Allergies - The Nutrition Connection
By Kathryn Gaster Allen

Allergies are an unfortunate fact of life for many humans and their animal companions as well – sneezing, itching, digestive upsets and watery eyes. William Miller, Jr., VMD, a professor of dermatology at Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine, relates in the University's publication DogWatch that the most frequent causes of canine skin allergies are environmental particles such as pollen, dust mites and mold, but that food ingredients are the second most frequent cause of allergies. Chemical additives such as preservatives and artificial coloring are secreted through the hair follicles and can cause skin problems, including smelly coats.

Although labora-tory tests usually are ordered when a pet comes into the vet's office showing signs of an allergic reaction, an “elimination diet” can be more reliable when dietary allergies are involved. And if standard tests come back negative, this may be your only option to determine the offend-ing ingredient. To administer an elimin-ation diet, feed your pet one protein and one carbohydrate that your pet has never eaten. How do you figure that out? Read the labels of any and all foods you have given to your pet and avoid those ingredients. New protein sources might include buffalo, rabbit, mutton, venison or duck while new carbohydrates can include brown rice, amaranth, buckwheat, millet or quinoa. For a true elimination diet, homemade is best because you can control exactly what your pet will eat. Pay attention to your water source also. Use filtered, spring or other non-chlorinated water.

For example, a 20-pound dog can receive a daily diet of a half-cup rabbit meat along with three cups of boiled potatoes (skin on) or two cups of long-grain rice. If it is a food allergy, you should start to see improvement within a few weeks. If you want to double check, try reintroducing the original food. If the symptoms come back within seven to fourteen days, you have confirmation of a food allergy. If you do not want to go back to the original food, you may still add back new foods, one at a time every couple weeks, carefully observing your pet for any signs of the old or any new symptoms. Record your pet's response to each new food for future reference.

Once you begin adding foods back into your pet's diet, consider supplements such as fish oil, evening primrose oil or borage oil, which have essential fatty acids known to have a positive impact on allergies. There are also “skin and coat” formulas available from natural pet-supply companies that you may want to try.

Be aware that such a diet requires commitment and patience, since it may take up to eight to twelve weeks to complete. You also will have to watch everyone who comes into contact with your pet, making sure they understand your pet can only eat what you have deemed as “safe” ingredients.

During the elimin-ation diet, write down everything that goes on in your pet's day-to-day life that could play a role in its allergies – from what the weather is like to where your dog goes for a walk and any other animals you meet. Also note any soaps or substances to which your pet is exposed. Although you may feel like you are involved in a high-school science project, discovering what is making your pet miserable makes the attention to detail worthwhile.

Of course, you always want to be aware of your pet's daily health – food allergies can develop at any time. But knowing what to look for, how to discover the culprit and what to do about it will help you keep your animal companion healthy and symptom free.

Kathryn “Kat” Gaster Allen is the owner of Gasterville Natural (www.gasterville.com), a Cleveland-based pet-care and consulting business, and the publisher of a monthly e-newsletter “The Hound's Herald.” Kat is pursing her veterinary technology degree as well as her canine massage therapy certification. She may be reached via Kathy@Gasterville.com or at (216) 276-2229.