Dog food allergies
How to best help your itching friend
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 symptoms needs to show at all or at the same time. It can be a challenge to the vet as well.
Curious about how I am working in my practice and how I think - Welcome to click here
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
Written in descending order so beef most likely and the Soy protein least likely to trigger food allergy
These are all different proteins. Proteins are called allergens when they are causing food allergies.
Know more about food allergens and allergy immunology ?
If You suspect Dog Food Allergies Problem
What You can do step by step
First
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. And listen!!! 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 dog food diets can be used. Here is some examples
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. Remember! 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.
Look here for allergy testing discussion
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