Food Allergies in Dog, Cats – Causes, Symptoms, Natural Treatments
In this article:
- What Triggers Food Allergies in Dogs and Cats
- What Happens In the GI Tract When Food Triggers an Allergic Response
- Symptoms of a Food Allergy
- Common Food Allergens
- Dietary Remedies for Food Allergies
- Natural Treatments to Sooth Symptoms
- Diarrhea
- Ear Infections
- Paws and Skin
1. What Triggers Food Allergies in Dogs and Cats
One of the most common causes of ear infections and paw and skin irritations is an over-growth of bad bacteria in the
gastrointestinal tract (GI Tract) which leads to a yeast bloom. The most common
cause of yeast overgrowth is a food allergy. When the root cause of the bloom
is not treated the condition becomes chronic. When the root cause of the
infection is treated incorrectly (i.e. the solution offered by the veterinarian
is multiple courses of antibiotics, is a prescription food, is a steroidal drug such as prednisone further health issues can and very
often do ensue.
Food allergies occur due to overreaction of the immune
system triggered by repeated ingestion of foods and additives that are
potential and in many cases known allergens. In addition, once a dog or cat’s
immune system becomes hyperactive it may also become reactive to food items
that would not normally create a problem, for example chicken or beef. As well there are additional factors that can
exacerbate sensitivity. For example, toxic food and drugs the farm animal was exposed to:
GMO corn?
Growth hormones?
Grains high in aflatoxins?
GMO corn?
Growth hormones?
Grains high in aflatoxins?
These substances damage a dog and cat's gut health and immune system.
2. What Happens In the GI Tract When Food Triggers an Allergic Response
The GI tract digests and breaks down food to release nutrients for absorption into the blood stream.
The GI tract prevents partially digested non-nutritive matter
(animate and inanimate) and allergenic matter from entering the blood stream. These substances are passed out of the body via the lower digestive tract.
When partially digested matter slips through the semi-permeable wall of the GI tract into the blood stream the immune system reacts, resulting in an allergic reaction. The slippage of unwanted material into the blood stream is called ‘leaky gut syndrome’, the medical term is dysbiosis.
This immune system response will occur every time the dog or cat consumes the substance that caused the reaction.
When the substance is consumed on a regular basis or intermittent basis the allergic reaction becomes a chronic event.
3. Symptoms of Food Allergies
Common symptoms include:
Gastrointestinal Issues
for example:
- Eliminatory Issues
- Diarrhea
- Loose stools
Infections
- Ear infections
- Eye infections
- Skin infections
Skin and Fur Issues:
for example:
- on paws
- on select locations on the body
- all over the body
- Acne
- Hot spots
- Inflamed skin
- Irritated skin
- Rashes
4. Common Food Allergens
Poorly Sourced Animal Protein
for example:
- Factory farm sourced animal protein, bones and by products
- Condemned denatured meat
- Egg by-products made with factory-farm sourced eggs
- Fish meal that contains ethoxyquin or is contaminated with aflatoxins
- Farmed fish
Poorly-Sourced Fats and Species Inappropriate Fats
for example:
- Fish oil from farmed fish.
- Rendered fat from D4 animals and from animals fed GMO grains, soy, hormones, antibiotics; rancid fat preserved with chemical-based preservatives.
- GMO vegetable oils – canola, cottonseed, safflower, soy.
for example:
- Barley, pearled barley, rye, wheat, wheat gluten
Grains used in dog and cat food can be contaminated with aflatoxins. Aflatoxins can also be found in cotton seed oil, fish meal,
legumes (peanut butter, peanuts and other ground nuts and beans, e.g., lentils chickpeas, etc.).
Starchy Root Vegetables
for example:
Beans
for example:
- peanuts
- chickpeas, lentils, navy beans, soy, etc.
Other fillers
for example:
- GMO sugar beets - should never be given to dogs under any circumstances.
- Note that garden beets (table beets) should not be given to dogs experiencing yeast overgrowth.
- Powdered cellulose.
- Tapioca.
- More information in this article.
for example:
for example:
- Food flavoring and coloring
- Brewer's yeast
- Menadione (also listed as: Sodium Bisulfite, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite, or (K3), a synthetic vitamin K derivative. More in this article.
for example:
- Refined molasses
- Pasteurized honey (this is not the same as raw honey).
- Artificial syrup
- Sugar (derived from sugar cane, sugar beets, coconut, etc)
- Artificial sweeteners
5. Dietary Remedies for Food Allergies
The elimination diet:
- Go to this article.
6. Natural Treatments to Soothe Symptoms.
Examples of natural treatments
Diarrhea:
Natural treatments:
- Go to this article.
Ear Infections
Natural Treatments:
- Go to this article.
Paw, Skin, Anal Gland Issues
Natural baths, rinses, soaks and sprays to soothe skin:
Herbal Bath, Rinse, Paw Soak, Spray Recipes
Go to this article.
- Rooibos Tea and Lemon Anti-itch Rinse Recipe
- Chamomile and Green Tea Soothing Rinse Recipe
- Lemon Balm and Nettle Leaf Refreshing Healing Rinse Recipe
- Peppermint, Fennel and Rose Sensitive Skin Rinse Recipe
- Floral Antibacterial, Soothing Rinse Recipe
- Calendula, Antibacterial, Healing Rinse Recipe
- Marjoram Antimicrobial, Analgesic, Cleansing Rinse Recipe
Himalayan Salt Soak Recipe
Go to this article.
More Natural Soak Recipes
Go to this article.
Creams, salves and sprays:
Holistic Diet, Nutrition, Wellness Services Tailored to Your Individual Dog and Cat
For information about my holistic diet, nutrition and wellness services, visit my holistic wellness services page.
Maintain good health | Address acute and chronic health issues | Pre and post surgery support and recovery
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To set-up your holistic wellness consultation get in-touch via email, go to my contact me page.
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For information about my holistic behavioral services, visit my holistic behavioral services page.
For dogs of all ages, sizes and breeds.
My behavioral services are available worldwide via video consultation.
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To set-up your holistic behavioral session get in-touch via email, go to my contact me page.
Affiliations to Companies
✓ None.
✓ I don't sell food, supplements, or other products.
✓ I'm not aligned with any companies.
Article and graphics by Karen Rosenfeld.
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Important Note
1.0 Use of Foods, Herbs, Alternative Medicines
Safe use of items and protocols in the article above, is your sole responsibility.
Foods, herbs and alternative medicines have health issue, condition and conventional drug interactions. Safe use of all substances and protocol are your responsibility.
Before you use any substance or protocol do your research. Check for cautions, contradictions, interactions and side effects. Do not use substances or protocols not suitable to your animal's individual circumstances.
If your animal has an underlying condition substances and protocols may conflict.
2.0 Definition of Holistic
Food, herbs, alternative medicines are NOT ‘holistic’ they are a substance and MAY, or may NOT be ‘NATURAL’.
If you use a ‘natural’ substance such as a pure herb, you are using a natural substance, not a holistic substance.
Holistic is not defined by use of one or several substances. Holistic is an approach.
Definition of “holistic” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press
Adjective
"relating to the whole of something or to the total system instead of just to its parts"
"Holistic medicine attempts to treat the whole person, including mind and body, not just the injury or disease."
Holistic is a way of approaching life, and within that health, and well-being.
3.0 Expectations
In a health or behavioral situation.
Don't expect a few items or one isolated action to remedy the situation.
In most situations, remedying a situation will require a comprehensive approach.
4.0 Leave a Comment
I review all comments and publish those deemed appropriate for this site.
I answer questions deemed appropriate when I have time to do so.
Karen Rosenfeld | Holistic Diet Nutrition Wellness Practitioner | Holistic Behaviorist | Ottawa Valley Dog Whisperer