Food intolerance in dogs and cats
If your dog or cat receives high-quality pet food but still suffers from physical complaints, it may be due to a food allergy or intolerance. A food allergy is a reaction of the immune system after ingesting a specific ingredient in the food; it is a response to a particular protein source in the diet. The dog or cat will mainly experience skin and coat problems.
In the case of a food intolerance, the immune system is not involved; a food intolerance often results in stomach and intestinal issues. Certain ingredients in the food can cause a food intolerance.
Symptoms of food intolerance
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Lethargy
- Abdominal pain
- Weight loss
Treatment: What can you do?
It is difficult to determine exactly what your dog or cat is reacting to in the case of a food intolerance or allergy. Through an elimination diet, you can identify what your dog or cat does not tolerate well.
With an elimination diet, you feed your dog or cat food containing a single unique protein source. If your dog or cat responds well to the food, you can conclude that the animal is not allergic to the protein source in the diet.
If your dog or cat does not respond well to the food, you try another variant to see if your pet reacts better to that one.
Sometimes it is necessary to provide multiple brands of food to determine what your pet does not tolerate well...
It is important to follow an elimination diet for at least 6 weeks to observe how your dog or cat reacts to the food. Additionally, it is important to give snacks with the same protein source as the food you provide.
If you want to learn more about food intolerance or allergy, read our blog: a food allergy or intolerance in a dog or cat: what is the difference?
