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Tag: Dog Food Allergies

  • How to Deal with Dog Allergies

    Just like humans, dogs are also prone to having dog allergies.  The symptoms that dogs experience with dog allergies are also oddly enough very similar to human symptoms.  If you think that your dog may be suffering from dog allergies but you aren’t quite sure of the signs, here are some of the most common dog allergies and how you can spot them.

    Dog Food Allergies

    The unfortunate part about dog food allergies is that the ingredients that are in most popular brands of dog food are usually the cause of the allergy itself!  Some of the primary foods that cause dog allergies include:

    Milk
    Corn
    Wheat
    Whey
    Beef
    Pork
    Lamb
    Fish
    Chicken
    Eggs

    Flip over any bag of even the best dog food and you will see that at least one of these ingredients, if not several from the list, are included in the food.  Dogs who have a dog food allergy will commonly display the following symptoms:

    Coughing
    Sneezing
    Nose and eye discharge
    Hair loss
    Vomiting
    Diarrhea
    Itching
    Breathing difficulties

    Trying to narrow down what is causing the dog food allergy is really more of a trial and error process.  You need to try different foods with your dog and monitor his reaction to them over a 24 period of time.  This will help you isolate the ingredient that is causing the problem.

    Atopy

    Atopy refers to your dog having an allergic reaction to something that he has inhaled, such as dust, mold, pollens, and yes, human dander.  One of the easily recognized signs of atopy are excessive licking, chewing, and scratching of the face, paws, armpits, genitals, and abdomen.  These areas will have a red-brown color to them due to the large amount of chewing and licking that has been happening at the site.  You can visit your vet to try and determine the cause of the atopy, at which point you can then begin treatments such as cool baths with a medicated shampoo, allergy shots, antihistamines, and including omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids to your dog’s diet.

    Contact Allergies

    These sorts of dog allergies are related to your dog coming in physical contact with something that doesn’t agree with his immune system.  This may be by putting a dog sweater made of a certain fiber on your dog, your dog coming in contact with particular plants, wool bedding, flea collars or even using plastic food bowls.  To help treat this dog allergy, it’s important to deduce what is causing the problem through the process of elimination, and then remove that item from your dog’s environment.

     

    To know more on dog allergies, dog food allergies or other dog health related information you’re welcome to visit Nil’s blog at Dog-Health-24.info.

     

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  • Benefits of Hypoallergenic Dog Food

    If your pet is miserable from food allergies, you should consider changing from your regular pet food brand to a hypoallergenic dog food. Hypoallergenic dog food is less likely to cause intestinal problems or skin allergies, which will permit your pet to live a happier and fuller life. Symptoms of dog food allergies include digestive problems, such as diarrhea and vomiting, and skin irritations. Your pet may be allergic to one or more components, such as beef, chicken, corn, eggs, and yeast. Unlike hypoallergenic dog food manufacturers, most common pet food makers manufacture their pet foods with artificial preservatives and flavorings.

    You will have to figure out which ingredient(s) your pet is having issues with. Find a dog food that has dissimilar main substances (usually about the first 5 to 7 components in the pet food ingredient list), or try a hypoallergenic pet food. You should keep a diary to track how different components are affecting your pet and make sure your pet is not eating leftovers or other foods which may be causing some of the problems.

    There are two ways of providing hypoallergenic dog food. First, you can prepare hypoallergenic dog food yourself by using ingredients which are not in your pet’s original diet. Examples of these fresh substances are lamb, fish, sweet potatoes, and barley. Just ensure that you supplement your hypoallergenic dog food diet with appropriate amounts of vitamins and minerals (there are dog multi-vitamins manufactured specially for dogs). Secondly, you can purchase hypoallergenic pet foods at the grocery or, for a wider selection, on the web.

    There are a number of diverse brands of hypoallergenic dog food and they all have their own distinct advantages. While analyzing brands, make sure that you take overall nutrition into consideration before worrying over other things. You can get a little guidance on dog nutrition from the web and you can easily make product comparisons since dog foods are now marketed on the internet. If you have a little issue with the cost, there are certain brands available which are a lot less expensive.

    If your dog is miserable from dog food allergy symptoms, you certainly need to figure out what the offending component is and remove it from the diet. The easiest method is with a hypoallergenic dog food. Common dog food is usually manufactured from materials that may cause problems with your dog’s digestive system and can lead to the typical allergic symptoms. Hypoallergenic dog food does not cause allergic responses and is therefore ideal for a pet sensitive to other foods.

    Help your dog in his fight with allergies. Start feeding a hypoallergenic dog food now. You’ll being seeing a happier, more lively dog in days! Learn more about hypoallergenic dog food and how it can help your dog. He’s man’s best friend, let’s start treating him that way.

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  • What are Common Dog Allergy Symptoms?

    If you think that your dog may be suffering from dog allergies, then it is important to familiarize yourself with the common dog allergy symptoms.  Depending on what type of dog allergies your pet suffers from, the symptoms may vary slightly.  Here are some of the common dog allergy symptoms to be on the look out for:

    Itching

    Itching is a common sign for dog skin allergies, flea allergies and dog food allergies.  If your dog is particularly itchy, you will notice him chewing, biting, licking or gnawing at certain parts of his or her body.  Where the biting occurs may help indicate if your dog is suffering from dog skin allergies or dog food allergies.  The most common areas where you will find your dog itching is:

    Abdomen
    Paws
    Face
    Ears
    Hindquarters and groin

    When it comes to dog allergy symptoms, dogs do tend to lick the affected or “allergic” areas.  Flea allergies usually result in the dog trying to itch and scratch his back and hindquarters.  Contact allergies will result in excessive itching in areas where the dog has less hair coverage, such as the arm pits and the abdomen.  Atopic allergies will usually result in your dog trying to scratch his face, feet and chest.

    Raw Paws

    For a dog that has been gnawing on his or her paws, you will notice that the paws usually have a reddish brown color, and they may appear raw or, in more severe cases, they may even be bloody.

    Sneezing

    Of the dog allergy symptoms, sneezing is usually the number one sign of any sort of atopic (inhalant-related) allergies, though in rare cases it can be a sign of your dog suffering from contact allergies.  Sneezing is usually accompanied with a clear discharge that may be coming from the eyes or the nose.

    Diarrhea

    Diarrhea can be a sign for many different dog diseases and illnesses, but it can also be a one of the most telling of the dog allergy symptoms that will let you know that your dog is suffering from a food allergy.  If you suspect your dog is suffering from dog food allergies, switch to a more bland type of food and see if that makes any difference to his stools.  Dog food allergies also are usually accompanied by itching and scratching, and occasionally lethargy and fatigue.

     

    To know more on dog allergy symptoms, dog food allergies or other dog health related information you’re welcome to visit Nil’s blog at Dog-Health-24.info.

     

     

    Article from articlesbase.com

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