Manny: A dog with a food intolerance

Manny is a ten-year-old boxer/ American bulldog cross. After a rough start in life, he was adopted by his current owners six years ago, and he has undoubtedly fallen on his feet. Unfortunately, it’s his feet that have remained a problem. As well as being incredibly itchy, they have been consistently sore and a constant source of discomfort to him. Manny has also suffered from an itchy chin and ears, along with irritating spots on his body. These symptoms provided a strong argument that he was a dog with a food intolerance, but how could his owner find out for sure?

Itchy skin is a common food intolerance symptom

Because itchy skin is a common pet food intolerance symptom, Manny’s owner was advised to try him on an elimination diet. This involves stripping back meals so they’re completely bland and then slowly reintroducing foods one at a time. If a pet’s symptoms flare up again, you’ll have found the offending item that their body is intolerant to. While this is a tried and tested method used to identify sensitivities in pets, it can be a lengthy process. It can also be difficult to spot a link between a food item and a pet’s response because symptoms can sometimes kick in hours or even days later.

Do you have a dog with a food intolerance? Our tests give quick results

To speed things up, Manny’s owner decided to order one of our pet food intolerance tests. This involved sending a few strands of Manny’s fur to our lab, where we tested its sensitivity against 200 items to see how his cells would react. A full breakdown of his test results was emailed a few days later, with each item categorised according to Manny’s intolerance levels. This gave his owner a complete overview of the food his body reacts sensitively to, along with items that can initiate a mild physical response.

Healthy treats can still be the cause of a dog’s food intolerance

Manny’s food intolerance results confirmed that he is highly sensitive to a number of foods that are regularly fed to dogs as treats or as part of their diet. Apples (if they’re prepared properly), cheddar cheese and xylitol-free peanut butter are all healthy snacks that proved to be incompatible with Manny’s digestive system. The pet intolerance testing reports also stated that chicken, turkey, and steak have the potential to trigger a more subtle reaction. These are sources of protein that are often found in branded pet food and given to dogs who are on a bland diet. It’s therefore likely that the high-quality treats and turkey-flavoured food Manny was eating had, in fact, been the trigger behind his food intolerance symptoms.

Food intolerance test results can improve your dog’s health

Because Manny is sensitive to a lot of meats, his owner decided to eliminate them from his diet. After the intolerance test results were discussed with his vet, Manny made the gradual transition to a brand of dry dog food specifically formulated for sensitive skin. Instead of being turkey flavour, his new food contains fish and potato, which are both considered safe for Manny to eat without triggering a reaction. Manny’s owner has also made changes to the treats he has. Xylitol-free peanut butter on a licking mat and small pieces of cheese have now been replaced with raw carrot and fish-based treats to reward positive behaviour and reinforce training.

A dog with a food intolerance needs a diet to suit their individual needs

Since changing Manny’s diet and eliminating the foods he is intolerant to, his previous health complaints have improved. Manny’s owner has noticed the itchy spots that turned into scabs or hotspots are no longer causing him any discomfort. She thinks this is a result of fine-tuning his meals and removing food items that aren’t compatible with his individual needs. Just like humans, pets struggle to digest certain ingredients, which can, in turn, impact their health. While Manny still suffers from ailments the boxer in him is prone to, his overall wellbeing and skin complaints are much less of a problem, and he is enjoying life in his forever home.

Contact us to find out whether you have a dog with a food intolerance

If your dog has re-occurring symptoms such as itchy skin, fatigue, and digestive issues, they could have a food intolerance. Find out for sure by ordering one of our tests from the UK Pet Food Intolerance website. If you have any questions about how the tests work, please send an email to [email protected], or fill out the contact form on our website.