31st May 2009
Animals Avoid Foods Containing Allergens
Mice that are allergic to ovalbumin (the main protein in egg white) avoid drinking solutions containing this antigen. A recent study confirmed this finding in laboratory rats. While non-immunized rats preferred sweetened drinking water that contained ovalbumin, immunized rats avoided it.
Edema formation and IgE-mediated mast cell degranulation (and consequent 5-HT(3) signaling) were found to be responsible for avoidance of the source of the allergen in allergic rats. The authors also showed that dexamethasone can block this taste aversion.
These findings suggest that animals are able to avoid foods that contain substances to which they are allergic. However, this instinctive gift is not useful if animals are given foods that don’t allow this natural avoidance behavior. At Onesta Organics, we believe that the best way to avoid food allergens is to exclude any potential allergen as an ingredient from prepared pet foods in the first place, and additionally to provide pets with food choices that allow them to select or reject particular foods.
Zarzana et al. Neuroimmunomodulation 2009;16(1):19-27
