Food Allergies
Food allergies are a common cause of itch, skin and ear infections in dogs and cats and can sometimes cause tummy upsets as well.
If your pet has a year-round itch or has recurrent skin or ear infections, an elimination diet trial is likely to be recommended as part of the diagnostic work-up to rule food in, or out as a trigger for their symptoms.
Common diet triggers for itch, skin, and ear inflammation include beef, chicken, dairy, wheat, lamb, eggs, and fish, but can really be anything that your pet is eating. There can also be more than one food allergy present.
Investigating the role food might play in causing your pet’s symptoms is not as simple as changing them from one flavour or brand of food to another. It is best done in consultation with a vet and requires a systematic approach through an elimination diet trial.
Elimination Diet trials
It is generally a good idea to have a veterinary check-up before a diet trial to make sure that there are no skin or ear infections that need treating and to discuss any concurrent or previous issues that may affect diet selection eg. history of pancreatitis or kidney or liver disease. It is also important to ensure that all pets in the household are receiving effective flea preventatives during the diet trial.
At Canberra Veterinary Dermatology we can help tailor an elimination diet plan for your pet. We will set you up for success, support you during the diet trial, and help interpret the results.
We can help with
Diet selection and portion recommendation.
Recipies for suitable treats during the diet trial.
Weekly vet nurse follow-up phone calls during the diet trial - to ensure diet acceptance, and trouble-shoot any challenges.
Optional fortnightly check-ins with our vet nurse.
Vet checks mid-diet trial and at the end of the diet trial prior to any re-challenge.