Pet Allergies: Food vs Environmental - How to Tell the Difference

Watching your pet scratch, lick, or suffer from allergic reactions is heartbreaking. But before you switch foods or start treatments, it's crucial to identify whether you're dealing with food allergies or environmental allergies. Let's explore how to tell the difference and what to do about each.

Understanding Pet Allergies

What Are Allergies?

Immune System Response:

• Overreaction to harmless substances
• Body treats allergen as threat
• Releases histamines
• Causes inflammation and symptoms

Common in Pets

Prevalence:

• 10-15% of dogs have allergies
• Cats less commonly affected
• Can develop at any age
• Often genetic component

Food Allergies

What They Are

True Food Allergies:

• Immune system reaction to protein
• Different from food intolerance
• Develops over time
• Requires previous exposure

Common Food Allergens

For Dogs:

1. Beef (34%)
2. Dairy products (17%)
3. Chicken (15%)
4. Wheat (13%)
5. Lamb (5%)
6. Soy (6%)
7. Corn (4%)
8. Egg (4%)

For Cats:

1. Beef
2. Fish
3. Chicken
4. Dairy
5. Lamb

Note: Grains rarely cause allergies despite common belief.

Food Allergy Symptoms

Skin Issues:

• Itching (especially face, feet, ears)
• Hives or rashes
• Hot spots
• Hair loss
• Skin infections
• Red, inflamed skin

Digestive Problems:

• Chronic diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Gas
• Bloating
• Frequent bowel movements
• Poor stool quality

Ear Issues:

• Chronic ear infections
• Red, inflamed ears
• Head shaking
• Ear discharge
• Odor

Other Signs:

• Paw licking
• Face rubbing
• Anal gland issues
• Poor coat quality

Key Characteristics

Year-Round:

• No seasonal pattern
• Consistent symptoms
• Present regardless of season

Gradual Onset:

• Develops over months/years
• Gets worse over time
• Requires repeated exposure

Age of Onset:

• Often develops between 1-5 years
• Can occur at any age
• Rare in very young puppies/kittens

Environmental Allergies

What They Are

Atopic Dermatitis:

• Reaction to environmental allergens
• Inhaled or contact allergies
• Genetic predisposition
• Very common in dogs

Common Environmental Allergens

Outdoor:

• Pollen (trees, grass, weeds)
• Mold spores
• Dust
• Insect bites (fleas, mosquitoes)

Indoor:

• Dust mites
• Mold
• Cleaning products
• Fabrics
• Human dander
• Cigarette smoke

Environmental Allergy Symptoms

Primary Signs:

• Itchy skin
• Red, inflamed skin
• Excessive scratching
• Paw licking
• Face rubbing
• Ear infections

Affected Areas:

• Face and muzzle
• Ears
• Paws and between toes
• Armpits
• Groin
• Belly

Respiratory (Less Common):

• Sneezing
• Watery eyes
• Nasal discharge
• Coughing

Key Characteristics

Seasonal Pattern:

• Worse during certain seasons
• Corresponds with pollen counts
• May improve in winter
• Flare-ups predictable

Rapid Onset:

• Can develop quickly
• Symptoms appear after exposure
• May worsen with continued exposure

Age of Onset:

• Often 1-3 years old
• Can develop later
• Rare before 6 months

How to Tell the Difference

Timing and Seasonality

Food Allergies:

• Year-round symptoms
• No seasonal variation
• Consistent severity
• Always present

Environmental Allergies:

• Seasonal flare-ups
• Worse in spring/summer/fall
• Better in winter (usually)
• Predictable patterns

Symptom Location

Food Allergies:

• Often affects ears
• Digestive symptoms common
• Paws frequently involved
• Face and ears

Environmental Allergies:

• Primarily skin
• Paws and face
• Armpits and groin
• Rarely digestive issues

Response to Diet Change

Food Allergies:

• Improve with elimination diet
• Symptoms return with trigger food
• Takes 8-12 weeks to see improvement
• Complete resolution possible

Environmental Allergies:

• No improvement with diet change
• Symptoms persist
• May need environmental management
• Rarely resolve completely

Age and Development

Food Allergies:

• Develop gradually
• Require repeated exposure
• Can take years to manifest

Environmental Allergies:

• Can develop quickly
• Often genetic
• May worsen over time

Diagnosis Methods

For Food Allergies

Elimination Diet Trial:

Process:

1. Choose novel protein and carbohydrate
2. Feed exclusively for 8-12 weeks
3. No treats, table scraps, or flavored medications
4. Monitor symptoms
5. Challenge with old food
6. Observe reaction

Novel Proteins:

• Venison
• Duck
• Rabbit
• Kangaroo
• Fish (if not previously fed)

Hydrolyzed Protein Diets:

• Proteins broken down
• Too small to trigger reaction
• Prescription diets
• Diagnostic and therapeutic

Important:

• Blood and skin tests unreliable for food allergies
• Elimination diet is gold standard
• Requires strict compliance
• Takes patience

For Environmental Allergies

Intradermal Skin Testing:

• Small amounts of allergens injected
• Observe skin reaction
• Most accurate method
• Performed by veterinary dermatologist

Blood Testing (Serology):

• Measures antibodies to allergens
• Less accurate than skin testing
• More convenient
• Useful for screening

Clinical Signs:

• Seasonal pattern
• Response to antihistamines
• Improvement with environmental control

Treatment Options

Food Allergy Treatment

Dietary Management:

• Avoid trigger ingredients
• Novel protein diet
• Hydrolyzed protein diet
• Limited ingredient formulas

Long-Term:

• Permanent diet change
• Careful treat selection
• Read all labels
• Avoid cross-contamination

Environmental Allergy Treatment

Avoidance:

• Reduce exposure to allergens
• Air purifiers
• Frequent cleaning
• Limit outdoor time during high pollen

Medications:

Antihistamines:

• Benadryl, Zyrtec, Claritin
• Mild to moderate symptoms
• Daily use during flare-ups
• Vet-approved dosing

Steroids:

• Prednisone for severe cases
• Short-term use
• Side effects with long-term use
• Last resort option

Apoquel:

• Fast-acting itch relief
• Targets specific pathways
• Prescription required
• Effective for many dogs

Cytopoint:

• Injectable antibody therapy
• Lasts 4-8 weeks
• Minimal side effects
• Expensive but effective

Immunotherapy:

• Allergy shots or drops
• Desensitization over time
• 60-70% success rate
• Long-term commitment (1-2 years)

Topical Treatments:

• Medicated shampoos
• Sprays and wipes
• Moisturizers
• Spot treatments

Combination Allergies

Many Pets Have Both:

• Food and environmental allergies
• Requires comprehensive approach
• Address both simultaneously
• More complex management

Home Management Strategies

For Food Allergies

Kitchen Management:

• Separate food storage
• Clean bowls thoroughly
• No table scraps
• Careful with treats
• Check all medications

Family Education:

• Everyone must comply
• No sneaking treats
• Understand severity
• Read labels together

For Environmental Allergies

Indoor Environment:

• HEPA air purifiers
• Frequent vacuuming
• Wash bedding weekly
• Reduce dust collectors
• Control humidity

Outdoor Management:

• Wipe paws after walks
• Bathe regularly
• Avoid high pollen times
• Keep grass short
• Remove shoes at door

Grooming:

• Regular bathing (weekly)
• Hypoallergenic shampoos
• Wipe down after outdoor time
• Clean ears regularly

When to See a Veterinarian

Immediate Attention Needed

• Severe swelling (face, throat)
• Difficulty breathing
• Collapse or weakness
• Severe vomiting/diarrhea
• Anaphylactic reaction

Schedule Appointment

• Persistent itching
• Chronic ear infections
• Skin infections
• Hair loss
• Digestive issues
• Quality of life affected

Consider Specialist

Veterinary Dermatologist:

• Complex cases
• Multiple allergies
• Poor response to treatment
• Need for allergy testing
• Immunotherapy consideration

Prevention and Management

Early Intervention

• Address symptoms quickly
• Prevent secondary infections
• Avoid chronic inflammation
• Better long-term outcomes

Regular Monitoring

• Track symptoms
• Note triggers
• Record treatments
• Monitor effectiveness

Quality of Life

Balance:

• Effective symptom control
• Minimal side effects
• Sustainable long-term
• Affordable for owner

Cost Considerations

Diagnosis Costs

• Vet consultation: $50-150
• Elimination diet food: $50-100/month
• Allergy testing: $200-500
• Specialist visit: $150-300

Treatment Costs

Food Allergies:

• Prescription diet: $50-100/month
• Limited ingredient diet: $40-80/month

Environmental Allergies:

• Antihistamines: $10-30/month
• Apoquel: $50-150/month
• Cytopoint: $50-200/injection
• Immunotherapy: $500-1000 first year, $300-600/year after

Conclusion

Differentiating between food and environmental allergies is crucial for effective treatment. Key differences:

Food Allergies:

• Year-round symptoms
• Digestive issues common
• Respond to diet change
• Elimination diet for diagnosis

Environmental Allergies:

• Seasonal patterns
• Primarily skin symptoms
• No diet response
• Allergy testing for diagnosis

Work closely with your veterinarian to:

• Properly diagnose the allergy type
• Develop an effective treatment plan
• Monitor progress and adjust as needed
• Improve your pet's quality of life

Remember, allergies are manageable with the right approach. Whether food or environmental, your pet can live a comfortable, happy life with proper diagnosis and treatment!