Pet Food Allergies? Check What's In The Bag
Rebecca Foxton
Dogs can have similar problems as humans have, with allergies to some types of food. It's possible that it could be an intolerance to specific ingredients such as wheat or corn, or a general complaint which is provoked my many types of food, such as colitis.
Some symptoms of dog food allergies include: Vomiting bile or blood, bad appetite, diarrhea and blood in the stool, itching, dry coat and skin, chronic ear infections, loss of fur, lots of scratching, hot spots and skin infections, increased bowel movements and anything else out of the ordinary.
If you suspect your dog is allergic or intolerant to a certain food, you will need to do some testing to ascertain that it is indeed food which is causing the problem, as other medical complaints can also cause similar symptoms, such as parasites & skin infections etc.
It might be necessary to adhere to a diet of home made dog food, so you can control the ingredients, feeding a simple balance of protein and carbohydrates.
The matter is further complicated because there are many additives in dog food, and it may be one of these which is causing the allergy rather than a certain kind of meat or grain.
Common allergy-causing foods for dogs are beef, dairy products, chicken, wheat, chicken eggs, corn, and soy. But these are the most common ingredients in dog foods!
Yes, and there is a reason for that. Just like people who cannot tolerate lactose, being overexposed to these ingredients could be the root of the problem.
New recipes such as lamb and rice have been formulated because these are not traditional dog foods, therefore dogs have not had time to build up an intolerance.
These may not actually be the solution to treating an intolerance though, as many of these brands contain soy, egg etc., so check the ingredients.
Now that there are more dogs now than ever before with food allergies, the market is full of hypoallergenic dog foods to meet those needs of those dogs. The usefulness of these standards is limited by the unique constitution of each pet, but does provide some structure.
Be prepared to compare dog food brands extensively, since one thing to consider is that many "healthy" dog foods may still cause allergies in your dog if they contain that trigger ingredient. Even human grade dog food might still be causing your dog stomach problems.
Just as in humans, an intolerance to wheat or dairy contained in dog foods, natural and high quality though they may be, will still cause the end result. Canine skin allergies are another sign that your dog may have an allergy.
About the Author:
Author Rebecca Foxton wants to help you bring your pet brilliant health with Fortiflora. Check out her nutrition tips for pet owners, and read her dog food articles on Dog Buffs.
|
