How To Stop Dog Food Allergies
Is your dog allergic to the food you feed him?
Sale, yeast, corn, sugar, meat-by-products, and chemical preservatives are responsible for the majority of all the dog food allergies and are frequently responsible for allergic reactions. Food allergies can cause itchy skin, ear infections, weepy eyes, flatulence and irritated glands (rubbing bottom on the carpet), rashes, hot spot and excessive bodily-licking, particularly around the feet and stomach. Repeated exposure to large volumes of food allergens can lead to long-term, chronic infections, illnesses, or even permanent, behavior problems.
How to determine if your dog is allergic to his food
You can give your dog a special diet if you suspect they are allergic to certain foods. This diet is made up of foods that are scientifically designed with low-molecular weight proteins. It is thought that proteins below a certain molecular mass are not capable of causing food allergies. This food is available online, in both dry and wet forms, and at many veterinarians' offices. If your dog experiences no allergy symptoms after six weeks of this diet, it is safe to assume that the food you were giving them was responsible for their allergies.
You can now determine the food that is causing your dog's allergies, usually the by-products from poultry and meat sources, by adding each ingredient to the special diet and then checking to see if the allergy symptoms re-occur. Each ingredient in your dogs food should be added to their special diet, one at a time every 3 weeks. Reduce the special diet by 10 percent and then add ten percent of the food you are testing to each bowl. You won't be testing the chemicals, but you can remove many ingredients from the their diet once you know which ones are causing the allergic reaction. If your dog does not have a reaction to the added ingredients, it is likely that the culprit is a chemical or a by-product which you will want to remove, in addition to corn, salt, wheat and sugar, from your dog's food. If you discover that multiple ingredients are causing an allergic reaction, don't be surprised.
After identifying the allergens, you can then search for a high-quality dog food that does not contain them. A bland diet may seem bland to your dog, but it is better than a dog who has allergies or is recommended by a vet. Don't worry if he doesn’t like it immediately, as long as he's drinking plenty of fluids. He will eat the new food if he is hungry. He will eventually adjust to his new diet, especially if you provide him with delicious, allergy-free treats.
Sugar Highs
Sugar highs can cause food allergies and also impact your dog's mood, energy, and hunger levels. Sugar highs can make a dog hyperactive and unfocused. Dogs must learn to focus when they are on a sugar high. Dog owners often mistakenly believe their dog is ill-mannered or uncooperative. However, it could be food-related.
Chemical Culprits
Unneeded chemical preservatives are often found in dog food, including butylated hydrotoluene and butylated butyloxyanisole (BHA), BHT (butylated butylhydroxytoluene) and ethoxyquin. Human food can also contain BHA and BHT but we consume far less of them than dogs over their average 15-year lifespan. Large manufacturers often use large quantities of chemical preservatives because large amounts of their products are distributed around the globe. These products can be found on shelves and in warehouses that are subject to extreme temperatures, which can affect the quality of the product.
Natural preservatives such as Vitamin E don't last long in dog foods. All-natural pet food manufacturers make smaller batches so their products can last longer. Dog food that has been preserved with mixed tocopherols, Vitamin E (has a shelf life of approximately six months), so it is best to use this type of food immediately. Ask staff at a pet store to suggest a food that is free from the ingredients listed in this article if you're looking for a new dog food.
Dog foods that are less expensive usually contain less meat and more animal byproducts and grains. As you can see, commercially prepared processed dog food is full of harmful substances and strong chemicals. If your dog is fed on these for a prolonged period of time, this could cause serious health problems.
Many studies have shown that dogs can live longer if they are fed the same food as what they would eat in their natural environment. High quality, natural dog food results in fewer digestive problems, a healthier coat, and firmer stools. Also, since dogs absorb more nutrients from high quality dog food, they’ll eat less of it and less is passed as waste.
