CHAPTER 18 CUTANEOUS ADVERSE FOOD REACTIONS 291
Encourage clients to utilize qualified nutrition websites and/or the services of a board
certified veterinary nutritionist to formulate a balanced elimination and/or mainte-
nance diet.COMMENTS
Examine patient and evaluate and document the pruritus and clinical signs every
4 weeks.
Avoid intake of any of the proteins included in the previous diet.
Treats and chewable toys should be limited to known safe substances.
Other causes of pruritus (e.g., flea bite hypersensitivity, atopic dermatitis, and external
parasites such asSarcoptes,Notoedres,andCheyletiellamites) can mask the response
to the food elimination diet trial and the maintenance diet.Prognosis is good if food ingredients are the only cause of the pruritus and offending
ingredients are avoided.
Rarely, a dog or cat may develop hypersensitivity to a new food ingredient, requiring
a new elimination diet trial.
Concurrent hypersensitivities (flea or atopic dermatitis) must be managed for long-
term success.
Fig. 18.1.Chronic otitis externa withMalasseziadermatitis on the pinna of a canine with CAFR.