How Do I Know If My Dog Has Food Allergies
There are a variety of symptoms that may indicate that your dog has food allergies, the most common of which are itching, skin irritation, and gastrointestinal problems. Consult with your pets veterinarian if you suspect your dog has a food allergy. Theyll work with you to pinpoint the specific ingredient that your dog is having an adverse reaction to, typically by implementing an elimination diet.
Switching Dog Food For A Sensitive Pup
Its always wise to transition your dog from one dog food to another in a slow, gradual manner, but it is especially important to do so for dogs that do not digest well. Abruptly changing such a dogs food is just begging for additional problems, so make sure to take it slow.
Most veterinarians recommendstarting by giving your dog a bowl of food containing about 80% to 90% of their old food, and 10% to 20% of their new dog food. Increase the percentage of new dog food to about 30% to 40% on the next day, while reducing the quantity of the old dog food to about 60% to 70%.
Continue in this same manner until you are providing your dog with 100% of the new food the whole process should take about 5-7 days.
Not all dogs will a sensitive stomach will suffer gastrointestinal upset from a new dog food, and it may even start to produce positive results very quickly. In such cases, it may make sense to accelerate the pace of the switch. Youll just have to use your best judgment.
What Ingredients Should I Look For With The Best Dog Foods For Allergies
While switching foods to a more novel protein may not solve your dogs allergy problems, it can be a huge step toward helping them live a healthier, less itchy life!
If you do decide to switch your dogs food, you must do it slowly to avoid GI issues. Food switches are best when you extend them out over a week or so. Youll start with 75% of your pets current food and 25% of the new food, and increase the ratio of new food by 25% every few days if your dog is adjusting well.
Here are the five proteins that are the least likely to trigger allergy symptoms while still maintaining a flavor that your dog is interested in. If possible, try to stick with a single protein source to minimize potential allergen exposure.
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Food Allergy Vs Food Intolerance
Before you start the search for safer dog food, you need to understand whether your baby has an allergy or intolerance. They are different.
- Intolerance Intolerance is when your dogs digestive system is unable to digest an ingredient. Just like us, dogs can have lactose intolerance or gluten intolerance. In case of intolerance, your dog will have a problem every time they eat that ingredient. The reaction is usually indigestion, diarrhea, vomiting, and flatulence.
- Allergies Allergies are immune system-related. It happens when the immune system identifies an item has harmful and releases antibodies to deal with it. The symptoms vary from rashes to respiratory disorders.
Who Is Dog Food For Allergies For
If your dog suffers from allergies, you may be wondering if theres a special diet that can help to ease their symptoms.
Unfortunately, there is no one miracle food that will work for all dogs with allergies.
However, there are certain ingredients that are known to be problematic for dogs with allergies, and avoiding these ingredients can often help to improve your pets symptoms.
Common allergens include wheat, corn, soy, and chicken, so dog foods that are free from these ingredients may be a good option for allergic dogs. You may also want to try hypoallergenic dog food, which is specifically designed for dogs with allergies.
Ultimately, finding the right food for your dog will require some trial and error. However, with a little patience, you should be able to find food that helps to alleviate your dogs allergies.
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Blue Buffalo Basics Duck & Potato
Grain-free, limited-ingredient duck-based food
This recipe features duck as the single animal protein source and relies on potatoes, peas, and pumpkin for carbohydrates, leaving out grains with gluten that can trigger allergies.
About: Blue Buffalo Basics Duck & Potato is a grain-free, limited-ingredient dog food designed to help alleviate your dogs allergies through the use of a shorter, less complex ingredient list.
This Blue Buffalo formula features duck as the single animal protein source, which means its perfect for dogs allergic to more common proteins like beef, chicken, fish, or lamb.
This dog food relies on potatoes, peas and pumpkin for carbohydrates, leaving out grains with gluten that are more liable to cause allergy issues with dogs.
Blue Buffalo Basics Duck & Potato doesnt contain chicken by-product meals, corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors, or preservatives.
PROS
The food is created from a limited number of ingredients, and those that it does contain are rarely the source of allergies. The single-protein source of duck makes it a great choice for an elimination diet.
CONS
This dog food is fairly expensive, so it might be difficult to maintain this diet outside of an elimination diet phase.
Deboned Duck, Potatoes, Pea Starch, Peas, Pea Protein…,
Zignature Duck Lid Formula Grain
This grain-free formula is made with a limited list of ingredients, including a novel source of high-quality animal protein: duck. Packed with nutritious ingredients and supplemented for balanced nutrition, this recipe is highly digestible and completely free from corn, wheat, soy, and artificial additives.
Zignature Duck LID Formula Grain-Free Canned Dog Food
This duck-based dog food is grain-free and made with a limited-ingredient hypoallergenic formula.
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Does My Dog Have A Food Allergy
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Many dog foods on the market make claims about being good for allergies, but how well do these claims hold up? How common are dog food allergies? And is hypoallergenic dog food right for your dog? To learn the truth about food allergies in dogs and what hypoallergenic dog food really means, keep reading.
Best Low Calorie Option: Royal Canin Hypoallergenic Moderate Calorie
Searching for hypoallergenic dog food brands that wont make your pooch pile on the pounds? Say hello to Royal Canin.
This hypoallergenic feed for adult dogs comes highly recommended for overweight canines – particularly those with a sensitive stomach. It contains easy-to-digest hydrolysed soya protein, meaning it is far less likely to send your pooch’s immune response into high alert.
It has a moderate calorie content to help maintain your pooch’s waistline, and is formulated with various nutrients and added phosphorus to help support skin health and kidney function.
As this one’s a bit more specialist, it’s recommended to have a chat with your vet before dishing it up to your dog.
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Purina Pro Plan Focus Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Rice
Purina Pro Plan Focus Salmon & Rice Entrée Classic has a single source of protein for easy digestion. This makes it easier to provide dogs with nourishment while avoiding certain meats and protein sources. It also contains rice, potato protein, carrots, and vitamins and minerals for sufficient energy and overall health.
- More sensitive stomach canned dog food reviews: Read opinions of other pet owners
Ingredients: Water Sufficient for Processing, Salmon, Rice, Fish, Potato Protein, Corn Oil, Carrots, Inulin, Potassium Chloride, Carrageenan, Locust Bean Gum, Xanthan Gum, Guar Gum, Tricalcium Phosphate, Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Niacin, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Potassium Iodide, Folic Acid, Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Biotin, Sodium Selenite
This canned wet dog food has been proven many times to be quite effective in solving GI and skin issues in dogs. Some dogs that were fed with Hills Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin still had occasional throwing up episodes with that food. Fortunately, their pet owners found Purina Pro Plan Focus Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Rice and were quite successful with the results. Indeed, different formulas for different dogs.
Nulo Small Breed Freestyle Limited
PetListed Verdict:
Featuring a single protein, Nulo small breed freestyle is available in either a turkey or salmon recipe, and is made without most common allergens. The brand also boasts a patented probiotic to promote digestive health. Multiple bag sizes are available if youd like to test out the food before making an investment.
Key Features:
- Ingredients include essential vitamins and minerals
- Added information about dog allergies included
- Suitable for dogs of all life stages
Cons:
- Very expensive. At only 2 pounds of food per bag, some customers are saying this brand is better as a treat rather than a full meal
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Go Solutions Carnivore Grain
If your dog is a true meat-lover, this hypoallergenic food is for him. Go! Solutions Carnivore Grain-Free Chicken Turkey + Duck recipe is a drool-worthy protein-rich, grain-free food that your pup is sure to love. At 85% protein, this food offers chicken, turkey, duck, and salmon!
This kibble has been specially formulated to keep your dog’s muscles lean and strong. Feeding this food will give your pup plenty of energy, along with healthy skin and coat.
Go! Solutions Carnivore Grain-Free Chicken Turkey + Duck contains added prebiotics and probiotics along with antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables to support immune function. Like most high-quality foods, this recipe contains no artificial preservatives or by-product meals.
First five ingredients: Chicken meal, deboned chicken, deboned turkey, duck meal and turkey meal
Best for: Adult dogs
Price: $69.99 for 16-lb bag
When Do Dogs Develop Allergies
No matter the case, dog food allergies can manifest at any point in your pups life.
You may, for example, feed your dog chicken-based food for most of her life, only to discover that at some point, she begins exhibiting signs of an allergy to the food. And because the proteins contained in chicken are very similar to those in turkey, she may become allergic to all varieties of poultry!
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Telltale Signs Your Dog May Have A Food Allergy :
If the symptoms occur at a very young agetypically, puppies younger than age 1 dont experience environmental allergies
If the symptoms arent tied to a seasonal change or dont change in different parts of the country
If the reaction doesnt respond to steroids
If your dog has both skin and gastrointestinal symptoms
What Are Symptoms Of Food Allergies In Dogs
If your dog is experiencing a food allergy, they may exhibit any of the most common symptoms:
- Runny or goopy eyes
- Impulsive licking of irritated areas
- Chronic ear infections
Its important to note that these symptoms can also be associated with other issues and may not be caused by allergies. Always see your veterinarian for an accurate diagnosis and treatment options.
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Best Dog Food For Allergies Overall: Wag Dry Dog Food
If youre looking for a dog food for allergies that is formulated with high-quality, nutritious ingredients, Wag Dry Dog Food is our top choice. What makes this line of dog food so eye-catching is that it not only has no added grains, but also has no added corn or wheat. Speaking of being free of ingredients that can potentially affect your dogs health, youll be interested to learn that its also free from added artificial colors, flavors, and chemical preservatives to boot.
Already intrigued to give it a try? You can get 40% off your first purchase for a limited time!
Each of the five tasty flavor options available are also made with real meat, poultry or fish as the number one ingredient. You can choose from lamb, beef, salmon, turkey, and chicken . Whichever one you pick, you can rest assured that your dog will get the energy they need to remain active, despite any food or skin sensitivities. Each of the adult options offer 35% protein, while the puppy option offers 36%.
This dog food is formulated with the help of veterinarians and all ingredients are either made in the US or high quality ingredients from around the world. Its overall rating is a solid 4.2 stars and with more than 5,100 customer reviews on Amazon to support it, there are plenty of reviews to build your confidence in this purchase.
Wag Dry Dog Food Key Features
Pet Food Of The Year Award
Glycemic Research Institute has awarded Orijen another Pet Food of the Year award for 2012! The institute, based in Washington D.C, also does clinical investigations for our government.
A note about high-protein diets: Use caution for the daily needs according to your dog’s weight. Remember to read the instructions on the label for the recommended amount.
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Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Ha Chicken Flavor
Is your pup allergic to most common proteins used in dog food? If so, treat your canine to Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets HA Chicken Flavor. This food is made with hydrolyzed protein, which is protein that’s less likely to cause an adverse food reaction. Hydrolyzed protein is also highly digestible, which means no more upset, sensitive stomach.
Aside from the novel protein, Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets HA Chicken Flavor contains corn starch, which is a scientifically proven low allergen carbohydrate. Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets HA Chicken Flavor is chicken flavored, so your pup is sure to enjoy every meal.
This formula is suitable for puppies and adult dogs, as it provides complete nutrition for all life stages.
First five ingredients: Corn starch, hydrolyzed soy protein isolate, partially hydrogenated canola oil preserved with TBHQ, coconut oil and powdered cellulose
Best for: All life stages
Price: $103.99 for 25-lb bag
How Will I Know Which Food Is Best For My Dog
Finding the best food for your dog is really a matter of trial and error. Theres no one fits all answer for this question. A food that works for one dog may not be good for the next one.
Factors to consider in choosing a food include the cost, your vets recommendations, and your pets reaction to the food. A good starting place is to find a food with totally different ingredients than the food your dog was eating when the issue started.
If youre unable to do that, the next best thing is to select a food with a new protein and a limited number of ingredients. That way, if your dog continues to have issues, it becomes easier to compare the few new ingredients to those in the previous food. If you find any ingredients are in both, youll then have your suspect list for which item your dog is reacting to. You can also buy food formulated for certain breeds, such as dog food for golden retrievers.
It may also be a good idea to evaluate the treats youre giving your dog. Sometimes all natural dog treats still can have ingredients you wouldnt necessarily want to give your dog. Finding treats specifically made for dogs with allergies or other healthy dog treat options are a good starting point.
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Dog Food Allergy Treatment
Dog food allergy treatment boils down to one underlying principle: identify foods your dog is allergic to and avoid feeding him those. Thats why the elimination diet and trial period is so essential, says Dr. Shmalberg, as its the only way to identify which foods, and food proteins, a dog can tolerate and which he cant. Now, if its a food intolerance rather than an allergy , a food trial is still helpful, but a simple change of diet can be just as effective. A diet with a different composition from the one currently being fed is often enough to improve symptoms, Dr. Shmalberg explains.
Aside from that, there are a few other tactics that come up in dealing with food allergies and intolerances. Heres a brief overview, plus considerations, pros, and cons for each.
Dog Food Hack Adding Water To Dry Dog Food
If you add too much water to dry dog food, it will not only cause diarrhea, but it will also damage your dogs stomach lining. The best way to avoid this problem is to mix the dry food with warm water before feeding it to your dog. This will ensure that the food gets wet enough so that it doesnt clump together and form lumps.
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Food Allergies Vs Food Intolerance
It’s also important to note the difference between an allergy and an intolerance. If your dog is unable to tolerate a certain type of food, such as lactose, this means he lacks the digestive enzyme necessary to properly digest that food, and gastrointestinal problems, such as vomiting and diarrhea, may result. An allergy, on the other hand, is an immune response. When your dog comes into contact with something he’s allergic to, his immune system goes into overdrive attacking the allergen, resulting in skin problems, itching, or hair loss. If your dog is suffering from a food intolerance rather than a food allergy, then hypoallergenic dog food is unlikely to help. We recommend seeing your veterinarian to get the best possible solution for your pet.
Is It Safe For Dogs To Eat Brown Rice
Yes, its definitely safe. Brown rice can be especially helpful for dogs with diabetes because it has a lower glycemic index than white rice. While healthier nutritionally, brown rice is a bit tougher for our furry friends to digest due to the seed coat that is still present in this variety.
Be sure to watch how much rice your dog takes in daily because it can cause your pet to put on weight just like it can for us.
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