A food allergy or maybe not?

Food allergy or something else?

Food allergy in dogs and cats occurs in about 10 per cent of our animals. One animal is allergic to beef the other to salmon or tuna. It can be quite a quest before it is known exactly what your dog or cat is all hypersensitive to. In between, your pet still has symptoms, but what kind of symptoms actually fit a food allergy? And does your pet actually have a food allergy or hypersensitivity or is it something else?

Skin complaints with itching are allergies or not? When dogs and cats itch and have skin complaints, many people immediately think of a food hypersensitivity or a food allergy, but skin complaints with itching can actually have other causes. They often start by ruling out other causes and if these turn out not to be the reasons for the itching, they start with an elimination diet or hypoallergenic diet.

What can cause skin complaints with itching, other than a food allergy?

Fleas

In first place comes the most obvious cause that is still sometimes overlooked. This is still fleas. Fleas can cause persistent itching in our pets through a single bite every five days. For proper flea control, it is very important to treat all pets with a flea killer. Note! Each species of animal has its own flea remedies because not all species can handle all the active ingredients that may be in these remedies. For example, a cat absolutely cannot be treated with Advantix because of the Permetrin. In addition to animal-specific treatment, it is also important to treat the environment, read here more about fleas in pets.

Parasites other than fleas

Besides fleas, there are other parasites that can cause skin complaints with itching. These include mites such as Demodex, Scabies mite (sarcoptes) and Cheyletiella. Of course, ear mites can also cause itch complaints, but these, as the name suggests, only cause itching around and in the ears. Cats can be treated with Otimectin to kill the mite if the eardrum is intact.

Fungi and yeasts

Fungi and yeasts can also cause itchiness. Fungi can be a primary cause of itching, so they can cause symptoms themselves. Yeasts are actually always secondary, they cause complaints because a primary cause is still present. This could, for instance, be a food allergy or atopy.

Atopia

In atopy, an animal's skin is hypersensitive to certain substances from the environment, such as dust mites, tree and grass pollen, dander from other animals and many other substances. These substances are called allergens and cause a skin reaction with itching because the skin's barrier functions less than normal. As a result, animals are more sensitive to these substances (allergens) from the environment and a hypersensitivity reaction can therefore be caused more quickly.

Hormonal fluctuations and stress

Hormones can contribute to coat changes. A thicker coat can lead to complaints such as itching, but shedding of the coat can also raise suspicions of biting due to itching. Stressed cats in particular may suffer from excessive grooming behaviour which can also damage the skin, and these damages themselves can also in turn cause itching.

Other causes of skin complaints ruled out, is it an allergy?

If the above causes for itching are ruled out, then it may therefore be certain that your pet does indeed have a food allergy or food intolerance.

What then may be the symptoms in a pet with food allergy?

Skin complaints with itching usually thus being the most prominent complaint. Animals start scratching, biting and rubbing due to itching which causes:

• Bald skin because the hairs are broken off or pulled out.
• Red thickened skin.
• Small wounds with and without scabs.
• Hot spots.
• Discolouration if frequent and frequent licking.
• Skin inflammations because broken skin inflames faster than intact skin with a functioning skin barrier.

Besides skin complaints, there may also be gastrointestinal complaints or just complaints of the gastrointestinal system.

• Pets may have nausea, in which case you may notice, for example, that they salivate more and possibly start eating grass. Also, of course, they may start vomiting due to the nausea.
• The stools may be different from normal, often there is real diarrhoea but it can also just wash thinner and more than it always was.
• Animal that eats food they are hypersensitive or allergic to may experience abdominal pain and or become very gassy. Sometimes you can just hear the bowels bubbling as they lie next to you.
• When dogs and cats do not feel well, they may stop eating altogether, but sometimes the memory of being sick can also make them not want to eat the food offered.

Do you recognise the symptoms? See your vet.

Since the symptoms of a food allergy often resemble other causes of itching and gastrointestinal complaints, it is always advisable to visit your vet first to rule out other causes. In addition, a plan can then be made to find out which nutrients cause a reaction and which do not.

-This is an automated translation-