Food intolerance in dogs: symptoms and remedies

Our pet's well-being depends a lot on what he or she eats. Nowadays, food intolerance is quite common in animals, so it is important to know exactly what it is and, most importantly, how it manifests itself. By observing your dog's behavior, we can tell if something is going wrong.

So what is food intolerance in dogs?

Food intolerance in its pure form is not a disease and has nothing to do with the animal's immune system. In fact, it is the result of a disorder of the digestive system: with such a disorder, our dog's body cannot absorb certain nutrients or even digest food properly.

It is worth remembering that our pet's physical reaction to the food it eats is not immediate. In fact, a negative reaction to an ingredient can occur within three days of eating it. This time frame can be confusing in many cases when it comes to determining exactly what our "furry friend's" body has rejected.

Is a dog with an intolerance the same as a dog with an allergy?

The common and logical doubt. But no: an allergic dog is not the same as an intolerant dog. When our dog is allergic, his body's physical response is significantly different. It does not react to the disorder, but to the reaction of its immune system, which perceives the food it cannot tolerate as a foreign body and produces antibodies against it.

Unlike food intolerance in dogs, allergies appear suddenly after a short meal. And what's most alarming is that it can put your pet's health at risk by sending them into what's called anaphylactic shock.

Symptoms of food intolerance

Typically, a dog with an intolerance will show one or more of the following symptoms within 72 hours: vomiting, diarrhea, bloating, abdominal pain.

In addition, we may see other symptoms in parallel that allow us to be vigilant. On the one hand, it is likely that our pet will have a loss of appetite and even short-term weight loss or abdominal distension.

But these are not the only symptoms. If our dog continues to regularly eat foods that cause a similar physical reaction without showing these symptoms, he may also develop skin conditions. For example, itching, hair loss in certain areas, excessive licking of the paws, or even the characteristic atopic dermatitis are also signs that we should change our dog's diet.

How do I manage a food intolerance?

As we have said, it can sometimes be difficult to detect a food intolerance in a dog. However, if we notice any of these symptoms, the best thing to do is to visit the vet, who will advise us on how to proceed with what is known as an elimination diet: a strict monoprotein diet in which our dog only eats one protein for a period of time.

Taking care of the proper functioning of our dog's immune system and providing quality nutrition will always contribute to his good health.

Previously, the news portal Inc-News told us what vitamins and supplements a pet needs in winter to avoid heavy shedding with the arrival of spring.