Dr. Adam Calcutt (TVV Decatur) reports:  It's that time of year again when in preparation for spring I put away the winter clothes and really get serious about the New Year’s resolution – the one I made over two months ago.  I lace up my running shoes and head out the door with my trusted running partner, Tusker – an 83 pound chocolate labradoodle.  Wait! Eighty-three pounds!  It's happened...MY dog is overweight!  Exercise, diet and moderation are terms that don’t just apply to me - and now I'm faced with the daunting prospect of encouraging weight loss and preventing obesity in the most food-driven animal I know.  With this in mind, I thought I would share the importance of recognizing risk factors that contribute to a pet’s potential for an above average weight and the health risks to your pet associated with being overweight.

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Itchy Skin. . . but No Fleas??

Food allergy is also referred to as dietary allergy/hypersensitivity, food intolerance and most recently, cutaneous adverse food reactions (CAFR).  Food “allergy” implies an immune system- mediated process, in comparison to “food intolerance” which is simply an abnormal response to ingested food.  A true food allergy is the third most common cause of skin allergies in the dog, second to flea allergic and atopic (inhaled allergen, ie. seasonal) dermatitis. Up to 50% of the time pets have food allergy in combination with another type of allergy.

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