Food allergy in dogs & co.: Recognize and react

Hamburg. One of the most common allergies in pets is food allergy. To help your pet, it is important to recognize the typical triggers, symptoms and signs. Since many of these symptoms can also indicate other diseases, you should always consult a veterinarian if you are unsure.

Cherries, strawberries, peaches: Summer is the time for delicious, fresh fruit. But not everyone can enjoy it. Just looking at the aforementioned types of fruit makes some of us feel our throats itch. A classic food allergy. But it doesn't just affect people. Our pets aren't spared either. “It's usually proteins that people and animals are allergic to. Our four-legged friends can react particularly allergically to foods that contain beef, chicken, lamb, eggs and dairy products. Fish can also cause allergic reactions in cats and soya in dogs. But even protein-rich foods such as wheat, barley and rice trigger reactions in some animals,” says Dr. Judith Förster, a qualified biologist and pet expert at FOUR PAWS.

Just like in humans, an allergy can take many years to develop. Classic signs of a food allergy in pets are: itching, skin inflammation and other skin problems, gastrointestinal problems, ear and paw infections in dogs and eye problems in cats. “If an allergy is suspected, the symptoms should be clarified by a vet. If other causes can be ruled out, it can be assumed that the affected animal has a food allergy,” explains Judith Förster.

What you can do
First, the allergy trigger must be determined. This can be achieved with an exclusion diet, in which one protein variant is (e.g. a type of meat) and a carbohydrate type (e.g. potato) feeds. If the symptoms subside, a new food can be introduced for two weeks at a time. This process is continued until the animal's symptoms reappear and you know what your four-legged friend is allergic to. Once the triggering substance has been identified, the pet should no longer be given this food in the future. Unfortunately, this process is often very complex and time-consuming. Alternatively, you can stop the process if you know enough foods that the dog tolerates and can feed it well.

“In order to combat symptoms such as itching in the meantime, the vet can prescribe accompanying medication that relieves the itching or fights possible infections caused by scratched skin. However, medication is no substitute for identifying the allergy trigger,” says the pet expert. For more detailed information on the subject of food allergies in pets, visit the FOUR PAWS advice website.