If your dog or cat is itchy, it is possible that pet food allergies are the cause. Pets with food allergies can be intensely itchy and may scratch, chew and groom themselves to the point of causing sores and bald spots.
Food allergies occur when your pet's body reacts to regular food as though it’s bad for them. Their body overreacts to ingredients in the food, creating antibodies against the specific ingredients that will trigger an allergic reaction when they consume the food.
Most commonly, food allergies in dogs or cats that cause itching are due to the proteins in the food.
Common ingredients in dog food that cause allergies
Foods that cause skin allergies in dogs usually include one of the following ingredients:
Common ingredients in cat food that trigger allergies include:
To diagnose food allergies, your veterinarian will have you put your pet on a diet trial of prescription hypoallergenic food for a period of time. And there’s no cheating! Your pet can't get any other food for the entire trial period. If your pet is no longer itchy by the end of the trial, then it is likely that food allergies are in fact the cause.
The key to managing food allergies in dogs and cats is to avoid the ingredients that trigger an allergic reaction. Prescription dog and cat allergy pet foods are often your best bet. These foods can come in the form of hydrolyzed protein diets or novel protein diets.
Your veterinarian will recommend the hypoallergenic diet that’s best for your pet.
Food allergies and other problems—such as flea allergies, environmental allergies, skin infections and mites—may look very similar in dogs and cats, so make sure to speak with your pet’s healthcare team if you are concerned that your pet may have food allergies.
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