Allergy, intolerance and sensitivity: understanding the difference
When a dog or cat develops a problem after eating, the timing alone does not tell you what caused it. Similar signs can have different explanations, so a veterinary assessment is the right place to start if your pet is unwell.
What is a food allergy?
A food allergy involves the immune system. Your vet considers your pet’s history, examines them and may recommend a controlled diet trial to investigate a suspected food allergy. Do not start a restrictive diet or change prescribed treatment without their advice.
What does intolerance mean?
Food intolerance describes an adverse response to food that does not involve the same allergic immune mechanism. You cannot reliably distinguish an allergy from another problem by checking a symptom list or measuring how quickly a sign appeared.
Where does Test My Pets fit?
Test My Pets offers an at-home hair sensitivity test using bioresonance. It looks for potential sensitivity patterns using the frequencies associated with the sample and the items in the selected test. It does not measure allergy antibodies or provide a veterinary diagnosis.
Use the results as a starting point for discussion, rather than proof that an item caused a symptom. Speak to your vet before making significant or prolonged changes to your pet’s diet.
A useful next step
Keep clear notes about food, treats, medicines, everyday observations and changes to routine. Bring those details to your vet. For the items covered by each Test My Pets level, see What We Test. For an existing order, contact our team.
Our Best Selling Tests
A pet living with symptoms where you don't know the possible cause can affect its overall wellbeing and happiness.
Take the first steps to understand more about your animal with one of our Best Selling tests.
