How do food allergies effect pets?
An allergy is an inappropriate and excessive reaction of the immune system to an allergen.
Allergies manifest as:
- Itching
- Infections of the skin and ear
- Hot Spots
- Chronic diarrhoea and/or IBD
- Vomiting
- Seizures
- Behaviour Problems/Hyperactivity
- Pancreatitis
- Chronic Liver Disease
- Lethargy
- Cancer
Food Allergies
The most common food allergens for dogs are Chicken and Beef, we understand that these are mainly due to vaccines reactions, in that vaccine components are often grown in chicken embryo/bovine serum etc. therefore Chicken and Beef are the first proteins recommended to be removed from an animals diet when an allergy is suspected.
The next most common allergen, known to cause all sorts of bowel issues due to food sensitivities and intolerances are caused by Phenols i.e. Gallic Acid
Gallic Acid is found in many fruit and vegetables, including, but not restricted to:
- Pumpkin
- Sweet Potato
- Parsnips
- Cauliflower
- Chicory
- Chard
- Fennel
- Soybeans & Sprouts
- Grapes
- Hops
- Chestnuts
- Cloves
Whilst Food Allergies cause immediate reactions, food sensitivities and intolerances have a delayed response. They may start as simple itching and progress down the above reactions list to cancer if fed even in small amounts on a regular basis.
Let us not forget that the microbiome in the bowel represents 80% of the immune system and if that is negatively effected, exposure to something else that would normally cause a mild reaction, could actually end up being catastrophic.
Due to this and other issues with these foods we do not recommend feeding them, especially on a regular basis.
H B Turner 