FOOD ALLERGY AND FOOD TRIAL INFORMATION
WHAT IS A CUTANEOUS (SKIN) ADVERSE FOOD REACTION IN COMPANION ANIMALS?
The exact mechanisms of food allergy/intolerance are not fully understood in pets. Contrary to people, these reactions can be quite delayed in time, usually taking days to a few weeks to develop (delayed-type hypersensitivity). Therefore, the all-encompassing term “cutaneous adverse food reaction” is preferred in veterinary medicine. Cutaneous manifestations (itching, otitis (inflamed ears), and skin infections) are often accompanied with digestive signs (vomiting, diarrhoea, flatulence, increased faecal frequency) and are rarely outgrown.
Only about 10% of allergic skin disease in pets is due to a food allergy.
WHAT FOODS ARE INCRIMINATED IN COMPANION ANIMALS?
Only a small variety of foods (mainly animal proteins and a few grains) are clearly implicated in dogs and cats according to the current veterinary medical literature. Adverse reactions to chicken, beef, dairy products (cow milk, cheese and yogurt) and wheat account for over 75% of all the reported cases in dogs. In this species, adverse reactions to chicken egg, soy, lamb, fish and corn are reported much less frequently, while reactions to rice and duck are rare. In cats, adverse reactions to chicken, chicken egg, beef, dairy products and fish account for over 90% of all the reported cases. There is no scientific evidence of naturally-occurring peanut and tree nuts allergy in dogs.
WHAT IS A FOOD TRIAL?
WHY DO I NEED TO START ONE?
We suspect that your pet may have developed a cutaneous adverse reaction to one or several ingredients present in the current diet or treats. Recognising the exact cause of adverse food reactions in dogs and cats can be difficult. The only way to diagnose a cutaneous adverse food reaction is to strictly feed a new diet for several weeks. This process is called a food trial (also known as elimination diet trial).
By the end of the food trial, a food challenge may be performed. This would involve re-introducing the previous diet and treats. Subsequent increase in itching, scratching or licking would confirm a cutaneous adverse food reaction and, therefore, your pet will need to be kept on a strictly restricted diet in the future.
WHAT COMMERCIAL DIET SHOULD I FEED?
Two types of diets may be used. The first type and best diet to use for a food trial is a veterinary hydrolysed diet which contains a protein that has been broken down by enzymes to be so small that it should not, in theory, stimulate the immune system. Examples of hydrolysed proteins include chicken, feather protein or soy. These diets are Hill’s Z/D or Royal Canin’s Anallergenic.
The second type is a veterinary novel diet, which means that your pet has not eaten this protein source in the past (or at least very infrequently). Therefore, an accurate dietary history is essential for a successful outcome. Examples of protein sources include venison, rabbit, pork, duck or fish while recommended carbohydrate sources include sweet potato, white potato or green pea.
Please only use the diet that was prescribed. Even though many commercial diets sold over-the-counter may claim to be “hypoallergenic” or “for sensitive skin”, it is important to realise these claims have no official meaning. They can be misleading because the pet food companies do not legally have to list every ingredient on the label.
HOW SHOULD I PROCEED WITH THE FOOD TRIAL?
We recommend that you start a food trial using a commercial diet. In order to determine if your pet has a food allergy, this diet must be strictly maintained for a minimum of 8 weeks. You may not see complete relief from itching, scratching or licking, but you should see some improvement. This improvement may be slow. Patience and determination are essential for success.
Before embarking on a food trial, it is essential that external parasite causes of itchy skin have been ruled out and eliminated. If the underlying cause of your pet’s itchy skin is fleas or mange mites, then treatment and future prevention will reduce your pet’s scratching and licking without the need for a food trial.
FOOD TRIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR DOGS AND CATS
It is very important that you adhere strictly to the following guidelines:
· In order to avoid a digestive upset, please make the diet change from the current diet to the new diet gradually over a week, according to the chart and diagram below.
· We emphasize that nothing else is to pass your pet’s lips during the trial. This diet must be fed exclusively. No other foods or treats are allowed. For greater clarity: this means no flavoured vitamin supplements, chew toys, commercial treats (bones, pig ears, rawhide chews, biscuits), snacks and table scraps. You may use the new diet as a treat. For example, you can use some kibble as a treat if you use a dry formulation. If a canned diet is fed, you can either make meatballs by rolling the food in your hands or bake slices into dry cookies. If you need to use treats for rewards or training purposes, again use some of this diet. If in doubt, please ask us about other acceptable treats that can be used during the duration of the food trial.
· Do not use bread, cheese, Pill Pockets, sausages or meat to disguise oral medications. You can use the canned diet (if available) to make hand-rolled meatballs. You can also use boiled cubes of sweet potatoes to mask the medication.
· Feed the amount indicated on the packaging for your pet’s weight unless otherwise directed by your veterinarian. If your pet is gaining or losing weight, adjust the amount accordingly.
· All family members and visitors should comply with the food trial. Please make sure all family members and friends know that your pet is receiving a special diet. If your pet is in the habit of eating food dropped by young children in the household, keep your pet out of the room at meal times. Do not let your pet lick the plates.
· Eating another pet’s food or faeces will disrupt the food trial. If there are other pets in the household of the same species, they should be fed the same diet, or fed separately. Stools will need to be picked up and bagged immediately. Put cat food out of the dog’s reach or feed cats in a separate room. Avoid or stop free (ad lib) feeding all pets in the household in order to control food access. If your dog is in the habit of eating dropped food or garbage when exercised, please keep him on a lead.
· Cats should ideally be kept indoors to prevent hunting.
· If your pet receives a flavoured medication (chewable dewormers/ flea pills; flavoured antibiotics; flavoured vitamin, mineral, joint or coat supplement; flavoured toothpaste), please have those changed to non-flavoured form or a topical applied to the skin between the shoulder blades (Frontline, Advantage, Advantix, Revolution, Bravecto Spot On).
· Make sure you have enough food for a minimum of 8 weeks. It is important not to have breaks during the food trial in order to facilitate the interpretation of results.
· Please contact us and ask us for instructions if:
The change of diet causes vomiting or diarrhoea.
Your pet refuses to eat the new diet.
Your pet goes more than 3 days without a bowel movement.
Your pet appears to lose weight.
WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL NEXT STEPS IF THE COMMERCIAL DIET TRIAL FAILS?
As only about 10% of allergic skin disease in pets is due to a food allergy, the most likely outcome is that the food trial will have no effect and you won’t see much of an improvement in your pet’s skin. A food trial is a necessary diagnostic tool to either rule out or confirm a food allergy. If your pet has a food allergy, then by finding this out and using a diet as the treatment, unnecessary medications can be avoided.
If the food trial fails, then it is probable that your pet suffers from a more common type of allergy called atopic dermatitis. Testing for environmental allergens and specific treatments such as oclacitinb (Apoquel), oral cyclosporine (Atopica) or immunotherapy (desensitisation) may be needed.
A small percentage of truly food allergic pets may remain undiagnosed if a commercially prepared diet is used, as they may in fact be allergic to food additives (food dyes, emulsifiers, stabilisers, flavourings, taste enhancers, and preservatives). These patients may require a second food trial with a homemade diet.
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WHAT IS A CUTANEOUS (SKIN) ADVERSE FOOD REACTION IN COMPANION ANIMALS?
The exact mechanisms of food allergy/intolerance are not fully understood in pets. Contrary to people, these reactions can be quite delayed in time, usually taking days to a few weeks to develop (delayed-type hypersensitivity). Therefore, the all-encompassing term “cutaneous adverse food reaction” is preferred in veterinary medicine. Cutaneous manifestations (itching, otitis (inflamed ears), and skin infections) are often accompanied with digestive signs (vomiting, diarrhoea, flatulence, increased faecal frequency) and are rarely outgrown.
Only about 10% of allergic skin disease in pets is due to a food allergy.
WHAT FOODS ARE INCRIMINATED IN COMPANION ANIMALS?
Only a small variety of foods (mainly animal proteins and a few grains) are clearly implicated in dogs and cats according to the current veterinary medical literature. Adverse reactions to chicken, beef, dairy products (cow milk, cheese and yogurt) and wheat account for over 75% of all the reported cases in dogs. In this species, adverse reactions to chicken egg, soy, lamb, fish and corn are reported much less frequently, while reactions to rice and duck are rare. In cats, adverse reactions to chicken, chicken egg, beef, dairy products and fish account for over 90% of all the reported cases. There is no scientific evidence of naturally-occurring peanut and tree nuts allergy in dogs.
WHAT IS A FOOD TRIAL?
WHY DO I NEED TO START ONE?
We suspect that your pet may have developed a cutaneous adverse reaction to one or several ingredients present in the current diet or treats. Recognising the exact cause of adverse food reactions in dogs and cats can be difficult. The only way to diagnose a cutaneous adverse food reaction is to strictly feed a new diet for several weeks. This process is called a food trial (also known as elimination diet trial).
By the end of the food trial, a food challenge may be performed. This would involve re-introducing the previous diet and treats. Subsequent increase in itching, scratching or licking would confirm a cutaneous adverse food reaction and, therefore, your pet will need to be kept on a strictly restricted diet in the future.
WHAT COMMERCIAL DIET SHOULD I FEED?
Two types of diets may be used. The first type and best diet to use for a food trial is a veterinary hydrolysed diet which contains a protein that has been broken down by enzymes to be so small that it should not, in theory, stimulate the immune system. Examples of hydrolysed proteins include chicken, feather protein or soy. These diets are Hill’s Z/D or Royal Canin’s Anallergenic.
The second type is a veterinary novel diet, which means that your pet has not eaten this protein source in the past (or at least very infrequently). Therefore, an accurate dietary history is essential for a successful outcome. Examples of protein sources include venison, rabbit, pork, duck or fish while recommended carbohydrate sources include sweet potato, white potato or green pea.
Please only use the diet that was prescribed. Even though many commercial diets sold over-the-counter may claim to be “hypoallergenic” or “for sensitive skin”, it is important to realise these claims have no official meaning. They can be misleading because the pet food companies do not legally have to list every ingredient on the label.
HOW SHOULD I PROCEED WITH THE FOOD TRIAL?
We recommend that you start a food trial using a commercial diet. In order to determine if your pet has a food allergy, this diet must be strictly maintained for a minimum of 8 weeks. You may not see complete relief from itching, scratching or licking, but you should see some improvement. This improvement may be slow. Patience and determination are essential for success.
Before embarking on a food trial, it is essential that external parasite causes of itchy skin have been ruled out and eliminated. If the underlying cause of your pet’s itchy skin is fleas or mange mites, then treatment and future prevention will reduce your pet’s scratching and licking without the need for a food trial.
FOOD TRIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR DOGS AND CATS
It is very important that you adhere strictly to the following guidelines:
· In order to avoid a digestive upset, please make the diet change from the current diet to the new diet gradually over a week, according to the chart and diagram below.
· We emphasize that nothing else is to pass your pet’s lips during the trial. This diet must be fed exclusively. No other foods or treats are allowed. For greater clarity: this means no flavoured vitamin supplements, chew toys, commercial treats (bones, pig ears, rawhide chews, biscuits), snacks and table scraps. You may use the new diet as a treat. For example, you can use some kibble as a treat if you use a dry formulation. If a canned diet is fed, you can either make meatballs by rolling the food in your hands or bake slices into dry cookies. If you need to use treats for rewards or training purposes, again use some of this diet. If in doubt, please ask us about other acceptable treats that can be used during the duration of the food trial.
· Do not use bread, cheese, Pill Pockets, sausages or meat to disguise oral medications. You can use the canned diet (if available) to make hand-rolled meatballs. You can also use boiled cubes of sweet potatoes to mask the medication.
· Feed the amount indicated on the packaging for your pet’s weight unless otherwise directed by your veterinarian. If your pet is gaining or losing weight, adjust the amount accordingly.
· All family members and visitors should comply with the food trial. Please make sure all family members and friends know that your pet is receiving a special diet. If your pet is in the habit of eating food dropped by young children in the household, keep your pet out of the room at meal times. Do not let your pet lick the plates.
· Eating another pet’s food or faeces will disrupt the food trial. If there are other pets in the household of the same species, they should be fed the same diet, or fed separately. Stools will need to be picked up and bagged immediately. Put cat food out of the dog’s reach or feed cats in a separate room. Avoid or stop free (ad lib) feeding all pets in the household in order to control food access. If your dog is in the habit of eating dropped food or garbage when exercised, please keep him on a lead.
· Cats should ideally be kept indoors to prevent hunting.
· If your pet receives a flavoured medication (chewable dewormers/ flea pills; flavoured antibiotics; flavoured vitamin, mineral, joint or coat supplement; flavoured toothpaste), please have those changed to non-flavoured form or a topical applied to the skin between the shoulder blades (Frontline, Advantage, Advantix, Revolution, Bravecto Spot On).
· Make sure you have enough food for a minimum of 8 weeks. It is important not to have breaks during the food trial in order to facilitate the interpretation of results.
· Please contact us and ask us for instructions if:
The change of diet causes vomiting or diarrhoea.
Your pet refuses to eat the new diet.
Your pet goes more than 3 days without a bowel movement.
Your pet appears to lose weight.
WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL NEXT STEPS IF THE COMMERCIAL DIET TRIAL FAILS?
As only about 10% of allergic skin disease in pets is due to a food allergy, the most likely outcome is that the food trial will have no effect and you won’t see much of an improvement in your pet’s skin. A food trial is a necessary diagnostic tool to either rule out or confirm a food allergy. If your pet has a food allergy, then by finding this out and using a diet as the treatment, unnecessary medications can be avoided.
If the food trial fails, then it is probable that your pet suffers from a more common type of allergy called atopic dermatitis. Testing for environmental allergens and specific treatments such as oclacitinb (Apoquel), oral cyclosporine (Atopica) or immunotherapy (desensitisation) may be needed.
A small percentage of truly food allergic pets may remain undiagnosed if a commercially prepared diet is used, as they may in fact be allergic to food additives (food dyes, emulsifiers, stabilisers, flavourings, taste enhancers, and preservatives). These patients may require a second food trial with a homemade diet.
back to Pet Info
back to Home