![]() ![]() When doing a food trial, it is important to use a prescription hypoallergenic diet or home cook. In that case, inhalant allergies are more likely causing the dog’s symptoms. If after 10 days of a food challenge, the dog has no symptoms, then a food allergy to that item is unlikely. Without a food challenge, we cannot definitively diagnose a food allergy. A food challenge can be repeated for each protein source to specifically identify each protein the dog is reacting to. Food allergic dogs will start itching within a few hours up to 10 days after the food challenge if they are allergic to that particular food item. After three months, a food challenge can be done, where the suspected food allergen is fed again, to see if the patient reacts. ![]() ![]() This means this diet has no proteins that the body should be reacting to.Ī diet trial must be done for at least three months to clear the body of any past protein exposure. Remember our body breaks down protein sources so it can use amino acids. There is a new diet released in October 2021 that was built from the ground up from amino acids.We say “should” as there have been animals that have had reactions to even very small hydrolyzed proteins. Hydrolyzed Protein Diet: This is a diet where the protein is broken down or predigested into small fragments that the body should not react to.Rabbit is a common novel protein used, but this could be chicken if the dog has never had chicken or poultry before. Novel Protein Diet: This is a new or novel protein source that the dog have never had before.There are different options for hypoallergenic diets. A diet trial is when the diet is changed to a hypoallergenic diet. The only way to diagnose a food allergy is to do a diet trial. Veterinarians tend to be more suspicious of a food allergy if there are gastrointestinal symptoms as well as dermatologic symptoms, non-seasonal itching, and/or the symptoms started under 1 year of age. It is impossible to distinguish between a food allergic dog and a dog with inhalant allergies (Atopy) based on symptoms alone. When do we suspect a dog has a food allergy?Īny dog that has repeated ear and/or skin infections, anal glad infections/impactions and itching. The most common food allergens in dogs are beef, chicken, lamb and wheat. Proteins that we know can cross react are (chicken, duck, turkey), (beef, milk, lamb) and (chicken, fish). This means that a dog can have a reaction to a particular protein even if they have never eaten it before. That being said, there are cross reactions between different proteins. It is highly unlikely that a dog would be allergic to a protein they have never eaten before. Most dogs have ingested the protein they are allergic to, for months to years prior to developing an allergy. In order to be allergic to a particular protein, a dog must be repeatedly exposed. This can lead to secondary infections of the skin and ears. In dogs, food allergies most often cause itchy skin and ears. Ginny’s food allergy was causing repeated ear infections and itchy skin.įood allergies are caused by an abnormal immunologic response to a harmless ingested protein. Our pet of the month for November is Ginny! She is a young dog who was diagnosed with a food allergy. ![]()
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