Food allergies account for about 10% of all allergy cases in dogs. Thus, it is not as common as flea allergies or inhalant allergies. What many people believe to be food allergies are actually known as food intolerance which is a distinct condition.
How does food intolerance differ from a food allergy? An allergy is a reaction mediated by the immune system. For allergy to develop, the body must have previous exposure to the allergen. On the other hand, the immune system is not involved when there is food intolerance. The adverse reaction can occur even during a dog’s first exposure to the substance. One common example of food intolerance is lactose intolerance in dogs. When a dog consumes milk or dairy products, he can develop digestive upsets because dogs lack lactase, an enzyme that helps digest lactose.
Skin reactions, such as itchiness or swelling, may be observed when a dog has a food allergy. However, this is not always the case. Gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting and diarrhea are much more common.
Persistent digestive upsets and other symptoms need to be checked by your veterinarians San Antonio, TX.
