Food Allergies in Pets – Signs, Sources, & Solutions
Think your pet has food allergies? Maybe. Maybe not. Research shows that just one in 10 pets suffering from allergies can attribute their troubles to food.
Your pet could be suffering from environmental, flea, skin or contact allergies. Or it might be a reaction to impure, unnatural ingredients in their food. Or, yes, it could be a food allergy. Any way you look at it, feeding your pet the best possible food – using all natural, human-grade, carefully sourced ingredients – is sure to improve their lives by leaps and bounds.
So, how do you know if your pet has a food allergy, or if it’s something else?
Food allergies vs. Food intolerance
Start by understanding that your pet may not be suffering from a food allergy so much as a food intolerance or sensitivity. While these two may present with similar symptoms, there is a major difference.
Food allergies:
With an allergy, a food or ingredient triggers an immune response, causing your pet’s immune system to overreact and produce antibodies against it.
Food intolerance:
With an intolerance, your pet will have trouble properly digesting an ingredient – leading to vomiting, excessive gas, or diarrhea – but this reaction does not come from the immune system.
Either way, your pet is reacting with physical discomfort to a particular food or ingredient. It’s time to figure out the culprit to ease their pain and help them enjoy mealtimes again!
Common signs of food allergies in pets
Signs that your dog or cat has food allergies may include things like:
- Itchiness – scratching, over-grooming or biting of skin
- Skin inflammation – rashes, sores, or hot spots
- Swelling – of the face, ears, lips, eyelids, or earflaps
- Fur changes – loss or dull, brittle fur
- Gastrointestinal issues – vomiting and diarrhea or constipation
- Unexplained weight loss
- Lethargy
- Unusual aggressiveness
Left untreated, these symptoms can lead to secondary infections or even long-term health conditions. A visit to your veterinarian is called for. Meanwhile, there are things you can do at home to give your pet relief and figure out the root cause of their discomfort.
Finding the source
A study looking at food allergen sources in dogs and cats found that beef and dairy products are the most common culprits. Other notable food allergens include:
- Chicken
- Wheat
- Eggs
- Lamb
- Soy
- Corn
- Pork
- Fish
- Rice
To decide if it’s any of these making mealtime a misery for your beloved furry friend, use an elimination diet. Remove one ingredient (usually a protein) from your pet’s dinner bowl – and any pet treats or supplements – for at least one week. Watch for a change in the symptoms: if they ease, you’ve hit the nail on the head; if not, eliminate other ingredients one at a time until you find the culprit.
How to treat the problem
Once you’ve figured out which food causes your pet distress, you can then make informed choices on their food going forward.
Out with the bad
Many of the symptoms associated with food intolerances and allergies can be relieved by choosing food, like RAWZ dog and cat food, that is all natural, minimally processed, high in protein, and carefully crafted without ingredients known to cause issues.
RAWZ pays attention to these kinds of harmful ingredients – with complete transparency in sourcing – so that you don’t have to. When you buy RAWZ wet and dry foods you can rest assured you are giving your pet food that is:
- Minimally processed
- High-meat content
- Low carbohydrate
- Gum free
- Nutritionally complete
In with the good
Fortunately, with companies like RAWZ providing an excellent assortment of proteins, using superior ingredients, you don’t have to resort to feeding your pet the same bland, boring meal day in, day out. Regardless of your pet’s particular food flags, RAWZ has a simple, holistic meal solution perfect for allergy-prone pets.
Learn more about how to recognize and help your dog with food allergies here, and your cat here, and make mealtimes drool worthy once more.
