Allergy Dog Food: Treat your Pets Effectively

Most pet owners are unaware that when their pets, dogs especially, exhibit adverse skin related problems that the most probable cause may be due to food sensitivities. Just like human, pets can also develop a distressing reaction to the type of food or food ingredients they eat. Unlike humans that who have the ability to communicate their symptoms, it becomes more difficult for dogs because they do not have the same communication ability that human possess. Research on common causes of dog allergy indicates that as much as 15 percent may be food-related. The only method to solve this is to put your pet on allergy dog food diet.

The most common ingredients and additives of dog food that may cause adverse reaction to their canine immune system are beef, chicken, corn, eggs, fish, lamb, milk, preservatives, pork, soy, wheat, and whey.

The primary symptom that appears in a dog having food allergy is itchy skin.

Common canine and feline allergy indicators may include anal itching, ear inflammations, hair loss, little or not desire for food, cough, sudden behavioral changes, diarrhea, flatulence, seizures, sneezing, and nausea.

On having your pet diagnosed for his sensitivity reactions and the specific evaluation concludes that the symptoms are definitely food-related, you can begin a prolonged but guaranteed course of action to eliminate and establish which particular food ingredient elicits a sensitivity reaction in your pet. The only way to do this is to immediately stop giving your pet whatever food you are currently feeding them and replacing it with homemade or commercially available allergy dog food, that does not contain any one of the ingredients of the former diet.

A basic guideline to formulate your own allergy dog food is that it should consist of two parts starch and one part protein. The protein part is the significant consideration; make sure that you use duck, salmon, venison, and rabbit for the protein component and as much as possible, potatoes for the starch component. Refrain from using soy and rice as substitutes; duck and potato based allergy dog food are better.

Take note that you cannot continuously feed your pet with home made diet for more than 8 weeks due to insufficiency of nutrients of the homemade version, you have to supplement it with special commercial food blends as allergy dog food.

During the food elimination process for your pet, make sure that regardless of the allergy dog food you decide to feed your pet, it should be the only food your pet eats to insure successful treatment.

Once your pet’s symptoms take a turn for the better, that is the proper time to individually re-introduce the questionable food ingredients for a period of one week each. Seven days is enough time to induce allergic reaction on the ingredient if any exists making it easier to determine the right allergy dog food for your pet.