Current Theories: Barriers in the intestines which normally prevent incompletely digested food proteins from passing into the blood function abnormally.

Immune system of animal is hypersensitive.

Damage to intestines from parasites or viruses allows bypassing of normal barriers as well as general immune response to intestinal area may increase antigens in the area and accidentally create antigens to food proteins instead of the virus or parasite.

• Continuous scratching, itching and/or chewing
• Sores on pet’s skin, or paws
• Oozing sores
• Flaky skin
• Chronic ear infections
• Intestinal problems: diarrhea
• Neurological problems

All these symptoms could signify many other diseases or problems, so a veterinarian who is informed on the history of your pet’s health should determine if allergies may be the problem. Your veterinarian may refer you to a certified Veterinary Dermatologist in your area, if your pet is suffering from a skin disorder. If you think your pet needs a specialist in Dermatology, you can find all the certified veterinarians using the following link to: American College of Veterinary Dermatology

Reports vary from 1-23% (Reedy and Miller, 1989) and 10-20% in dogs (McDonald, 1993). It is rare to see dogs and cats with food allergies alone. They usually coexist with other skin diseases such as the following:

• Chronic ear infections
• Bacteria or yeast infections of the skin, etc.
• Contact allergies ex: to pollen of grass.
  
  

Neither breed nor sex nor age has been determined to have any significance in the chances of them developing allergies.

Specialists in veterinary dermatology use the pet’s history, a physical, as well as elimination or challenge diets to determine if the pet has food allergies that may be aggravating other allergies.

Elimination/Challenge, also known as Food Allergy Diets, are diets in which all protein sources that your pet has been exposed to (ex: chicken, pork, beef, corn, wheat, milk, egg, soy, etc.) is eliminated from his diet for a period of 10 to 13 weeks. When your pet's physical allergy symptoms subside (sores heal, stop scratching or chewing, etc.), then one previous protein, ex: chicken, is reintroduced into your pet's diet. Recurrence of old allergies are watched for closely. If your pet begins to demonstrate old symptoms, then that protein is once again eliminated from diet and when the allergy symptoms subside, another protein is reintroduced into his diet, thus challenging your pet's diet. In this manner, your veterinarian can determine exactly which proteins your pet is allergic. Hopefully, your pet can return to a normal diet with only a few proteins eliminated.

Your veterinarian may put your pet on a variety of different diets. They will choose a diet consisting of proteins your pet has never eaten.

Dogs:

Royal Canin Veterinary Diet® (formerly IVD)

• Potato and Duck Formula Limited Ingredient Diets – canned and dry
• Potato and Venison Formula Limited Ingredient Diets – canned and dry
• Potato and Rabbit Formula Limited Ingredient Diets – canned and dry
• Potato and Whitefish Formula Limited Ingredient Diets – canned and dry
• Hypoallergenic HP 19^® – dry

Iams® Veterinary Formulas: Skin and Coat Response^™

• KO^® - Kangaroo and Oats - dry
• FP® - Fish and Potato - dry and canned

Hill’s® Veterinary Diets

• d/d® Potato and Duck Formula Canine – dry
• d/d® Potato and Salmon Formula Canine – dry
• d/d® Potato and Venison Formula Canine – dry
• d/d® Rice and Egg Formula Canine – dry
• d/d® Lamb Formula Canine – canned
• d/d® Venison Formula Canine – canned
• d/d® Salmon Formula Canine – canned
• z/d® ULTRA Allergen-Free Canine – dry and canned
• z/d® Low Allergen Canine – dry

Purina® Veterinary Diets HA® (Hypo-Allergenic)

Nature’s Recipe® Easy to Digest Fish Meal and Potato Recipe

Dick Van Patton’s Natural Balance® L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets

• Potato and Duck
• Sweet Potato and Bison
• Sweet Potato and Venison
• Sweet Potato and Fish

Cats:

Royal Canin Veterinary Diet® (formerly IVD)

• Green Peas and Duck Formula Limited Ingredient Diet – canned and dry
• Green Peas and Venison Formula Limited - Ingredient Diet – canned and dry
• Green Peas and Rabbit Formula Limited Ingredient Diet – canned and dry
• Green Peas and Lamb Formula Limited Ingredient Diets – canned and dry
• Hypoallergenic HP 23 – dry

Hill’s® Veterinary Diets

• d/d® Duck and Green Pea Formula Feline - dry
• d/d® Duck Formula Feline – canned
• d/d® Rabbit and Green Pea Formula Feline – dry
• d/d® Venison and Green Pea Formula Feline – dry
• d/d® Venison Formula Feline - canned
• z/d® ULTRA Allergen-Free Feline – canned
• z/d® Low Allergen Feline – dry

Iams® Veterinary Formulas: Skin and Coat Response TM

• LB® feline- Lamb and Barley – canned

Dick Van Patton’s Natural Balance® L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets

• Green Pea and Duck Formula
• Green Pea and Salmon Formula
• Venison and Green Pea Formula

If an allergic response has been occurring in the animal for a long period of time, cytokines maybe be present. Cytokines will continue to cause the allergic response (histamine release) in the absence of the food proteins for several weeks.

Deviation from all the restrictions. The many restrictions can be difficult to follow.

Restrictions:

• Water bowls, toys, beds and even prescription medicines cannot contain any proteins eliminated from the diet. This is much more difficult than it might seem.
• All water bowls, beds and washable toys must be cleansed thoroughly.
• No bones, rawhides or treats of any kind have been available. Now there is Serenegy™ limited ingredients treats.
• Vitamins cannot have flavoring.
• If there are other animals in the house that share water, toys etc., they too must go on the allergy diet.
• If you brush your pet’s teeth, only a mint/vanilla flavored toothpaste can be used with a new toothbrush or a mixture of baking soda and peroxide.
• Even the smallest amount of the allergy protein can cause an allergic response. Think about humans’ peanut allergies. Some people are so sensitive to nut oil that food made on machines that previously processed nuts may cause a deadly reaction. The same can be true for pets. Some of the hypoallergenic treats on the market may be produced on machinery that processes these restricted proteins creating the possibility of contaminated treats Develop allergies to the new proteins. This, however, usually takes 2-3 years.
• Pet allergy may be intolerance to the dietary ingredients (vitamins and nutrients), preservatives and food additives that are also in the elimination diet.