Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Food intolerance in dogs and cats.
- Journal:
- The Journal of small animal practice
- Year:
- 2019
- Authors:
- Craig, J M
- Affiliation:
- Re-Fur-All Referrals · United Kingdom
Plain-English summary
Food intolerance in pets means they have an unusual reaction to certain foods or additives that isn't related to their immune system. This can happen for various reasons, like food being toxic, causing a chemical reaction, or affecting their digestion. Symptoms can show up at any age and might appear hours or even days after eating the problematic food, lasting for a while. It's thought that dogs are more likely to experience these non-allergic food reactions than true food allergies. Understanding these different reactions can help us better identify and manage food-related issues in our pets.
Abstract
Food intolerance refers to any abnormal physiological response to a food or food additive believed not to be immunological in nature. Mechanisms include food toxicity, pharmacological reactions, metabolic reactions, dysmotility, dysbiosis, physical effects and non-specific dietary sensitivity. Food intolerance reactions are variable, typically dose-dependent, and can occur at any age. Signs may arise at any time, sometimes several hours or days after consumption of the offending food item, and can last for hours or days. Dietary indiscretion and non-immunological food intolerance are probably more common in dogs than true dietary hypersensitivity. Hopefully, with a greater knowledge of the different pathophysiological mechanisms involved, we will become better at recognising, preventing and managing adverse food reactions.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30537117/