With allergies in pets appearing to be on the rise, our team would love to bust a few common myths about food allergies in dogs and cats. Open wide for some bite-sized facts!

Myth 1: Food allergies are the most likely cause of recurrent skin issues

Studies indicate that food allergies are the third most common type of allergy in pets, with allergies to inhaled substances such as pollen and moulds (known as atopy) and allergies to flea bites being significantly more common.

However, it’s important to realise that some poor pets may be affected by more than one allergy at once, such as atopy AND a food allergy!

Myth 2: “It can’t be a food allergy, because I haven’t changed my pet’s diet!”

Food allergies take time to develop, so the pet may eat the same diet for months or years before they start getting issues.

Myth 3: You can diagnose food allergies in your pet through blood tests

Blood tests for allergies are designed to detect antibodies (an immune response) to certain food proteins. However, the presence of these antibodies doesn’t actually confirm that the pet is allergic to that food, only that they’ve eaten that type of food before!

Studies indicate that the only accurate way to diagnose an animal with a food allergy is to perform a strict prescription elimination (hypoallergenic) dietary trial for 8-12 weeks.

Myth 4: A grain-free food will fix your pet’s issues

Common food allergies in dogs include beef, chicken, dairy, lamb and wheat, whereas common food allergies in cats include chicken, fish, dairy and beef.

Therefore, switching to a grain-free food often will not remove the allergy-provoking ingredient from your pet’s diet.

For more information on the diagnosis and management of recurrent skin, ear or tummy upset issues in dogs and cats, consult our allergy-aware team!