Sensitivity










	Other Links: Indications • Rationale • Download nutrition info

SUMMARY: ROYAL CANIN Veterinary Diet^TM/MC canine SENSITIVITY LR^TM/M (canned) and SENSITIVITY RC 21^TM/M (dry) are highly palatable, digestible, complete, and balanced diets formulated to meet the requirements of canine growth and maintenance. These diets use a limited number of ingredients that are rarely associated with dietary sensitivity in dogs.

INDICATIONS:

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

--	Dietary hypersensitivity (allergy) which may present with dermatological and/or gastrointestinal signs	--	None
--	Dietary intolerance (lactose intolerance, wheat gluten enteropathy)
--	Vomiting
--	Idiopathic diarrhea
--	Inflammatory bowel disease
--	Idiopathic chronic colitis
--	Otitis externa due to food sensitivity

RATIONALE:
Dietary Sensitivity:
Dietary sensitivity is a term used to describe a clinically abnormal immunological response to the ingestion of a particular food. When an immunological mechanism cannot be demonstrated, food intolerance is a more appropriate term.

Most basic food ingredients, including proteins, lipoproteins, glycoproteins, lipopolysaccharides and carbohydrates, have the potential to induce an allergic response. However, proteins are most commonly implicated in dietary sensitivity in dogs. In dogs, cow’s milk, beef, and cereal account for more than half the reported cases of dietary sensitivity.

Dietary sensitivities usually present with skin and gastrointestinal signs. The most common symptoms are pruritus, vomiting, or diarrhea. The primary goal in the treatment of dietary sensitivity is to feed a diet that is balanced and does not contain the offending allergen.

A detailed diet history is necessary to identifying foods that have not previously been fed to the dog. This information forms the basis of an elimination diet which is hypoallergenic for the dog. SENSITIVITY LR^TM/MC (canned) and SENSITIVITY RC 21^TM/MC (dry) are practical and effective choices for the management of adverse reactions to food in dogs.

Food Intolerance:
Food intolerance is an adverse reaction to food where an immunological mechanism cannot be demonstrated. Food intolerance may result from pharmacological, metabolic, toxic reactions, or an inability to digest the food.

Lactose intolerance is a common example of food intolerance. The dog’s limited ability to hydrolyze lactose in cow’s milk and dairy products may result in diarrhea.

Another example is gluten enteropathy in Irish Setters. Gluten enteropathy is a malabsorption syndrome which responds favorably to the removal of wheat gluten from the dog’s diet. Feeding a lactose free, wheat gluten free, highly digestible diet will help alleviate the clinical signs of these intolerances in affected dogs. Strict quality control in the manufacturing process ensures the proper ingredients are not cross-contaminated from other diets.

Idiopathic Canine Colitis:
Canine idiopathic chronic colitis is considered one of the most common causes of chronic diarrhea in dogs. Dietary management offers a non-pharmacological alternative which in many cases is successful for the long-term management of dogs with chronic colitis. The rationale behind using a selected protein diet is based on three criteria:

1.	High digestibility of macronutrients reduces the digestive challenge in the colon.
2.	High digestibility ensures that few dietary antigens enter the colon since macronutrient digestion will have been completed in the small intestine.
3.	The low antigenic content of selected protein diets reduces the chance of an immunologically-based inflammatory reaction occurring in the colon.

SENSITIVITY LR^TM/MC (canned) and SENSITIVITY RC 21^TM/MC (dry) diets have been used successfully to reduce drug requirements in dogs with idiopathic chronic colitis.

Special Tips:

1.	Many diets which are labeled “hypoallergenic” are not true elimination diets. They may contain additional protein sources including those antigens the owner is trying to avoid. It is important to counsel owners about true elimination diets and advise them to verify a product’s ingredients by checking the ingredient list on the label.
2.	Snacks, treats, dietary supplements, and flavored medications may contain allergens. It is important that the owner understands that even minor deviations from a strict limited allergen diet can lead to a recurrence of allergic symptoms.
3.	During the initial diagnostic period, it is important that SENSITIVITY LR^TM/MC (canned) and SENSITIVITY RC 21^TM/MC (dry) be fed exclusively.
4.	Although ENSITIVITY RC 21^TM/MC (dry) is a fishmeal-based diet, it does not have a noticeable fish odor. Owners will not notice any unpleasant odors with this diet.

REFERENCES:
Markwell PJ, Harvey RG. Evaluation of a limited protein source diet in the management of dogs with atopy: a parallel, crossover study. Proceedings of the BSAVA Congress: 1995, p 230.

Mieke HG, Markwell PJ, Willemse T. Double-blind evaluation of three commercial selected protein diets in the management of dogs with adverse reactions to foods. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2001;219:1411-1414.

Rutgers HC, Batt RM, Hall EJ, et al. Intestinal permeability testing in dogs with diet-responsive intestinal disease. J Small Anim Pract 1995;36:295-301.

Simpson JW, Maskell IE, Markwell PJ. Use of a restricted antigen diet in the management of idiopathic canine colitis. J Small Anim Pract 1994;35: 233-238.

Yam PS, Simpson JW, Maskell IE, et al. Dietary management of canine colitis. Proceedings of the BSAVA Congress: 1994; p 206.

Leistra MHG, Markwell PJ, Willemse T. Evaluation of selected-protein-source diets for the management of dogs with adverse reactions to foods. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2001; 219:1411-1414.