Food intolerance in dogs and cats

Food intolerance refers to any abnormal physiological response to a food or food additive believed not to be immunological in nature. Mechanisms include food toxicity, pharmacological reactions, metabolic reactions, dysmotility, dysbiosis, physical effects and non-specific dietary sensitivity. Food intolerance reactions are variable, typically dose-dependent, and can occur at any age. Signs may arise at any time, sometimes several hours or days after consumption of the offending food item, and can last for hours or days. Dietary indiscretion and non-immunological food intolerance are probably more common in dogs than true dietary hypersensitivity. Hopefully, with a greater knowledge of the different pathophysiological mechanisms involved, we will become better at recognising, preventing and managing adverse food reactions.