Sometimes, dogs react to ingredients in food as if they were pathogens, that is, they suffer an adverse reaction to a specific component of the food. Some of the most frequent intolerances are to milk proteins, wheat, egg, soya and corn.
IS A FOOD ALLERGY THE SAME AS A FOOD INTOLERANCE?
Despite the fact that they may seem like similar concepts, the body's response to them is different.
In the case of allergies, an exaggerated and immediate immune response to certain components of the food is triggered, so the symptoms appear within 2 hours of ingestion.
On the other hand, when an animal suffers from an intolerance intolerance it is generally a chronic process which accumulates over time. In this case, the symptoms are slower to appear, from 2 hours to 3 days after consuming the food.
In the case of allergies, an initial exposure to the food is required for the body to sensitize and, therefore, it will not be until the second exposure when the allergic reaction is produced.
WHAT ARE THE MOST FREQUENT SYMPTOMS OF FOOD INTOLERANCE?
When a dog ingests a food to which it is intolerant, it is unable to ingest it and absorb its nutrients, therefore the most frequent symptoms are gastrointestinal:
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- flatulence
- lack of appetite
- loss of weight
- abdominal pain
On the other hand, it is also common to see changes to the skin in these animals, such as atopic dermatitis, recurrent otitis, itching, excessive licking of paws, loss of hair, dandruff, etc.
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HOW CAN YOU IDENTIFY THE AGENT CAUSING THE INTOLERANCE?
Para dar solución a este problema es fundamental identificar el agente que le está causando la intolerancia. Para ello, el método más utilizado por los veterinarios es la realización de una dieta de eliminación o descarte. Esto consiste en alimentar al perro con una dieta monoproteica (una única fuente de proteína) nueva para el perro, es decir, que no la haya consumido nunca.
To solve the problem, it is essential to identify the agent that is causing the intolerance. To do so, the method most commonly used by vets is to carry out an elimination diet. This consists of feeding the dog with a monoprotein diet (a unique source of protein) that is new to the dog, that is, it has never consumed it.
Once the new diet has been chosen, it should be maintained for 8-12 weeks exclusively; the animal may only eat that diet (no treats, homemade food, etc.).
If, during this time, the symptoms abate, the process of "provocation" can be started, which consists of eating a food that is suspected to produce the intolerance and seeing if the symptoms reappear.
If the symptoms reappear it is confirmed that it is that food that causes the intolerance.
CAN THEY BE PREVENTED?
Unfortunately not. However, recommendations can be followed that will help keep the dog's immune system healthy and improve its health, such as always providing high-quality dry food from when they are puppies and foods specifically formulated for these cases.
Remember that you should always see a specialist vet for the diagnosis of a possible intolerance