Here's some information for a diet change for food allergies.
Food Allergies:
Introduction/Causative Agents: Allergic skin disease resulting from an adverse reaction to food is responsible for up to 15% of all skin related allergies in dogs. Food allergies along with food intolerances make up a broader category known as food sensitivities. Food allergies are due to a reaction by the body’s immune system to certain substances (allergens) in food. Food intolerances do not involve the immune system and are usually due to certain types of food such as dairy products. It generally takes some time for a dog to develop an allergy to food, and some dogs may eat the same diet for years before they begin to react to an ingredient. Allergens which are most commonly associated with food allergies include beef, milk, soybean, chicken, pork, yeast, corn, and wheat. There are no strong breed predilections for food allergies in dogs, although according to some dermatologists, the retriever and terrier breeds are probably the most commonly affected. Dogs first diagnosed with food allergies tend to be younger, and more than 80% are affected at less than 3 years of age.
Clinical Signs: The signs of food allergy in dogs are similar to atopy. They include moderate to severe itchiness of the skin in the feet, face, ears, axillary (armpit), and inguinal (groin) areas. Up to 20% of dogs with food allergies may suffer from persistent and/or recurrent inflammation and infection of the ears only, with no other body areas affected. Only rarely do vomiting or diarrhea accompany skin problems in dogs with food allergies. Like atopy, secondary bacterial or yeast infections are common. Food allergies are not seasonal.
Diagnosis: The diagnosis of food allergy is accomplished with a dietary trial. During the trial, a diet with a limited number of possible food allergens is fed for 6-8 weeks. Throughout the trial, additional food and food products (table scraps, snacks, chew toys, or palatable medications) must be eliminated. The diet itself can be either home-made or commercial, but must contain only carbohydrates as a base and one protein type to which the dog has never or only rarely been exposed. Such protein sources can include lamb, fish, duck, or venison. The carbohydrate base is usually composed of cooked rice or potato and is the main source of calories during the trial. Homemade diets are usually the best. Commercial hypoallergenic diets such as Lamb & Rice can be used and are generally successful in 75-80% of dogs with food allergies. If after 6-8 weeks, the dog has shown some improvement with a strictly followed dietary trial, the diet is then continued until maximal improvement is noted. To confirm the diagnosis, the patient is then given its previous diet. Clinical signs should recur within 7-10 days. If there is no response to a diet trial after 6-8 weeks, then a different type of hypoallergenic diet may be fed. If the dog continues not to respond to the dietary trials, then food allergies are ruled out of the list of possible problems. Further testing may be necessary to determine the correct diagnosis.
Treatment: Proper treatment for food allergic animals is life-long maintenance with a diet that the animal can tolerate without experiencing skin reactions. For life-long maintenance, it is best to have the dog on a high quality, hypoallergenic commercial brand dog food; this is possible in most dogs with food allergies, although some experimentation may be required to find a brand and ingredient combination that will be well tolerated. Occasionally, a dog may need to be maintained long-term with a homemade diet. Vitamin and mineral supplementation may be necessary in such cases to avoid nutritional deficiencies. Corticosteroids may be used in dogs with food allergies as a last resort, although the success of this type of therapy is sometimes poor. |