How you can help Books by Dr. Schoen Articles by Dr. Schoen Food allergies are simply defined as an allergic reaction caused by the ingestion of particular food substances. Food allergies can be a significant cause of a wide range of symptoms in both people and animals. Along with food allergies, one has to also consider allergic reactions to medications such as medications for heartworm prevention, flea prevention, antibiotics as well as additives to the foods such as preservatives, artificial food colors and flavors etc.
Food allergies can show up at any time and can mimic other hypersensitivity reactions.
It is easy to differentiate from seasonal allergies, because food allergies occur all year round, as long as your pet is on the offending food. There does not appear to be any sex or breed predilection, though german shepherds and labrador retrievers seem to have a high incidence of food allergies in my practice. Food allergies can not only affect the skin, but they can also affect the gastrointestinal system and rarely the nervous system. Gastrointestinal signs include vomiting, diarrhea, sometimes bloody diarrhea and straining and increased frequency of bowel movements. Rarely, seizures have been associated with food hypersensitivity.