Condition6 connections · 1 source
Food Allergy
Immune reaction to dietary proteins causing skin itching and sometimes GI symptoms in dogs and cats.
Key Facts
- Requires time to develop — pets usually eating offending food for years
- No reliable blood, skin, saliva, or hair test exists for food allergy
- Only diagnosis: hypoallergenic diet trial for 8-12 weeks
- Hydrolyzed protein diets have most consistent success
- 30% of food-allergic pets have concurrent GI signs
- Cats: face/neck itching; Dogs: facial, foot, anal, ear involvement
- Diet must be strictly controlled — no treats, flavored medications, or table scraps