Dog Food Allergies: Dealing With A Dog Food Allergies?

Dealing With A Dog Food Allergies?

Your Pet's Medicine Chest - Medications To Keep On-Hand
We all know that good food, a loving home and plenty of
exercise will go a long way in giving your dog andcomplete article

Just as humans allergies can show up as a sneeze or rash, your dog's allergies can manifest as itchiness -- or even ear infections. In fact, if your dog's allergic to his food, it can cause him to scratch himself constantly, even with no obvious parasite problem.

Dog allergies rarely get solved with medicine, so the best we can do for our four-footed friends is focus on prevention. Providing the right type of food is essential to stopping your dog's scratching habit.

Many people like to share their food with their dogs or let them help "clean up" the kitchen after a meal. Little do they know, their dogs just may not be able to take the tasty food we love so much, and some breeds (like the greyhound) are extremely sensitive. Even common foods like cheese, beef sausage and tuna may cause allergic reactions in some dogs. So it's best to let dogs enjoy dog food and not human food, even though they clearly adore and want what we're eating!

Narrowing Down the Problem

The Demand For Luxury Dog Beds
A pet can be as important a member of the family as a child to some owners, and making sure they sleep well iscontinue

To determine the exact ingredients your dog is allergic to, try an elimination diet. Although powerful, it also requires patience. In fact, the elimination diet can call for eliminating specific food for up to 12 weeks before you'll notice the effects. And if you still haven't found the right (and wrong) ingredients, you'll have to repeat the process all over again.

So is there an alternative to the lengthy elimination diet' Yes -- give your dog a brand or type of food he's never eaten before. But simply changing to a new brand of dog food might not be enough to eliminate his food allergies, since many brands contain similar ingredients. Instead, study the existing ingredients your dog is eating to determine which types of protein source he hasn't been exposed to. Then, hunt for a dog food that doesn't contain any of the ingredients you saw listed. For example, there are many brands of dog food that contains unusual protein sources such as rabbit or venison -- great for testing allergic reactions to other, more common proteins.

Perhaps the best way for you to get control of dog's allergies is to whip up your own dog food. That way, you'll know exactly what he's getting and what he isn't -- something that's extremely hard to tell from reading the back of a dog food bag. Making your own food is especially helpful in elimination diets. To start, combine a portion of rice with baby food and lamb -- so long as your dog isn't already eating lamb and possibly displaying a reaction to it.

Keeping Your Dog Safe In The Car
Summer is coming and more and more people are putting the tops down on their convertibles, letting their dogs get freshread more

Dog food allergies are a special condition that can be frustrating and take patience to solve. Since allergic reactions don't disappear overnight, you'll need lots of time and thoughtfulness to help your dog overcome this problem -- but his goofy smile and those scratch-free days ahead will probably make it all worth it.

About the Author: Blake Kritzberg is proprietor of Poodle-oo: Fashion for Toy Dogs. Stop by for toy dog couture and home decor, free toy dog postcards and the Toy Dog Blog. http://www.poodle-oo.com/

Featured Articles

Dog Behavior Problems: Help! My Dog Is A Nuisance When He Misbehaves!

Dog Doors Dog And Owner Reprieve

Starting A Home-Based Pet Related Business

Dog Behavior Training: Methods Of Working With A Shy Dog

Dog Shock Collars: Teaching Your Dog Basic Obedience And Breaking Bad Habits

Decorating For The Cat Owner - How To Protect Your Possessions

Your Pet's Medicine Chest - Medications To Keep On-Hand

What Dog Owners Need To Know About Dog Crate Training

The Most Important Steps For Finding A Dog Breeder

Does Your Dog Need Puppy Prozac?

Analysis Of Cat Behavior

The Grave Of Gelert

Greyhound Adoption Great Dogs, Great Cause

What About A Newfoundland Dog

Canine Eclampsia, Or Milk Fever In Dogs

General Information, Caring For & Breeding Silkworms

Learn more about Dog Food Allergies.

View All Articles

Recent News Articles About Dog Food Allergies

Veterinary Q&A: Food allergies

Dr. Stephen White, a professor of dermatology at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, answers this week's questions about food allergies. ...

Holistic vet purchases share of raw dog food business

Dr. Judy Jasek, a local, prominent holistic vet and owner of the Belleview Animal Clinic in Englewood, is the new owner of Redbud's Raw Premium Dog Food. Jasek purchased the line of Colorado-made, ra ...

Pawgevity: Locally Sourced Pet Food

Feeding natural and raw food to pets is not a new idea, but it's catching on more and more as pet owners embrace the holistic side of animal health care. ...

Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics Fills Cupid's Quiver with 10 Valentine Tips

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Planning to celebrate the most romantic day of the year with your food-allergic sweetheart? Or is it the pollen, pet or mold allergies that have you worried about asthma symptoms flaring? Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics (AANMA) offers these Cupid-studded tips. ...

For the love of your pet: No magic pill for pet allergies

By John Beck ...

Veterinary Q&A: Liver disease

Dr. Dana Brooks, an internist at Seattle Veterinary Specialists in Kirkland, answers this week's questions. ...

Legal Notices/Disclaimer