Unfortunately, commercial skin and blood tests, as well as saliva tests relating to food are unreliable. Food allergies can only be diagnosed by an elimination diet. Many commercial diets recommended for allergic dogs and cats are ineffective.
Can a vet test a dog for food allergies?
There are two types of veterinary allergy tests: intradermal skin testing and blood allergy tests. In intradermal skin testing, your dog is injected with small amounts of potential allergens (while sedated or anesthetized) and a veterinary dermatologist monitors your dog's skin reactions to these injections.
How can I find out what food allergies my dog has?
The best and most accurate method of diagnosing food allergy is to feed a hypoallergenic diet for eight to twelve weeks as a food trial called an elimination trial. "The elimination diet must not contain any ingredients that the pet has eaten in the past."
How do vets test for allergies in dogs?
Allergy testing in dogs can be performed using two techniques: intradermal skin testing or RAST testing. Each method has its own pros and cons. While intradermal skin testing has long been regarded as the 'gold standard' in determining the cause of atopic dermatitis, it is only performed by veterinary dermatologists.
What is the most common food allergy in dogs?
Dogs are most commonly allergic to the following foods (in descending order): beef, dairy, wheat, egg, chicken, lamb/mutton, soy, pork, rabbit, and fish. Rabbit and fish are by far less common food allergens than the others.
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