Dog Food Allergies

Allergy Free Dog Food and Elimination Diet

Does your friend have dog food allergies. If you see him struggle with itching. Pain from the skin infections and perhaps frequent diarrhea. Yes it could be.

It is not always easy to know when it is food allergy or some other skin disease. Some food allergy symptoms to look for:

• Itching
• Chewing of the feet
• Redness of skin
• Skin infections
• Ear infections
• Vomiting and diarrhea

It takes a long time to develop this disease. Often the dog has eaten the food a long time before allergy develops. Many owners think that "My dog has always eaten this food, so he can't be allergic to it" - Sorry, but this is not true.

Vomiting or diarrhea shows only in about 10 to 15% of the suffering patients and not all of the dog food allergy symptoms needs to show at all or at the same time. It can be a challenge to the vet as well.

Allergy Free Dog Food

Is it true that special dog foods are less likely develop allergy in dogs. Rice and Lamb for example is often thought being safer than other ingredients. No, this is not so. In this part I'll explain all about elimination diets and hypoallergenic dog foods.

Different dog breeds can react different during the elimination diet test. Some breeds should be tested for a longer period to be sure to get a true result.

This and a lot more you find in the Allergy Free Dog Food page.

Dog Food Allergy or Food Intolerance

Food intolerance can cause diarrhea or vomiting but without the typical allergic symptoms. No ear problem or itching. Intolerance can be caused of various things. Best example could be Lactose intolerance - the body can't break down lactose and diarrhea is a fact. Not because of an immune response - only because of Lactose in the gut lumen make bacteria grow too much, resulting in sloppy stool

Dog food allergies on the other hand involves the immune system. Something in the food triggers the immune system to react. Not only in the intestine but in the skin as as well.

Nobody can tell why a dog develops food allergy. Often the reaction is caused by normal ingredients such as:

• Beef
• Dairy products
• Chicken
• Wheat
• Egg
• Corn
• Soy protein

These are all different proteins. Proteins are called allergens when they are causing food allergies.

If You Suspect Dog Food Allergies Problem
What You Can do Step by Step

Call your vet and make an appointment. But before the visit, you have work to do

Second:

Make a list of all the foods you have used. Don't forget the biscuit and other food you do give in between the meals. Next is about you. Diagnosis is difficult and will be time demanding - expect that you have to be patient.

Third:

Think what kind of elimination diets you prefer. Perhaps you like to be The Chef and cook one yourself? Many good recipes on homemade elemination dog food diets can be used.

Perhaps you don't have the time. Several prepared hypoallergenic diets can be a very good alternative. Actually - if you don't like dry food. Is canned dog food better? Think and decide. Prepare because the next is

Fourth:

Yes, now of to the vet. Having your list and thought about diets. Your vet will love you. Work together and be a team, is so important in ruling out dog food allergies. This will speed up the process and your little furred friend will get relief much sooner.

All this food talking.

Why not do a blood sample. That's fast and easy. Why not fix diagnosis in a second with some food allergy testing. Take a little blood, off to the lab and that's it.

Well, see Here for more details about the diagnostic principels of dog food allergy.