Food Hypersensitivity

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                      General Information



Food hypersensitivity is a skin disorder of dogs and cats caused

by an allergic reaction to food.  The condition can occur at any

time of the year and the reaction can be immediate (within

minutes to a few hours after eating) or delayed (within several

hours to days).  Most affected pets have eaten the offending

material for over 2 years.



Skin reactions include redness, crustiness and pustules.  Many

cases are complicated by bacterial infection and other skin

disorders.  In some cases, digestive disturbances also accompany

the skin condition.



Diagnosis of food hypersensitivity is difficult and requires

feeding a non-allergenic diet, and gradually adding and deleting

foods suspected of causing a reaction.



                 Important Points in Treatment



1.  When the offending material can be identified, the outlook

    for control is excellent.



2.  When the causative material is not known or a non-allergenic

    diet cannot be fed, anti-inflammatory drugs are the best

    treatment.  Usually this type of therapy is lifelong.



3.  Diet:





        Notify the Doctor if Any of the Following Occur:



    * Your pet does not respond to the test diet.



    * Your pet's skin condition changes.



    * Your pet's general health declines.