Food allergy, intolerance and sensitivity: what the words mean

Written by Veterinarians.org Editorial Team
Medically reviewed by Ivana Crnec , DVM
Published
Updated
Illustration of a border collie behind three separate food bowls, each on its own colored circle.

Key takeaways

Food allergy refers to an immune reaction

Cornell’s explanation of canine allergic disease describes allergy as an immune response to substances that would otherwise be harmless, including food or environmental substances. The word identifies an underlying kind of reaction; it is not simply another word for a food your dog dislikes.

Food intolerance refers to a different mechanism

A 2011 veterinary dermatology presentation distinguish immune-mediated food allergy from non-immune food intolerance. “Adverse food reaction” can be used as the broader category while the nature of the response is investigated.

Those distinctions do not let a reader identify the mechanism from a symptom list. Nor does the word intolerance mean a problem is automatically mild or safe to ignore.

Ask what “sensitivity” means in context

Sensitivity is used in different ways by sellers and in ordinary conversation. A report should define what it means, what is measured and what the category is supposed to predict. Do not assume it names one standardized diagnosis.

When comparing services, keep the seller’s exact claim separate from your own question. A service that says it does not diagnose allergy has not answered whether your dog has an allergy, even if its report lists foods under a sensitivity heading.

Words do not validate a test

A study of food-specific antibody assays assessed performance against a reference involving diet elimination and food reintroduction, not against a seller’s preferred label. Its findings illustrate why evidence must address the actual clinical question.

Ask your veterinarian what diagnosis is being considered and how it would be established. The testing overview covers the different purposes of tests; the report-reading guide focuses on how to examine the wording in front of you.

Sources

  1. Cornell Baker Institute: Canine Allergic Disease
  2. North American Veterinary Dermatology Forum: Food Allergy in Animals, 2011 scientific proceedings
  3. Testing for food-specific antibodies in saliva and blood of food allergic and healthy dogs

Comments (4)

Comments are closed on this article.

  1. Nate D.

    So 'sensitivity' isn't really a defined medical term at all? That explains why every brand seems to use it differently.

  2. Farah Z.

    My dog gets loose stools with one specific food but has no skin issues. From the definitions here that sounds more like intolerance than allergy — is that the right way to read it?

    Veterinarians.org Editorial Team

    We can't interpret an individual dog's symptoms from a comment, but you've picked up the distinction the article draws. Describing exactly what you observed and with which food is precisely what will help your veterinarian sort it out.

  3. Kurt S.

    Helpful breakdown. The part about immune involvement being what separates a true allergy finally made the difference click for me.

  4. Lily T.

    During an elimination diet, do flavored medications and supplements count as breaking the trial? Asking before we start ours.