Just like human beings, pets can also be affected by food allergies, which can cause a range of symptoms including wheezing, sneezing, coughing, and vomiting.

It is not always possible to know about the effects which the food might have on the pets, but gastrointestinal problems, chronic diarrhea, gas, and inflammation and itchy skin can be symptoms of food allergies. This makes it important to know about the various allergies pets are likely to develop.

What is meant by food allergy in pets?

Food allergies occur when the immune system of your pet fails to identify a protein from a particular type of food and reacts adversely to it. This leads to the manifestation of the symptoms of a food allergy, like ear infections or itchy skin. Some pets may suffer from both gastrointestinal and skin issues as symptoms of an allergy to certain food items.

Diagnosing food allergies

A frustrating thing about pet food allergies is the difficulty in diagnosis. Many tests can help in diagnosing allergies using the hair, blood, and saliva of your pets. They can be performed at a veterinarian clinic. Pets might show a lot of symptoms like fur loss, skin pigmentation, gastrointestinal issues, diarrhea, vomiting, and loss of appetite.

Also, it is important to distinguish between intolerance and allergies, especially in the case of lactose. A simple way to distinguish an allergy to lactose from lactose intolerance is through the symptoms. Gastrointestinal symptoms are present in both cases, but skin issues like inflammation and itchiness and red skin will develop only in case of an allergy.

Most common food allergens for pets

The overall cases of food allergies in cats and dogs can be related to a few common food products like chicken, dairy products, beef, eggs, and such others.

Pets may sometimes be allergic to plant-sourced ingredients like potatoes and grains. A lot of pet food companies offer gluten-free varieties of their products for pets if they are allergic to it or face gluten intolerance, but gluten allergies rarely affect pets.

In case of an allergy, the ingredients must be avoided in pet food, and making food for your pet at home is one of the best ways to ensure that they stay away from the allergens.

Is it necessary to use an over-the-counter diet?

A lot of companies offer counter diets to pet food allergies, and they are usually marketed as being quite good for them. A lot of the limited-ingredient diets usually have more than one carbohydrate and one protein source.

They may also have vegetables and fruits or any other ingredients that can interfere with a diet trial. Numerous studies have shown that many diets contain ingredients that are not listed, which increases the risk of pets being exposed to something that they may be allergic to. In case a veterinary doctor diagnoses a food allergy in your pet, a dietary elimination trial using home-cooked food or a veterinary diet is essential.