pet allergies – Taste of the Wild Pet Food

Signs and Symptoms That Your Pet Suffers from Allergies

Posted on May 26, 2022 - 3:59 pm by [email protected]

They might be itchy. They might be scratchy. They might be runny or even a little wheezy. If your pet is any of these, they might be suffering from allergies. But, as with any pet ailment, it’s not always easy to determine what they’re allergic to, or even if there’s an allergy!

Types and Causes of Allergies In Pets

Pet allergies can present in many different ways, with a wide range of symptoms in both dogs and cats.

If you suspect your dog or cat has an allergy, the first thing to do is determine what kind of allergy you might be dealing with. Your veterinarian will likely do the heavy lifting here, but it helps you as a pet parent to have a working knowledge of the different types of pet allergies, allergic reactions and maybe a little understanding of the immune system.

Food Allergies in Pets

Pet allergies to foods are a lot less common than many people think.

Food allergies are often confused with food sensitivities or intolerances. Allergy or intolerance is an important distinction when determining food allergies in your pet. A true allergy is when something, like food, triggers an immune response from your pet’s body. This response can manifest as anything from a simple rash to a dangerous situation where your pet has trouble breathing. An intolerance, on the other paw, is more of a digestive problem, where your pet has trouble (for any number of reasons) digesting a certain food. The problem is that an intolerance can look on the outside an awful lot like a food allergy, and usually your vet has to dig deeper to determine the actual cause of your pet’s allergy.

The immune response your pet’s body uses to fight an actual food allergy can appear superficially as simple itchiness, skin blotches, swelling or bald patches of fur. However, food allergies can also cause severe digestive problems like diarrhea, vomiting or abdominal pain.

Food allergies are no joke. Because symptoms can overlap with other types of allergies and illnesses, your veterinarian may recommend a diet trial to help identify the offending allergen. Once you have confirmed that your dog is allergic to certain foods, you will have a better idea of what dietary options to try. In rare cases, severe allergic reactions can pose serious health risks, so if you suspect a food allergy, it’s always best to consult your veterinarian for guidance.

Environmental Allergies in Pets

Dog allergies can be triggered by a variety of things in the environment.

“Seasonal allergies” is a phrase that is regularly thrown around, and it’s somewhat misleading. If your pet is allergic to something, they’re allergic to it all year round, it just may not be present in the environment all year. Like allergy season in people, pets become uncomfortable during this time or worse. Environmental allergies are the second-most common cause of allergic skin disease in dogs, behind flea allergy dermatitis, which we’ll discuss later.

Pollen from trees, grasses and weeds is the frontrunner for most common environmental allergens. In the spring, tree pollen might be the main cause of your pet’s allergy symptoms. Once summer hits, grass pollen becomes the enemy, and that can cause symptoms until the snow covers it all up! As fall falls, ragweed, sagebrush and wormwood release weed pollen. Though it’s common to say, “pollen allergy,” there are many different types of pollen. And your pet can be allergic to more than one.

While pollen is somewhat seasonal depending on where you live, other environmental allergies can be present all year long. Dust, dust mites, mold spores and dander may cause skin or sinus issues in your pet. But how do you determine where those allergies are actually coming from? To confirm environmental allergies, your vet may suggest additional testing, followed by allergy shots (immunotherapy) or other treatments.

Everything You Need to Know About Flea Allergies and Flea Protection Products

Dog allergies to tiny fleas can cause big problems.

In the U.S. alone, there are 300 different types of fleas. Different species of fleas may have a particular host that they prefer, but when push comes to shove, most fleas will latch on to any animal that’s available — even you!

Fleas are ranked as one of the most common pet allergies for dogs. Just one flea bite can trigger a severe allergic reaction in sensitive dogs, leading to intense itching, red, inflamed skin, hair loss, scabs and more. Flea prevention is the key to avoiding flare-ups.

Flea control products for dogs come in many forms, including shampoos, collars, spot-on topical treatments and oral treatments. You can read about the differences between each type below but always ask your veterinarian which prescription or over-the-counter flea products are right for your dog.

A Limited Ingredient Diet May Help Bring Allergy Relief

Pet allergy symptoms might be alleviated with a limited-ingredient diet.

Although it can seem like your pet’s stomach is invincible, certain foods may not agree with your dog or cat. In fact, adverse food reactions can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, gurgling tummies and — the bane of dog owners everywhere — excess gas. Or your pet may experience red, itchy skin and/or chronic ear infections.

Your veterinarian can help rule out parasites, infections and other possible causes and determine if your pet’s food really might be the problem. The best way to diagnose — and eventually treat — a food allergy or intolerance is to perform a diet trial for 8 to 12 weeks, during which your pet must only eat the prescribed food – no treats, table scraps, flavored medications, etc. Then, specific ingredients are added back into the diet one at a time to see if your pet reacts to them.

Limited ingredient diets for dogs and cats contain four key ingredients or less — so there are fewer components to potentially irritate your pet’s digestive tract. Each diet contains only a single animal protein source, such as pasture-raised Angus beef, cage-free turkey or trout raised in spring-fed waters.

A Pet Allergy Isn’t the End of the World

Dog allergies or pet allergies in general can be difficult to diagnose. Allergy symptoms, allergic reactions, allergy testing, seasonal allergies, allergy shots: It’s enough for a pet owner to want to seal your pet up in a bubble! But with a little investigation and maybe a lot of help from your veterinarian, that itchy skin and those allergic reactions can be things of the past!

Hypoallergenic Dog Food: How Does It Work?

Posted on November 1, 2018 - 4:37 pm by [email protected]

A close-up of a brown and white dog sitting on the ground outside scratching itself.

If you’re starting to research food allergies and hypoallergenic dog food, there are a few misconceptions that are important for you to be aware of. We’ll go through those and other information about food allergies in dogs — but if your dog is showing any signs of illness, your veterinarian should be your first call.

Hypoallergenic Food for Dogs

The first thing to know about hypoallergenic diets for dogs is that, while it’s a relatively common term used by pet parents, no diet can truly be allergen-free. Instead, specialty dog food is formulated with ingredients that reduce the risk of an allergic reaction. These are known as hydrolyzed-protein diets and limited-ingredient diets. More on that later — let’s go over dog food allergies and food intolerances.

The Facts About Dog Food Allergies

A food allergy is an abnormal reaction to a normal food. This occurs when the dog’s immune system misidentifies a substance in the food, most commonly a protein, as a foreign invader and mounts an unnecessary immune response against it. This often leads to itchy skin and, for a small percentage of dogs, gastrointestinal signs like vomiting or diarrhea. A food allergy can occur suddenly after a dog has been eating the same ingredients for months or years with no problems.

Protein is the most common food allergen, with beef, dairy products, chicken and wheat topping the list. Other allergy-triggering protein ingredients include lamb, eggs and soy, but over time, dogs can develop allergies to any protein source they’re repeatedly exposed to. Dogs can also be allergic to preservatives, food additives or other ingredients in their diet.

True Food Allergies in Dogs Are Rare

Food allergies are actually very uncommon in dogs. Flea and environmental allergies are far more likely, which is when dogs react to flea saliva or pollen, mold, dust mites and other environmental irritants. Dogs with food allergies tend to itch all year long, while those with environmental allergies often experience seasonal signs.

To complicate matters, dogs can be allergic to more than one allergen and have both food and environmental allergies. Some dog breeds, such as Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers and cocker spaniels, can be genetically predisposed to allergies.

Signs of Food Allergies in Dogs

Some dogs may experience gastrointestinal issues including vomiting, diarrhea, gas, loud intestinal rumbling and frequent bowel movements. They may also experience weight loss and irritability. However, the most common signs of a food allergy include:

Nonseasonal itching
Scratching or chewing their face, ears, feet or groin
Red, irritated skin
Secondary skin infections
Chronic or recurring ear infections

Food Intolerance Is More Common in Dogs

While we’ve spent some time discussing a food allergy, it is far more likely that a dog has a food intolerance rather than a food allergy. A food intolerance doesn’t involve the immune system reacting to an ingredient in the diet (an allergic reaction). Instead, it usually occurs when a dog has trouble digesting a particular ingredient.

Diagnosing a Food Allergy or Food Intolerance in Dogs

The best way to help your dog is to start with a visit to your veterinarian. They can provide your dog with medications to help relieve the itch and other symptoms while you work together to determine what’s causing it. They will most likely start by ruling out parasites, infections, metabolic diseases and other possible causes of your dog’s symptoms.

To check for a food allergy or intolerance, your veterinarian may recommend an elimination diet trial for 8 to 12 weeks. The goal is to remove potential allergens from the diet to see if your dog’s symptoms resolve. While there’s no such thing as a hypoallergenic diet, your veterinarian may recommend a limited-ingredient diet or a hydrolyzed-protein diet.

A limited-ingredient diet typically includes a single carbohydrate source and a single protein source (e.g., pasture-raised Angus beef, cage-free turkey or trout raised in spring-fed water). Sometimes a single-protein diet also contains a novel protein that the dog hasn’t been exposed to before, like venison, duck or salmon. These diets provide all the essential nutrients dogs need and are formulated to provide complete and balanced nutrition, even with only a few ingredients. A limited-ingredient formula may also help dogs that have a sensitive digestive system or skin issues, even if they don’t have a food allergy. Hydrolyzed diets have the proteins broken down into pieces small enough to avoid detection by the immune system and are typically only available by prescription. Your veterinarian will choose the best dog food for your dog.

During the elimination trial, it’s very important that your dog doesn’t eat anything else besides the assigned diet. That means no treats, rawhides, table scraps, flavored medications or even chew toys made from animal products. After the 8 to 12 week elimination period, a challenge period is started where the original diet is gradually introduced again. If your dog’s itching improves, then gets worse when they’re challenged, a food allergy diagnosis is typically made. There is no cure for a food allergy. Instead, your dog will need to stay on specialized dog foods for the remainder of their life and avoid anything that contains the allergen.

What About Hypoallergenic Dog Treats?

Similar to hypoallergenic dog food, no treats can be truly hypoallergenic. However, like limited-ingredient diets, there are treats available which have ingredients that are less likely to cause a reaction or have the protein hydrolyzed into small pieces, so the immune system won’t recognize it. If your dog has food sensitivities or allergies, always ask your vet before feeding them any type of new food, including treats.

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