29/05/2024
Does your dog or cat seem dull in coat, lethargic, suffer with ear issues, lick or nibble their paws excessively, seem overly itchy, have hot spots, dandruff or even hair loss?
It could be a sign of an Adverse Food Reaction (AFR) - aka intolerance or allergy.
We see this a lot more than you might think! The difference a change in diet can have on a pet with possible AFR’s is incredible when done right!
When pet parents come in to talk about changing food, we usually ask the
following questions:
🐾Can we see pictures or tell us about your pet?
This is to see pets breed/breeding, overall condition, coat, life stage, weight -
and because, of course, we love to see them!
🐾What is the current food and how is the pet currently fairing on it and what
additional treats, or chews do they get?
For an indication of pets current diet, activity levels, behaviour/temperament.
🐾Daily/Weekly exercise/activity levels?
High or low energy?
🐾What are the stools like, how many a day, consistency start to finish ?
The ideal is 1-3, and firm from start to finish.
🐾(a) Any excessive itching, or reoccurring infections, or irritations (i.e. yeast or
otherwise)?
This is usually a decent indication of something underlying that needs exploring.
🐾(b) If so do they relate to the ears or paws?
Both are common ailments related to adverse food reactions.
Common signs and symptoms to be aware of:
🐾Itchy skin, and obsessive scratching (which is not seasonal)
🐾Recurring ear issues/infections
🐾Repeated skin issues/infections (rashes, pimples, scabbing, hotspots,
balding)
🐾Smelly skin due to yeast infection
🐾Changes to the skin and coat, including hair loss, including dulling, greasy
feeling, and dandruff
🐾Diarrhoea or soft stools
🐾Straining to pass stools
🐾Passing stools more often
🐾Excess wind
🐾Weepy eyes, tear stains
🐾Sickness
🐾Reduced appetite
🐾Lack of energy or tiredness
🐾Restlessness
If any of these relate to your pet, then it’s worth exploring them. Of course, food
is not always the cause of these issues, but it’s a good place to start!
Did you know beef, chicken and wheat are the most common causes of AFR’s?
The pet health industry has been conflicted over how common AFR’s are and
so, quite often they are overlooked or misdiagnosed. Previous studies on how
common they are are also very conflicting. However, more recent studies have
shown that over 13% of the dogs studied were suffering from AFR’s … which is
a lot!
Common food allergies in dogs include cereals and chicken, and common
allergies in cats include cereals, chicken, fish, beef and dairy. It’s important to
remember that each pet is unique, so these may not be the culprits causing
your pet discomfort.
Elimination, (AKA exclusion) diets have proven to be the most effective method
of treatment.
Elimination diets involve only feeding one food source for 4-8 weeks. This is to
ensure no contamination occurs. Unfortunately, it does mean no treats during
this time… It is so important to stay consistent as it will benefit you both in the
long run, so if you’re feeding kibble you can always use pieces of kibble as
treats whilst on the elimination diet.
Once a food has been proven to benefit your pet, then you can begin to
introduce other foods and treats. But again, this must be done one at a time,
over a period of time. If any reaction occurs, you know to eliminate it from the
diet and not to feed it again. It’s best to keep a diary of foods ingested and
whether your pet had a reaction or not.
Your vet will usually want to rule out any other common possibilities first, before
diagnosing food allergies. Other conditions such as flea allergies and mange
can present with similar symptoms, or the possibility of underlying medical
conditions that can also cause skin changes, e.g. an underactive thyroid. They
will also treat any problems that have happened as a result of the suspected
AFD’s first, such as skin infections.
If you want to discuss your pets diet, different types of food or treats, please pop in and have a chat with us to see if we can help.☺️
