Is My Pet Allergic to Their Food? Common Cat and Dog Food Allergies

For most pets, food is everything. They can’t wait for dinnertime and will do almost anything for a tasty treat.

While eating can come with paw-licking, tail wagging, and pure joy — this isn’t the case for all animals. If your pup or kitty has an allergy, certain foods can cause a negative reaction.

Just like humans, pets can break out with skin problems, gastrointestinal issues, and even ear infections if they consume ingredients that their bodies don’t agree with.

Food allergies in dogs and cats exist, but they are not common. Want to know more? Keep reading to learn about typical offending foods, clinical signs and symptoms, and how to deal with your cat or dog’s food allergies so they can get back to feeling like their best self.

What is a food allergy?

A food allergy in dogs/cats is similar to that in humans. If your pet has an allergy or intolerance, eating that food will trigger an immune response. 

In pets, this is often referred to as cutaneous adverse food reactions (CAFR), a hypersensitivity disorder. There is still a lot to learn about CAFR, and research is ongoing. 

CAFR can often be mistaken for atopic dermatitis — a condition that affects up to 15% of dogs. Atopic dermatitis is caused by environmental allergies, such as pollen and mold. Diagnosis is tricky, but your veterinarian can tell the difference between an animal with CAFR and one with atopic dermatitis. 

It can be scary when an unexpected illness happens to your beloved pooch. Having a Pumpkin pet insurance plan in place can help you afford the best in care for your pup for future illness or accidents.

Food allergy symptoms in dogs and cats

The most common sign of CAFR is year-round itchy skin, often around the head or rear, that doesn’t respond well to antihistamines or corticosteroids. 

Here are some of the most common food allergy symptoms in dogs and cats:

• Excessive itching
• Bumps all over the body (in cats)
• Hot spots (skin infections caused by excessive scratching)
• Ear infections
• Vomiting 
• Difficulty defecating
• Diarrhea
• Frequent bowel movements
• Hair loss (caused by frequent scratching)
• Itchy skin rashes
• Red eyes (with and without discharge)
• Sneezing
• Itchy paws

Sometimes these symptoms are due to other health conditions, and your vet will be able to guide you to the best treatment.

At what age do dogs and cats start showing signs of food allergies?

Most dogs and cats with food allergies develop symptoms between their first birthday and about 5 years of age. However, new symptoms can pop up later in life. For cats and dogs, this is anywhere from six months or earlier to 15 years old.

If you have a hunch your pet might be showing symptoms, don’t let their age deter you from seeking treatment.

Dog breeds prone to food allergies

Any dog can develop food allergies, but some breeds are more prone than others. These three breeds are more likely to have a food allergy:

• Labrador Retrievers
• German Shepherds
• West Highland White Terriers

Make sure you monitor your dog when offering them new foods, regardless of their breed.

Cat breeds prone to food allergies

Two-thirds of cats with food allergies are either Siamese or a Siamese mixed breed. Food allergies in cats can be present regardless of breed, but these are the most common.

What are the most common food allergies in dogs and cats?

Dogs and cats can be allergic to almost any food. But, there are a few common culprits.

The most common food allergies in dogs are:

• Beef
• Chicken
• Eggs
• Milk
• Wheat
• Soy
• Corn

The most common food allergens for cats are chicken, fish, and dairy.

Can dogs and cats have multiple food allergies?

Yes, dogs and cats can develop more than one food allergy. However, they might also be experiencing something else, such as a seasonal allergy, flea allergy, or environmental allergy, at the same time. 

Dogs and cats can be allergic to other things like:

• Pollen
• Mold
• House dust mites
• Cockroach dander
• Fleas
• Contact allergens (like laundry detergent)

If a pet has multiple allergies, things can get complicated and hard to untangle. Your vet can help you figure out what kind of allergy your pet is experiencing.

How are food allergies diagnosed and treated? 

Diagnosing food allergies is challenging in dogs and cats. Your veterinarian will use a combination of information from you (a history), physical examination, and laboratory testing to rule out other causes, such as skin infections. 

There is no definite laboratory test that will give the answers you are looking for. The only way to diagnose a food allergy is with an 8-10 week food elimination trial. 

During a food elimination trial, your dog or cat will eat either a limited ingredient or hydrolyzed protein food and nothing else. 

This is to determine if symptoms resolve during the prescription diet. If they do, then it’s likely to be a food allergy. If they don’t then there is another cause of the itching.

The length of the trial period is determined by how long it takes for offending allergens to leave your pet’s system. 

Only use veterinarian-recommended therapeutic foods for elimination diet trials. These diets are free of any other allergens. 

The same cannot be said for over-the-counter pet foods. Cross-contamination is a challenge for manufacturers and products can contain ingredients that are not listed on the bag. While you may be tempted to use an OTC diet for a food trial because they are less expensive, it is not recommended.

If your pet has started a diet elimination trial, it is also important to return to the veterinarian for a follow-up. They will check your pet’s skin and ears, and ask you about how they are doing.

In some cases, additional vet-prescribed medication might be needed. These include:

• Antihistamines
• Corticosteroids
• Apoquel
• Cytopoint 

Flea control is almost always prescribed when indicated. In addition, antibiotics or anti-fungal medication may be prescribed if there are secondary skin infections.

What if the elimination diet isn’t working?

Be patient and communicate regularly with your veterinary provider during this process. It can take several weeks to see improvement. And, if your pet has skin infections or other allergies, determining the underlying cause can be more challenging. 

Plus, it can be hard to control what your pet is eating. If your diet trial doesn’t seem to be working, contact your veterinarian for a phone consultation.

Look for the following ‘silent saboteurs’ that can be hindering the diet trial:

• You have small children who drop food that your pup consumes.
• You or other adults are feeding them treats or “human food”.
• Your pet ate another pet’s food.
• You give a medication or supplement that has allergens in it (heartworm medication is the most common culprit).
• Daycare, boarding facility workers, or petsitters feed the pet something they shouldn’t.

Get everyone in the household on board, and provide instructions to anyone involved in your pet’s care.

Understanding food allergies in dogs and cats

Just like their pet parents, dogs and cats can have food intolerances and allergies.

There are a range of food allergy symptoms in cats and dogs. These include itchy skin, sneezing, ear infections, and red eyes.

Common allergens for pets include beef, chicken, and soy. And, while it’s more common for puppies and kittens to have a reaction, allergies can pop up at any time.

Remember, you can always talk to your vet about any concerns you may have. You can ask your veterinarian about your pet’s nutritional needs, allergy symptoms, and advice about what to feed them.

FAQs

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