weeks. Therefore, it is very important to keep the pet stays on a new diet for 12 weeks in total.
Make sure the food that contains protein and carbohydrates that your pet has never eaten before, such as rabbit meat and rice, or venison and potato. There are many foods that contain protein and carbohydrates are available in the market.
In addition, there is also a special diet using protein and carbohydrates are broken down into molecules small size, so it is no longer triggering allergic reactions. This diet is called 'limited antigen "or diets' hydrolyzed protein'.
Regardless of which one to use diet, the diet must be strictly carried out, and the food ingredients should be the only food eaten by your pet for 12 weeks. This means no snacks, no medicine with a special flavor, bone-reinforcing or anything else, in addition to special food and water earlier. In addition, dogs also should not be allowed to roam, to limit its access to additional food or trash.
Once the symptoms diminish, then try to give back the food as usual. This is called 'provocative testing', and it is important to confirm the diagnosis. If symptoms re-appear, the diagnosis of food allergy is confirmed. However, if there is no change in symptoms, but food allergy is a major risk factor, then the other experiments by using different food sources can be run.
You might be wondering, if there is no other way that is more definitive in showing the possibility of food reactions, such as blood tests? The answer, unfortunately, no. There is no evidence that a blood test to accurately diagnose food allergies. The vet was adamant that the blood test does not have any benefit for diagnosing food allergy in animals, and the only way to diagnose food allergy in animals accurately is with a food trial as above.
Then, after the diagnosis is established, how can we cope with food allergic reactions in pets? Treatment for food allergies is quite simple, namely to avoid the trigger substance allergic reactions. Once the cause of food reactions identified through testing of food, then remove it from the daily diet.
Short-term relief can be obtained with fatty acids, antihistamines, and steroids, but the removal of material from the food diet is the only long-term solution.
You, as a pet owner, then have two options. You can choose to feed your animals with special foods available commercially, or you can prepare your own food ingredients.
If you choose to feed your pet with homemade processed foods, then you can periodically 'challenge' your pet to a new food ingredients, and find out more what food ingredients that cause allergic reactions. For example, if the symptoms of food allergy reactions subside when fed rabbit meat and potatoes, then you can try adding beef to the diet for two weeks. If you keep animals showed no reaction, then you can try adding chicken for two weeks. If the animals begin to show a reaction, then it can be assumed that chicken is one food triggers an allergic reaction in your pet, and so on.
In the meantime, if you choose to use a food that is sold in the market, make sure the food ingredients balanced, with the correct amount, and with enough vitamins and minerals.
Keep in mind that some pets with food allergies can develop allergies to new foods if they are given the food long enough. So, if you see signs of food allergies again, consult with your veterinarian
