Adverse reactions to food aren’t really fun for anyone. It is even worse for your dog because they can’t explain what they are going through. Food allergies or intolerances are bad chemical reactions to a certain food substance that takes place in your pet’s body.
It usually takes some time for your dog’s body to develop a negative reaction to certain food elements. Even though both allergies and intolerance are adverse reactions to food, they happen due to different reasons altogether. The term allergy is often used to describe both of these reactions. But a real food allergy is quite a rare occurrence. So you must understand the difference between the two, in case your dog ever has to face the issue.
Allergy vs Intolerance
Food allergy is the term used to refer to only one kind of reaction, which usually stems from the dog’s immune system. It is the immune system that responds to a particular allergen that the dog’s body was previously exposed to. The reaction is because the dog’s immune system is trying to develop antibodies to a certain protein that might be harmful to your dog. It can take a very long time for your dog to develop an allergy to a certain food element. But once your dog’s immune system has established a negative reaction to that element, your dog will always have the same reaction to it.
Food intolerance is a much more common occurrence and it is not triggered by the dog’s immune system. Food intolerance shows adverse effects the first time your dog has difficulty digesting a particular element in its food. However, the body’s reactions are similar in both the scenarios because there are limited ways in which a dog’s body can show the problem.
The treatment of the two scenarios varies from each other. Allergies are usually treated with medication and diet restrictions whereas intolerance is dealt with diet modifications alone. Veterinarians may give your dog a shot for its allergy whereas in case of a grain intolerance they might suggest Dr. Gary’s Best Breed Chicken With Fruits & Vegetables Dry Dog Food.
Identifying the Symptoms
Allergies can either affect their skin or their digestive system. But food intolerance would harm the digestive system only. If your dog is suffering from frequent bouts of diarrhea, vomiting, or flatulence, they might be having an allergy or intolerance to a particular food. But a skin complication can be caused by an allergen. Allergic reactions on the skin might look like a flea-bite or dermatitis. They might also occur as chronic ear infections.
The common symptoms of an allergy are:
- Diarrhea or Vomiting
- Flatulence
- Skin or paw irritation
- Red eyes or discharges
- Hair loss
- Inflamed red skin
- Chronic ear infection
- Respiratory problems
If you notice any of these symptoms or a pattern in these, take your dog to the vet immediately. It can take up to weeks to understand the root of the problem and might take even longer to find the source. Usually, it takes about 8-10 weeks of feeding data to identify the problem and work out a diet chart for your dog. Allergies in dogs can be inherited from their parents too.
Most Common Allergens
Meat
Meat proteins are one of the most common food allergens. Meat is usually the prime ingredient in most dog foods, which is probably why its intolerance may be more common. However, your dog would be allergic to one kind of meat and not all of them. That’s why rotating different animal proteins is important in a dog’s diet to identify the allergen and then avoid that one.
Dairy
Some dogs might face problems digesting lactose. This is an intolerance to cow’s milk. Lactose intolerance has the same effects in dogs as in humans like flatulence, vomiting, or diarrhea. However, dogs might also be allergic to dairy, which can result in similar symptoms or skin complications. This makes it difficult to distinguish between a dairy allergy and lactose intolerance.
Carbohydrates
It is often a misconception that all dogs have an intolerance towards Carbohydrates, especially grains, and should be fed a meat-only diet. However, meat allergies are more common than grain allergies in dogs. Still, there are chances that your dog might actually be allergic to grains and must be checked individually by your vet.
Eggs
Dogs can be often allergic to the proteins in the egg yolk. If your dog is allergic to eggs, look out for eggs on the dog food labels and your dog should be fine.
Soy
Soy can cause health problems beyond allergies or intolerance in dogs. Some studies claim that they might affect your dog’s reproductive system or growth. So it is probably advisable to avoid soy altogether in your dog’s diet.
Once the problem is identified in your dog’s food intake, avoid feeding them to your dog. You can ask your veterinarian to prescribe certain dog foods or work with a pet nutritionist to make homemade food for your dog.
Save Money
Save money on premium freeze-dried raw dog food with Dr. Marty Nature’s Blend coupons.
