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Just like humans, animals can be allergic to certain food types. Most of the time these allergies are actually classed as dietary sensitivity', meaning that the symptoms are usually limited to a simple itchy or flaky skin. Occasionally food intolerance' is established. This is commonly seen in cats with regards to dairy products, as most cats are lactose intolerant. Food intolerances tend to have gastro symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting. Very rarely a true food allergy or hypersensitivity' can be seen. True allergies are when the immune system does not recognise the food and begins to fight it as they would a foreign body. These symptoms can show themselves in swellings and difficulties in breathing amongst other severe and frightening developments.

DIAGNOSING AND TREATING

Food allergies are fairly easy to diagnose. The veterinarian will take an account of the history and symptoms and perform tests on blood, urine and sometimes skin scrapings and faeces to rule out any other possible causes. The blood will then be sent to a specialist for several tests to determine what is causing the allergic reaction. These tests can take a while to develop and during that time the vet will probably perform dietary tests by eliminating certain foods and establishing whether the symptoms calm down or are inflamed. These elimination tests' are usually carried out over a period of 21 to 60 days, depending on the results.

The most common food allergens within pets are:

*Dairy products
*Beef
*Wheat
*Corn
*Soya
* Chicken
*Lamb
*Pork
*Eggs

Treating a food allergy generally means just cutting out the cause. However, this is often quite difficult due to the combination of ingredients used in making pet foods. The most commonly used ingredients within pet food are corn, wheat, beef and chicken, all foods on the allergens list. In the case of dietary sensitivity this can be solved with regular treatment of corticosteroid injections. There are now some manufacturers of specific pet foods designed to aid animals with a food allergy. When looking for food for a pet with allergies you need to be certain about the ingredients, so a lot of people tend to opt for a more natural or organic brand.

DIETS

The company James Wellbeloved is often recommended by vets as they use natural ingredients and are specifically designed to help with allergies. They have a wide range of feeds aimed at dogs, cats and ferrets. The ranges are further broken down specifically into different sized kibble. James Wellbeloved

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