Itching & Allergies Caused By Food and the Exclusion Diet

Fleas, food, airborne materials, and contact materials are the four most common causes of itching and allergies in pets. In our last entry, we covered how to handle the flea problem, now, let’s discuss food allergies and I’ll give you the most bizarre food-related allergy tidbit at the end.
Food Allergies
Food allergies are pretty steady throughout the year—as long as the pet is eating the problem food steadily, but we can be fooled into thinking a problem is not food if we see seasonal changes in itching. Food can cause itching, but we will have fluctuating bouts of itching if food allergies are compounded by fleas, pollens or contact materials.

Is the food allergy caused by bad food?
No. Most food-allergic pets will be reacting to something that’s perfectly healthy to eat—just not healthy for them. For example, many pets are allergic to beef and will react to beef in their kibble, in their treats, or in their beef-flavored joint medications or heartworm medications. Many cats are allergic to beef too.

Other pets are allergic to fish and react to it by becoming itchier when we give them Omega 3 fatty acids in the form of fish oils. This is gloriously frustrating because we often prescribe fish oils to counteract itching.

Some dogs are allergic to corn and react to it in popcorn, corn syrup in dog treats, and corn mealin kibble.

Exclusion Diet
The best way to stop food allergies is to switch to a 2-ingredient diet (exclusion diet) that includes two foods your pet has never eaten before, such as pork and bok choy or buffalo and pumpkin. No other supplements, vitamins, or flavored meds, snacks or treats can be used during the food trial. After 3-6 weeks, an additional food is offered and the trial is continued for another 3-6 week period. Gradually we build up a list of foods that are healthy for your pet. If symptoms of itching occur, we stop what we’ve just added; go back to using only safe foods.

Helping the pet recover with herbs and holistic therapies
During this food trial, we can prescribe Chinese herbs that reduce the tendency to develop allergies. We can also reduce the tendency to be allergic by using acupuncture and homeopathy.

Signs that pets with allergy symptoms are improving
As the exclusion diet period progresses, pets quit chewing their feet, licking or sliding on their bottoms, having hot, yeasty ear infections. Eventually, pets return to a healthy state in which they may occasionally itch, but will not be so reactive to food that they are kept awake or driven crazy during the day by itching.

Allergy Tidbits
NO SNACKING ON CAT FECES. Everything the cat ate is available in its stool, so this habit has to stop during a food trial. Also, don't use flavored toothpaste. For example, if your pet is on an elemination diet and eating only pork and bok choy, don't use poultry-flavored toothpaste.

What's next?
We’ve covered fleas and foods as common causes of allergies. Over the next Caring for Pets entries, we’ll cover air-borne materials and contact materials that contribute to itching and allergies.