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Food Allergies
For busy people who want no fuss but the very, very best for their pets.
What are they?
Protein Allergies
Food allergy – An allergy to food is a self-defense response by the immune system to an amino acid that it perceives as a threat. An allergic reaction doesn’t happen the first time an individual is exposed to the allergen as the immune system has to encounter the protein more than once for enough enterocytes to recognize it as an invader. If your pet is showing an intolerance to a particular food, it may indicate that an allergy is in the process of developing. Any individual ingredient can cause an allergic reaction, but certain foods, including chicken, dairy, beef, and egg products, tend to induce canine allergies more often than others.
Food intolerance
Food intolerance is different from a food allergy because the reactions in food intolerance are not caused by histamine. Additional symptoms, including changes in the consistency or color of the stools, gurgling sounds from the digestive system, and abdominal pain, are common with a food intolerance. Food intolerance, although different from an allergy, can lead to allergies as the intolerance may cause the food to be improperly broken down by the digestive system.
Signs of a protein allergy
Bald patches
Chronic ear infections
Chronic gas
Chronically inflamed feet
Coughing
Diarrhea
Hives
Obsessive licking
Paw biting
Pawing at face
Poor growth (puppy and adolescent)
Shaking of the head
Skin infections
Skin rashes
Vomiting
Wheezing
Treating Allergies
Traditional vet thinking treats the symptoms via prednisone shots or a ‘super-premium dry food’ that still contains potentially allergy-causing beef, chicken, or wheat. Prednisone is a great anti-inflammatory drug, however, there can be unpleasant side effects. Usually, these allergies are in response to beef, chicken or wheat proteins, but they can be a response to horse or venison too.
The best way to treat allergies is by using a ‘novel protein’. This is a protein that the body has not come across previously e.g. rabbit, hare, kangaroo, wallaby, goat, possum, or fish.
The Cats & Dogs Dinner Company sell an extensive range of alternative meats to help with your pet’s allergies. Probably the best range in New Zealand!