Food Allergies


Veterinarians are finding food allergies to be one of the most common causes of scratching and biting in dogs and cats. Don’t be fooled into thinking that the more you pay for food the less chance there might be of developing an allergy. This is not true. Food allergies are due to the ingredients like beef, corn, chicken, rice, etc. Even though these may be the highest quality, your pet’s immune system may not be prepared to handle certain types of proteins.

Also, food allergies can be tough to pin down. Dogs and cats may be allergic to a variety of proteins that are present in many types of foods. I recommend eliminating all but one or two protein sources for about 3 months and then reintroduce them one at a time over the following few months. This ‘elimination diet’ test has proved very effective for many pets. Until then, examine the food’s ingredients and identify the culprit- the main protein source.