Food Allergy VS Food Intolerance

Differentiating a food allergy from a food intolerance can sometimes be tricky. Here are the main differences between the two.

What is a dog food allergy?

A food allergy involves the immune system. For instance, your dog's immune system can negatively respond to some ingredients and release histamine, which often leads to itching and skin irritation.

Food allergies often trigger skin-related issues in dogs: inflammation, itching, hair loss... They sometimes also develop recurring ear infections.

However, itchy skin doesn’t always mean a food allergy. True food allergies are very rare and only represent 1% of all skin conditions in dogs.

If you think your dog may have a food allergy, your Vet can guide you through appropriate allergy testing. Once an allergy is confirmed as the cause of your dog’s itching, the next step is to soothe their skin and reduce scratching. If food is the main issue, Hydrolysed dog food could be the solution you've been searching for. Our Impact+ recipes are formulated to reduce allergic reactions & inflammation. Hydrolysed proteins are broken down to be unrecognisable to the immune system, minimising allergic flare-ups.

What is a dog food intolerance?

As opposed to an allergy, a food intolerance doesn't involve the immune system. A food intolerance simply means your dog has difficulty digesting a particular ingredient.

The tricky part is that food intolerances can cause symptoms very similar to allergies, which makes them harder to identify.

One way to find out if your dog is sensitive to some foods is to eliminate these foods from their diets for a few weeks. If symptoms disappear but reappear when you reintroduce the food, then they are most likely caused by intolerances.

The main ingredients responsible for food intolerances are grains (other than rice), beef, pork, soya and dairy.

How to feed your dog?

Once you've established with the help of your Vet that your dog suffers from a food intolerance or allergy, the most important step is to eliminate the ingredients that trigger a reaction. This means carefully checking dog food labels, avoiding common allergens (by choosing hypoallergenic dog food) and sticking to a consistent diet with a single, well-tolerated protein source. 

If your dog is sensitive to grains, choosing a grain-free recipe can also help reduce digestive and skin issues. Impact+ recipes are specifically formulated for dogs with sensitivities, using carefully selected ingredients and hydrolysed proteins to minimise allergic reactions while promoting overall wellbeing.