The best dog food for allergies is obviously available in one of 2 general styles: Completely hypoallergenic dog food and/or limited ingredient dog food. Hypoallergenic dog food is sold over-the-counter without a trip to the veterinarian. Limited ingredient dog food contains fewer ingredients that will make it easier to pinpoint the allergen to which your dog is allergic.
The purpose of a hypoallergenic dog food is to lessen the potential for your dog to be allergic to one or more common allergens. Common allergies to dogs include food proteins, milk, tree nuts and seafood. A limited ingredient diet is designed to limit the amounts of food that your dog ingests. An example would be that if you feed your dog a patty that has meat based dry ingredients, you probably wouldn’t want to feed that same patty again because the meat from the patty could be causing an allergy reaction. Hypoallergenic dog food is formulated in this way.
To determine whether a food intolerance is causing your dog discomfort, you should eliminate any meals with known offending ingredients. Hypoallergenic dog food manufacturers take this very seriously. There are several different ways to ensure your dog’s safety when eating the right meal at the right time.
When it comes to dogs and food, dogs have a greater need for good nutrition and a balanced diet than we do. The body of a dog is much more capable of digesting complex carbohydrates, protein and fats than our own bodies are. Dogs can process many types of protein much more quickly than humans can. Allergies can often result from a dog food lacking one or more of these essential ingredients.
It is important to note that allergies can be prevented. Allergies can be difficult to spot at first, but there are some prominent signs. It is important that you know what these signs are so that you can recognize them and request a change in the dog food. If your dog has itchy skin and excessive scratching, it is probably the dog food allergies.
Many common dog food allergies can be traced to common ingredients such as wheat, corn, milk, eggs, soy, and fish. A dog suffers from digestive problems when a certain allergen comes into contact with their intestinal tract. Digestive problems can cause your dog to have itchy skin or excessively severe anorexia. A decrease in appetite combined with a noticeable decrease in activity is often the first sign that your dog suffers from digestive problems.
For lamb and chicken allergies, dry and canned chicken and lamb dishes should be avoided. This is because the enzymes in these meats break down the protein found in the protein dust and can cause severe anemia. Chicken and lamb dishes often contain wheat and corn, which also contribute to this problem. There is an ingredient called lamb which is commonly used in many commercial recipes but is actually a genetically modified animal. This ingredient is not recommended for dogs or cats.
In general, a healthy diet is the best for dogs. There are some dogs that suffer from what are called food allergies. These allergies are normally seasonal in nature and are more prevalent in the spring and fall. The most common food allergies identified in dogs include flea larva, peanut, shellfish, cow’s milk, fish, wheat, chicken, corn, and soy. Veterinarians report that a marked decrease in ear infections in dogs fed a limited ingredient diet, such as that mentioned above.
Allergic reactions can also result from improper nutrition. A dog with a food allergy may not be digesting his diet properly. Or, he may be having a nut allergic reaction to one or two ingredients in the food. Often, a dog with an allergic reaction will have an intestinal upset, difficulty walking, and other behavioral issues that need to be addressed. A veterinarian can identify the specific food allergies causing the allergic reaction and give the appropriate treatment.
There are some common foods that are not considered allergenic but can cause an allergic reaction. Many canned fish meal products, including canned light tuna, contain an ingredient called sodium methylsulfate. This ingredient is used to help remove excess fish moisture so that the meat will keep its shape. However, some dogs seem to be sensitive to this ingredient and can have a skin rash when they come into contact with it. Another example of this ingredient is sweet potatoes, which can cause a very severe bout of diarrhea in dogs. To avoid this type of problem, you should choose dry dog food over canned fish meal.
While canine food allergies seem to be fairly common, there is no real way to predict which brands will provide the safest and most safe food for your pets. As a responsible pet owner, you should be able to know what to look for. Always take time to read labels carefully and check for things like artificial colors and preservatives. Many companies use these additives as a way of extending the life of their products, so it is important to keep this in mind. With a little bit of research, you should be able to select the best dog food for allergies that will meet the nutritional needs of your dog’s and help minimize their overall health problems.