Dog Food Allergies the Ultimate Guide

You are here to learn. Dog Food Allergies the Ultimate Guide
This dog food guide will help you to learn about dog food allergies symptoms, causes and treatment.
The best part?
Every possible treatment of dog food allergy in 2019
In other words, you don’t worry about your dog health keep reading.
Let’s start
The main reason for food allergies in the dog is a disturbance in the immune system.

Which type of disturbance?

Dog immune system reacts negatively towards commercial food, especially when it contains protein.
Vegetables and grains are the sources of proteins.
Addition of grains and vegetables in preparing wet or dry dog food may also cause dog food allergy.
Research proved protein in meat is not a reason for food allergies in dogs.
There are different food products which can cause health issues in dogs like:
Eggs
Dairy products
Fish
Soy
Wheat
Keep one thing in your mind; these all ingredients are the ingredients found in dry and wet food prepared commercially.
Are you confused between food allergy and food intolerance?
If your body cannot digest food properly then it’s called Food intolerance or you can say food type irritates your stomach is food intolerance.

Symptoms

Gas
Cramps
Nausea
Abdominal pain
Headache
Nervousness
On the other side food allergy happens due to disturbance of the immune system, which helps to protect from disease.
When the immunity of a person decreases, our system can’t help to fight with dangerous diseases, and this leads to allergic reactions.
Sometimes immune system releases some chemicals like histamine, which can be the reason for dog food allergy.

Symptoms

Breathing issues
Coughing
Vomiting
Tightness
Swelling
Blood pressure issues

Types of allergies in Dogs

There are different types of allergies which can affect the dog’s health.

Skin Allergies

These are the most common allergic reactions in dogs called allergic dermatitis.
There are three noticeable causes of skin allergies like
Food allergies
Environmental allergies
Flea allergy dermatitis

#Food allergies

Scratching and itchiness of skin is the main symptom of food allergy in dogs.
Food allergy irritates dogs; they feel itchiness on legs, tail.
Dogs try to bite their paws and tail to get rid of the allergy reactions.

#Flea allergy dermatitis

Some dogs are not feeling comfortable with flea saliva habits, and flea allergy may also cause itchiness and redness of the skin.

Environmental allergies

Most of the people and animals face climatic allergy, dogs irritated by dust particles and pollen grains.
In every allergic reaction, dog face itchiness on paws, ears, legs and tail.

Signs of food allergies

If you feel your dog is continuously itching and biting on the fur.
Check your dog routine maybe you changed food ingredients or medication.
Sometimes a change of shampoo becomes the reason for scratching.
There are different signs you will see is confirmation of dog food allergy like
Constant itching
Sneezing and coughing
Itchiness on paws
Hot spots and skin rashes
Pigmented and leathery skin texture
Scaly dry or oily skin
Redness of eyes
Hair dryness and hair loss
Ear pain or infection
Bacterial infection on any place of skin
According to research, different body parts have a different ratio to get infected.
Ears -80 %
Paws – 61%
Inner thigh/belly- 53%
front leg area-33%
Eye -33%
Gastrointestinal Food Allergy Symptoms in Dogs
About 30% of dogs are suffering from gastrointestinal allergy. This type of allergy can be diagnosed with some signs of dog food allergies.
Diarrhoea
Damaging to pass stool
Vomiting
Abdominal pain
Gas trouble

Uncommon Symptoms of Food Allergies in Dogs

Some dogs are not weak in the immune system, but sometimes they face some infections due to sudden reactions.
Such type of allergy can be identified by
Nasal discharge continuously
Severe breathing issues
Urination problem due to bacterial infection in the skin
Weight loss due to vomiting and diarrhoea
Symptoms of dog food allergies according to behaviour
You need to focus on these symptoms preferably
Scratching constantly on skin and legs
Restlessness
Shaking of head and ears frequently
Biting at paws due to itchiness
Biting on paws
Your pet avoids playing games
Less intake of food

Allergy triggers in food elements

As I mentioned above, food allergy happens due to low functionality of the immune system, and it’s a negative response of certain chemicals or proteins.
There are different allergy triggers mentioned:
Milk
Fish
Meat
Eggs
Beef
Pork
Chicken
Wheat
Corn
Most importantly, preservers affect a dog’s immune system badly.

How to diagnose a dog food allergy?

There are different conditions, and you need to keep in your mind during diagnosing food allergies in dogs.
If you found symptoms of allergy at a very young age, it can be an environmental allergy
If your dog travels from the dry area to humid place, then there are 80% chances to get seasonal dog allergies.
Your dog is constantly facing vomit issue and gas trouble then it’s a gastrointestinal symptom.

Types of dog food allergy test

Another way to diagnose a food allergy; in this situation, we need to perform some tests.
Blood tests
Patch tests

Blood test

You can diagnose allergy by a blood test, but it’s not a reliable way, now a day’s different updates tests are in the development process, which is more effective than before.

Patch test

Another option you can use the patch test is a more accurate option than a blood test.
This test only conducted with the recommendation of dermatologists.
A protein solution mixed with petroleum jelly and apply on the skin for 2 to 3 days and inspect on 4th day.
If there is irritation or itchiness, then it is considered positive otherwise negative.

Dog food allergy treatments

Approximately 80 to 90% of allergic reactions can control with following easy treatments.
Check some time only fatty acid supplement required to add in diet plan to control their allergies.
As I mentioned three types of allergies, this treatment is going to help all affected dogs.

If you want to get rid of food allergies first diagnose which food ingredient disturbs your pet.
You can remove that ingredient from the diet chart for a short time until food allergy controlled.
Sometimes the addition of supplements can help to control the dog food allergies, but this is not a long term solution to this problem.

Remedies used to cure dog food allergies

There is a different type of allergies, but seasonal allergies can treat by natural remedies as compared to medication or steroids.
You can help your pup without any chemicals but discuss with your vet before using any medicine.
Here are some remedies which help to treat your dog from food allergies.

Bromelain & Papain

If you want to feed your dog low protein food, then choose bromelain and papain.
From where we can get?
It comes from papaya. It helps to reduce inflammation, burning and pain from body parts, especially from the mucous membrane.

Oat Baths

Oat is a pure source of carbohydrates, so keep one thing in your mind if your dog is facing itching issue then avoid oats.
But you must provide an oat bath to get rid of the itching problem and allergens.
How can we use?
Take water in a bowl
Boil water in low flame
Also, boil oat straws
Mix all solution in the bathwater of the dog.

Colostrum for Dog Allergies

There is no doubt the mother’s first milk is very helpful to develop the immune system and digestive system.
According to research, colostrum helps to eliminate allergy symptoms from the dog.
Commonly colostrum provides antibodies to reduce allergens.
Keep one thing in your mind colostrum in dogs only used during seasonal and environmental allergies.
How much colostrum your dogs need?
You can use it daily for the first month until your dog gets relief from allergy symptoms.
We can get Colostrum in two forms in powder form or in a capsule it works when you give in empty stomach.
Your dog will like to eat colostrum with yogurt.
You need to give one capsule twice a day to a small dog and two capsules for large dogs.

Nettles helps to resolve dog food allergies

Nettles are herbs for pets helps to resolve dog food allergies.
This is a plant which stimulates the body parts to protect their self from allergy symptoms
Nettles have some effect of quercetin, which boosts antibodies to reduce allergy effects.

FAQS

How Much Nettles Dogs requires?

You can use nettles for your dog allergies by making tea or premade tincture.
A dog requires 2 to 10 drops per 10lbs; also, it depends on the weight of the dog.
Keep one thing in your mind wear gloves while taking nettles.

Good Food for Allergic Dog?

The following is a selection of more commercially available prescription foods from your vet, Canine Hydrolyzed Protein Small Dog Dry Food. Hill’s Prescription Diet d/d Canine Potato & Venison Formula Purina Pro Plan FOCUS Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Rice Formula.

How do I choose dog food for allergies?

Grain allergies or intolerances have been reported in certain dogs. Grain-free dog food is the ideal choice if this is the case for your dog. Since processed dog food frequently contains grain, opting for raw or other alternative foods may help support your dog’s allergy or intolerance.

Conclusion

Dog food allergy is not dangerous, we can resolve it by proper medication, and by following some precautionary measures.
Keep in your mind always take opinion from your veterinary doctor for your pet to avoid dangerous disease.
Ultimately, ensuring that our canine companions receive a balanced and safe diet is crucial for their overall health and well-being. By staying vigilant and educated about potential allergens and being willing to adapt dietary choices.
Pet owners can help prevent allergic reactions and promote optimal health for their beloved pets. In this journey of managing dog food allergies, compassion, attention, and collaboration with veterinary experts will lead to healthier, happier dogs and stronger bonds between pets and their owners.