Page 602 - Small Animal Clinical Nutrition 5th Edition

624 Small Animal Clinical Nutrition

VetBooks.ir

Figure 31-5. Protocol for elimination-challenge trials for the diagnosis of adverse reactions to food.

Malassezia dermatitis, pyoderma and/or otitis externa are pres- liferative lesions are present.
ent at the time of initial presentation.Treatment for these con- A diagnosis of an adverse food reaction is confirmed if clin-
ditions may be prescribed concurrent with the elimination trial, ical signs reappear after the patient’s former food and other
but after therapy is completed the patient should be fed the ingested substances are offered as a challenge. Clinical signs
elimination food only for two to three weeks before challenge may be evident within hours of challenge or take up to 14 days.
(see below) to ensure that any improvement is maintained. It is Reinstituting the elimination food should resolve the clinical
also prudent to check that the client is not administering pre- signs induced by the food challenge. Food challenges can be
scribed medications in elicit foods. Patients with chronic otitis performed in an “open,” “single-blind” or “double-blind” man-
externa due to adverse food reactions may require four to six ner. In an open food challenge, both the client and veterinarian
month for obvious improvement to be noted, especially if pro- are aware that a specific food or previous food is being fed. In a