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Dog Food Allergies
Dog food allergies are the third most common source of itching and
scratching in dogs of all ages. Unlike allergies to other things in
the environment, such as fleas and airborne irritants, dog food
allergies are not seasonal. Your dog will have been exposed to the
allergen frequently in order to become allergic and so often allergic
reactions to food are most noticed in dogs that have been eating the
same
food for at least two years.
Common Irritants
- Chicken
- Milk
- Eggs
- Soy
- Fish
- Beef
- Pork
- Horse Meat
- Grains
- Potatoes
- Dietary Additives
- Wheat
- Barley
- Oats
- Rye
- Lactose
Common Symptoms
- Severe Itching
- Small Red Bumps
- Pustules
- Raised Patches of Skin
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Noticeably Increased Bowel Movements
*** Rashes typically involve the ears, feet, backs of the legs and
underside of the body. Many dogs start with just a red, moist rash in
their ears. ***
Treatment
To treat a dog for dog food allergies a hypoallergic diet is created (a
diet that has very few ingredients) from analyzing the contents of your
dog's current food and providing alternatives to the major proteins,
grains and starches your dog has been eating. The test diet is
recommended to be continued for a 12 week period. All chews, treats
and supplements (such as vitamins, flea and heartworm) are also stopped during the testing time-frame.
Commercial Hypoallergenic Foods
There are many commerically manufactured hypoallergenic dog foods
created for the purpose of limiting the food products that your dog is
exposed to so that the allergin can be properly identified. Some of
these foods require a prescription from your vet, others can be bought
over the counter.
Presciption Brands and Costs:
- Purina Veterinary Diets HA (Hypoallergenic) 32lbs retails around $80.00
- Royal Canin Hypoallergenic HP19 (32lbs retails for around $90.00)
- Iams Veterinary Formulas Skin and Coat Response (30lbs retails for around $70.00)
- Hill's Prescription Diet d/d Dog Food (30lbs retails for around $90.00)
Non-prescription Brands and Costs:
- Wellness Simple Food Solutions (26lbs retails for around $48.00)
- California Natural Lowfat Rice and Lamb Meal (30lbs retails for around $45.00)
- Eagle Pack Holistic Select Duck & Oatmeal Formula (30lbs retails for around $53.00)
- Natural Balance Sweet Potato and Venison Formula (28lbs retails for around $56.00)
Testing with Home-Made Hypoallergenic Food
Although commercial foods are easier, they still contain more
ingredients than would a home prepared testing food. Here is an
easy recipe for testing your dog for dog food allergies that you can
prepare at home (keep in mind that this is a test and you will be
moving your dog to food with more vitamin and mineral content later on,
(the point of the test is to eliminate contact with a possible irritant
and therefore pin down which ingredient your dog is reacting to).
Choose One Protein and One Starch from the Options Below and Feed for 12 Weeks:
1/4 -1/3 Pound Raw Weight Protein, Cooked (Lamb, Salmon, Duck, Rabbit or Venison)
2 -3 Cups Starch (3 cups potatoes or sweet potatoes boiled with skin on or 2 Cups white rice or brown rice cooked)
2 Teaspoons Omega 3 Rich Fat (Sunflower or Canola Oil)
***Supports the Daily Caloric Needs of a 20lb Adult Dog***
Return
From Dog Food Allergies back to the Canine Allergies Page
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