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Food allergies - hard to isolate – prove expensive

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Nowadays, it seems like more and more animals are on special diets. At the shelter, animals on prescription diets often take the longest to find their forever homes, mainly because dealing with prescription diets sounds daunting and expensive. There are many different types of special diets. Some help with urinary health, some are for animals with sensitive stomachs, and some are designed for animals with diabetes. Easily the most common special diet we encounter at the shelter, and the one most often misunderstood by adopters, is for pets with food allergies.

Food allergies in pets can be difficult to determine and often require a lot of trial and error. And while hypoallergenic diets may seem like a simple fix for your pet’s allergies, remember that no food can truly be free of allergens for every animal, so your pet may still react to an ingredient. So what’s a pet owner to do for their pet?

Know the Symptoms

The symptoms of food allergies in pets often resemble other illnesses, which is how they go unnoticed for so long. Check your pet for dry itchy skin and red paws from excessive licking. Pets suffering from food allergies can also have chronic ear infections and diarrhea.

Talk to Your Vet

Never jump to the conclusion that your pet has a food allergy without talking to your vet. Your vet will be able to rule out some possible causes of your pet’s symptoms and, if necessary, will have you start an elimination diet with your pet. It is very important to bring your vet into the process of testing your pet for food allergies. Food trials are very complex and your vet will monitor your pet and direct you towards what foods to try. Do not try to test your pet’s food allergies on your own!

Start an Elimination Diet

An elimination diet is designed to test whether your pet’s symptoms are truly stemming from food allergies. Basically, the elimination diet requires you to “wipe the slate clean” by feeding your pet food he or she has never eaten before and, therefore, less likely to have an allergic reaction. If your pet’s symptoms clear up and then return after you gradually reintroduce normal food, your vet will then try food trials to narrow down your pet’s allergy.

Food Trials

Now it’s time to figure out what, exactly, your pet is allergic to. Fortunately, pet food comes with a list of ingredients, so you’ll have a nice handy list of all the possible causes. Unfortunately, your pet could be allergic to multiple things, making it harder to narrow down the problem. Your vet will direct you to what foods to try and will try to eliminate possible allergens like corn and grain.

Be Patient

Isolating what your pet is allergic to takes time, so don’t expect to find a solution overnight. Allergies can take weeks to appear, so, while your pet may start out symptom-free on a new diet, don’t be surprised if, several weeks later, their symptoms reappear. Finding a new food that doesn’t cause your pet to have an allergic reaction is a slow process full of trial and error.

Allergy Tests

Does it seem like you’ve tried every food out there and you’re still not having any luck? Your vet may recommend performing an allergy test on your pet. Like the test that is performed on people to determine their allergies, an allergy test will help your vet determine if your pet is allergic to something in the environment vs. something in his or her diet.

Prescription Foods and Strict Diets

Once an allergy test confirms your pet has a food allergy, your vet will likely prescribe a special diets. Prescribing a special diet is often the last option your vet will choose, and the special food will definitely cost you more than food you buy off the shelves at your local pet supply store. Remember that food allergies don’t just stem from the food your pet is eating for meals, they can come from treats, as well. Talk to your vet about what treats are safe for your pet and make sure friends and family members know not to offer your pet foods that will make them sick.

If you think your pet may be suffering from allergies, have a discussion with your vet about the best treatment plan. Animals on special diets may cost you a little more to care for, but remember that, in the end, they’re worth it!

Alaina Goodnough is the Promotions Coordinator at Cocheco Valley Humane Society in Dover, NH. She lives in Sanford, ME with three parrots, two cats, and two dachshunds. She can be reached at CVHS at devassist@cvhsonline.org

 

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