Diagnosing Food Allergy In Dogs and Cats – Copper Hill Animal Clinic

​Have you ever wondered if your furry friend may have a food allergy? If your pet chronically has very itchy and red skin, especially on the face, ears, paws, and stomach, then they may have a food allergy. Itchy skin can also be caused by environmental or flea allergies, which are actually much more common, so it is important to discuss with your veterinarian.
So how do you diagnose a food allergy? The one and only way to accurately diagnose a food allergy at this time is to do a diet trial, in which your pet will eat a prescription diet of a “novel protein” source or a “hydrolyzed protein” for at least 8 weeks. Animals develop food allergies when their immune system recognizes certain proteins and the immune system reacts – causing inflammation. If they are fed a novel protein source they have never had before, such as venison, then the immune system should not be primed to have a reaction. Alternatively, any protein source may be chopped up at the molecular level or “hydrolyzed” into small enough pieces that the immune system does not recognize it. If there is a food allergy then the skin issues should improve by 8 weeks, and if the protein source in question is reintroduced then the symptoms should recur.
What about a blood test, or this ad I saw for a saliva and hair test? Some laboratories offer blood tests to measure antibodies to various dietary protein sources, but these tests are not considered reliable. Some animals have high levels of antibodies but have completely normal
skin. Save your money on saliva and hair tests, these are not valid for food allergies and are often scams. In one study, submitted hair and saliva samples from both healthy and allergic dogs came back with results claiming it was positive for food allergies regardless of whether it was from an allergic dog, healthy dog, or even a fake sample. If you think your pet may have an allergy, make an appointment with your veterinarian to learn more! To learn more about Copper Hill Animal Clinic email us at copperhillanimalclinic@gmail.com or call us at 661-296-8848.