Allergies Treatment News
Pet Food Allergies: Steps to Take for Treatment
What exactly are pet food allergies?
Pet food allergies are defined as immune system, or inflammatory, responses triggered by certain foods. Other pets may not have true allergies, but are still sensitive to certain ingredients, on a less severe level.
While often referred to as “allergies,” these types of lower-grade, long-term reactions to diet are more accurately described as food sensitivities. A food allergy or sensitivity is entirely specific to the individual animal, and a food that is “non-allergenic” for one pet may cause severe reactions for another. Just as a cake may be labeled “hypoallergenic” for most human beings, because it’s made without nuts, dairy and gluten, it could cause a severe and even fatal reaction for a person with a strawberry allergy, if it is made with strawberries. Similarly, a “hypoallergenic” pet food made with, say, lamb and rice or duck and potatoes, will not even come close to improving the situation for a dog who’s allergic to lamb, or potatoes.
Different theories abound about how and why pet food allergies occur. Most holistic practitioners agree that true allergic reactions are usually the result of an underlying health problem or system imbalance. All dogs and cats are exposed to a variety of allergens in daily life, and never have a reaction of any kind. Pets don’t actually develop allergies as a result of exposure to allergens, but because they have suddenly become susceptible or vulnerable in some way.
Feeding a single type of food long-term without any dietary variety is also thought to be linked with an increased risk of food intolerance developing. Pets who enjoy a varied, whole-food diet, develop far fewer food allergies than one-food pets. Bad quality food in itself may deplete the immune system over time, because they are laden with toxins and other substances that place unnecessary burden on the body, or because they lack important nutrients, antioxidants, enzymes and so on. Many such nutrients may not be included in nutrient profiles, but still are vital for the long-term optimal health and vitality of a cat or dog.
Vaccines, chemicals, medications such as antibiotics or steroids, stress and genetics, can all predispose a pet to pet food allergies as well. It’s true that certain ingredients have a much higher incidence of causing allergic reactions than others, but the key is to uncover what your own pet can and cannot tolerate. For many dogs and cats, the most common culprits are wheat, corn, soy, rice and sugar beet pulp, as well as various preservatives and by-products.
The Elimination Diet
For many lucky pets in Eureka and Wildwood, eliminating the high-risk ingredients of wheat, corn, soy, rice and beet pulp—and usually identifying single proteins that they are able to tolerate—are the only steps needed to manage pet food allergies, and they go on to be free of allergies for the rest of their lives. In other cases, cutting out all glutenous grains from the food and also treats, brings about a dramatic improvement. A “hypoallergenic pet food” per se, is never actually required.
In other cases, feeding a food that’s very minimally processed with a single protein source, can make a vast difference. Many pets seem sensitive to beef in the form of a beef-flavored kibble, but can actually tolerate lightly cooked hamburger or a piece of raw steak very well. High-heat processing used to make kibble, can alter the amino acid structure of proteins, making them unrecognizable to the body and triggering off a pet food allergy that vanishes when the human food equivalent is fed. Genetically modified grains also are thought to be involved by some in the pet food industry. Try to be sure grains you do feed are certified organic.
Sometimes, an elimination die, or “feeding trial,” is needed to uncover the cause of pet food allergies. This involves feeding an extremely simplified diet for about four weeks, say fish and sweet potatoes or duck and potatoes, until allergies subside; and then gradually adding in one new ingredient each week thereafter, to observe for any sign of intolerance such as itching or diarrhea. Laboratory-based allergy testing is another option but can be costly, and many times the results are inconclusive or inaccurate.
In many chronic cases, real commitment is necessary to uncover what is causing a pet food allergy. Scrutiny of the label for everything that passes your pet’s lips, including snacks and treats, is crucial. Patterns often emerge, where for example, diarrhea occurs every week after a dog returns from daycare and the cause is the cookies he receives there.
In addition to determining what foods the pet cannot tolerate, and committing to avoid them long-term, detoxification and support of the immune system with herbs can be immensely helpful. Supplementation with digestive enzymes and probiotics can help get the body back on track, and ensure proper absorption of the foods being fed.
Court finds allergy treatment claims misleading
Australia (MMD Newswire) March 15, 2011 — The Federal Court has found three companies and two individuals made false claims and misled consumers about their ability to test for and treat allergies.
The findings conclude proceedings brought by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission against:
* Willesee Healthcare Pty Ltd
* Sophie Georgonicas
* Theoliza Pty Ltd
* Maria Colosimo, and
* Theta Line Pty Ltd.
“Recently the ACCC has taken action against a number of traders in the health and wellbeing industry,” ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel said today.
“These proceedings reinforce the ACCC’s commitment to stamp out unsubstantiated claims by traders which put the health of consumers at risk.”
Each respondent claimed they could diagnose, treat and/or cure allergies using “Nambudripad’s allergy elimination technique” (NAET) or similar techniques. These techniques involve identifying allergens by testing the resistance of the customer’s arm muscle to pressure applied while holding a vial of the suspected allergen. The purported treatment then involves the application of pressure or needles to points on the customer’s body, while the customer is exposed to the potential allergen.
Its proponents believe this process clears energy blockages which have been caused by the allergen, thereby desensitising the customer to the allergen.
The court declared the companies and individuals engaged in false, misleading and deceptive conduct by representing one or more of the following:
* that they could test for and identify an allergen or a substance to which a person is allergic, when they could not
* that they could cure or eliminate all or virtually all allergies, or allergic reactions, when they could not
* that they could successfully treat a person’s allergies or allergic reactions, when they could not
* that after receiving treatment it would then be safe or low risk for a person to have contact with the substance or allergen to which they had previously suffered adverse reaction, when none of their treatments could achieve this result.
Each of the respondents is restrained from engaging in similar conduct for a period of three years, either by injunction or an undertaking to the court.
The court ordered the respondents to display corrective notices on their websites and in their clinics. The respondents must also send letters or emails to current and former customers explaining that they engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct, apologising for that conduct and outlining the remedies obtained by the ACCC. Each respondent is also required to pay a contribution to the ACCC’s costs of the proceeding.
The court will consider proposed consent orders in relation to four additional joint respondents on a date yet to be fixed.
In February, a separate trader, Allergy Pathway Pty, and its director, Paul Keir, were fined for contempt of court after previously giving undertakings to the court not to make certain representations about Allergy Pathway’s ability to test for, identify and safely treat allergies. The ACCC has also taken action against traders this year for misleading claims relating to cancer cures and treatments.
Media inquiries
* Mr Graeme Samuel, Chairman, (03) 9290 1812 or 0408 335 555
* Mr Brent Rebecca, Media, (02) 6243 1317 or 0408 995 408
Docs: Early treatment combats allergies best
Get the antihistamine tablets, nasal sprays, inhalers and eye drops ready.
By starting those allergy remedies now, sufferers can help head off the misery that will arrive when tree pollen counts start climbing, allergists say.
“We’re advising our patients to at least start their anthistamines a week or two before their best guess of when they’re going to start having symptoms,” said Jeff Raub, an allergist with Group Health Associates in Springdale, Ohio.
High humidity and even traffic can bring on the allergins.
“We have a very large number of automobiles and diesel-fuel vehicles driving right through the middle of the city exhausting all of these chemicals into the air,” he said.
Pollutants emitted by cars aggravate allergy and asthma symptoms.
Warm weather kicks off nature’s pollen powerhouse.
Cooler temperatures mean trees make less pollen. Wind can also clear away pollen, and a good rain after a dry spell can wash away pollen and other crud in the air.
Pollen levels of 20 and under are considered low; when they get above 100, they move into the “high” category.
If they top 1,000, they move into the “very high” category. That amount of pollen won’t kill anyone, allergists say, but it will make everyone miserable.
The good news is effective remedies for allergy sufferers are plentiful, experts say.
Antihistamines, eye drops, nasal sprays and inhalers all relieve symptoms.
For people who don’t respond to those medications, allergy shots, or immunotherapy, is often their best bet, said David Bernstein, an allergist with the University of Cincinnati and the Bernstein Allergy Group.
“The real problem with the shots is there’s a long buildup phase, and people get impatient with them,” he said.
The shots help desensitize patients to whatever they’re allergic to. But it can take months — or longer — before patients get any relief.
Some allergists, including Bernstein, are taking a new approach called “cluster therapy.”
The approach speeds up the process. A patient might get two or three doses of the allergen in a weekly visit, instead of one dose a week.
“Instead of six to eight months, it takes two to three weeks for patients to get built up to where they need to be,” he said. “But they do need monthly maintenance.”
Don’t blame the trees in the backyard for sneezy symptoms, said Dave Gamstetter, a natural resource manager for the Cincinnati Park Board. The wind can blow some pollen 50 miles or more.
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Allergy offenders
Allergies happen when the body’s immune system overreacts to a particular stimulus, whether it’s pollen, pet hair or peanuts. Several types of remedies are available combat seasonal allergies. Here’s a guide:
– Antihistamines: These are the first line of defense, especially for seasonal allergies. Antihistamines work by blocking a substance called histamines, which cause the allergic reaction — sneezing, itching, watering eyes and even hives. A variety are available by prescription and over-the-counter. Older generation antihistamines, including Benadryl, can cause drowsiness.
– Decongestants: These ease congesting by shrinking blood vessels and decreasing blood flow to the sinus passages, which allows mucus to flow more freely. People with high blood pressure, certain types of glaucoma and coronary artery disease should talk to their doctors before taking decongestants.
– Steroid nasal sprays: These reduce inflammation in the nasal passages, which eases congestion, and other allergy symptoms.
– Allergy eye drops: Some eye drops use antihistamines; others contain corticosteroids, the same ingredient found in steroid nasal sprays.
– Leukotriene inhibitors: These block the production of leukotrienes, a substance that causes the inflammatory process that occurs when the body has an allergic reaction.
– Immunotherapy: These work by gradually introducing the allergen to the body to slowly modify the allergic response. If someone’s allergic to box elder pollen, for example, they’ll get shots containing tiny amounts of the pollen, then the dose will gradually increase over a course of several months or longer until the allergic response stops.
Reasons to sneeze
Here’s what’s making you miserable by the season:
– Spring: Tree pollens and mold.
– Summer: Grasses, and later in the summer, ragweed.
– Fall: Ragweed until the first hard frost.
– Winter: Dust, dust mites and animal dander.