“Allergies in Pets” Disclaimer: None of the information provided in these posts should be taken as medical advice. Please consult with your doctor before trying recommendations or if you have concern
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About 15-20 years ago, my sister had two dogs, Akila and Sasha. Sasha, a malamute, was older than Aki, a shiba inu/American eskimo mix, and was therefore the instigator in most of their shenanigans, especially around food. One day, Sasha helped Aki get a hold of a couple of pieces of ham (or pork chop, my memory is fuzzy on this), and they each proceeded to chow down.
Then Aki’s came right back up. And that was the day we discovered that dogs (and other animals) can be allergic and intolerant of certain foods. Did you know your pets can have food allergies and sensitivities? Yeah, it was a surprise to us, too. Let’s dive into today’s topic: Pets and their allergies.
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What’s the difference between an allergy and a sensitivity?
Time is the difference. Intolerances and sensitivities take longer to present themselves, while allergies usually show up within a few hours to a couple of days. Also, sensitivities aren’t connected to the immune system, while allergies are.
Common allergic reactions
When dogs or cats have food allergies, their immune system is reacting like human’s do (I went into that in detail in an earlier post). The immune system thinks certain foods are an invading disease (even though they aren’t) and attacks them, causing a histamine response. And, while pets can have anaphylaxis as a response, here are more common reactions.
Allergic dermatitis
That’s a fancy term (and by “fancy” I really mean “medical”) for itchy skin. It can happen everywhere on the body. For cats, it’s more common to see it on the head or neck. On dogs, however, allergic dermatitis appears more often on the ears, paws, hind quarters, or stomach.
Hives
You remember those nasty bumps we talked about a few posts back? Yup! Dogs and cats can have them, too. They show up easier on dogs, especially the short-haired variety and can show up within 6-24 hours after eating the allergen. Cats, on the other hand, can take longer to develop hives, and they can be harder to see. If you see your pets scratching the same spot repeatedly, get them checked out. All that scratching can lead to hair loss and potential infection if they break the skin.
Digestive issues
Just like us humans, dogs and cats can experience digestion issue because of an allergy. Symptoms can include gas, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Swollen face
Swelling skin is uncomfortable. If your pet experiences this reaction, you’ll see it most on the lips, eyelids, or ears/ear flaps. Take them to the vet to see what treatment they recommend.
Chronic ear or paw infections
The title pretty much describes itself here. An important note, though, is this: if your pet is experiencing this symptom repeatedly, definitely check to determine whether the issue is a food allergy or a sensitivity.
Common allergens in cats and dogs
Since this is a food allergy post, those allergens are the ones we’re going to cover here. Other factors like fleas and bees can cause some of the above reactions, but we’re not going there today.
Common allergens
- Chicken
- Beef
- Eggs
- Fish (this if more common for cats)
- Dairy products (yes, even for cats…especially for cats)
Less common allergens
- Corn
- Wheat
- Rice
- Barley
- Oats
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What do I do if I suspect an allergy?
Contact your vet and schedule an appointment. If the pet is in distress (vomiting, severe diarrhea, or difficulty breathing), go to an emergency vet and follow up with your regular vet.
Your pet’s doctor will probably have you do an elimination diet (there isn’t a scratch test for pets) and try to narrow down the potential culprits. Once they discover the issue, they can set up a treatment plan that may include a diet change and perhaps some medication to ease symptoms. However, keep the emergency vets number in case an emergency occurs.
That’s all for today. Have you had a pet with a food allergy or sensitivity? I would love to hear your story. Next time, we’re going to talk about food allergy tips for Independence Day (in the US).
Be safe. Eat safe. And savor life!
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