Is My Dog Dealing with an Allergy or Intolerance?

Allergies get thrown around a lot in pet nutrition talk. Yes, dogs can react to cleaning products or environmental stuff, but actual food allergies in dogs? Pretty rare. What we see more often are intolerances. So, what's the real difference, and should we handle them differently?

Let’s dive into the world of dog allergies and intolerances.

What Exactly is a Food Allergy?

A food allergy kicks in when your IgE antibodies go on the attack against a specific allergen. These antibodies team up with mast cells to unleash a flood of histamine. Translation? Your immune system has detected an intruder and is pulling out all the stops to get rid of it.

If you're no stranger to hay fever, you'll recognise the classic red flags of an allergy. Here are the usual suspects:

• Itching

• Hives

• Swelling

• Coughing

• Sneezing/Wheezing

• Watery Eyes

• Anaphylaxis

What Is Food Intolerance?

Food intolerance is all about IgG – the workhorse antibody, the memory soldier of the immune system. When your dog encounters something their body has previously flagged, IgG rushes to the scene.

Symptoms usually kick in within hours of your dog eating the offending food, but they can sneak up to 48 hours later and stick around for days. This delay makes it tricky to identify the culprit.

IgG rises from the gut's barrier mucosa. After a meal, antibodies and food antigen complexes bound to specific IgGs get swiftly cleared by the reticuloendothelial system. However, gut inflammation and permeability (hello, leaky gut!) can hinder protein digestion, hiking up IgG responses to certain foods.

Chronic gut issues and permeability are likely linked to food IgG sensitivity. Remember, 90% of food reactivity stems from IgGs, while true allergies – which are usually lifelong – only account for around 10%.

Common signs of food intolerance in dogs include:

• Poor growth in young pets

• Itching

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Flatulence

• Recurring ear issues

• Acid reflux

• SIBO

• Pain or discomfort

• Loss of appetite

Both allergies and intolerances signal glitches in immune function, but tackling intolerances means considering digestive health too.

IgGs come in different flavours: cyclic or fixed. A typical cyclic IgG reaction can take around 3 months to fade, while a fixed intolerance can linger for about 6 months. There's no quick fix for supporting a dog with food intolerances – it’s a long-haul journey.

How to Support Your Intolerant Dog

Ready to help your furry friend thrive? Here’s how to tackle food intolerances head-on with confidence and simplicity.

Start with an elimination diet to cleanse and balance your dog's gut and immune system. Follow the 4 R’s:

1. Remove

Kick things off with an elimination diet. Raw or lightly cooked foods work best. They ease the digestive load, which is crucial here. Begin with novel proteins— try rabbit, possum, goat or hare for proteins your dog may not have encountered yet. Stick with one for 4-12 weeks. If it reduces itchiness or digestive discomfort, keep it for the full 12 weeks. Introduce new proteins one at a time, no more than one per week, and keep treats consistent. If a protein triggers intolerance, ditch it and revert to the best-tolerated one. Remember, this is a diet, not a lifestyle—aim for a diverse diet over time. Reintroduce fruits and veggies slowly, maybe even consider a low-histamine approach.

2. Repair

Boost immunity and heal the gut with ingredients like slippery elm, liquorice, bone broth, and glutamine. Be mindful of existing medications, like steroids, that might hinder gut healing, despite their anti-inflammatory benefits.

3. Restore

Optimise your dog's microbiome—it’s vital for immune health. Introduce pre and probiotics after a few weeks into the plan. Watch out for hidden protein sources in probiotics; always check labels and verify with manufacturers to ensure they fit your elimination diet. Explore our top-quality probiotics available online.

4. Replenish

Long-term medication use can mess with protein digestibility. Make sure your dog has ample HCL, pepsin, and digestive enzymes to get their system back on track. Think through the digestive process from start to finish and identify anything that could be off. Stress counts too!

Dog intolerances are common but manageable. Need further support? Check out our services to see how we can help.

Thanks for reading!