Snapshot: Food allergies in dogs are very common these days. But then how do you understand whether your dog is free from food allergies or not? And which food will best in such a situation? Let us find that out.
Do you see your dog scratching and itching throughout the day? Is your dog suffering from poor quality of coat and frequent infection in the ears? You may be trying to treat your dog with a different variety of food products without knowing that it might be allergic. It is thus very important to take such matters seriously.
As something like this might turn into a serious food allergy and it might lead to more problems that become difficult to solve.
It is highly recommended to see a vet in such a case scenario. But before that know what it means and how it occurs and answers to many other questions related to the food allergy of dog. So, give a reading to the article below to get an overall idea about all these issues.
The first section of the article provides the information regarding what exactly is a food allergy and then we will be moving on to the causes and methods to cure the allergy. Further in the article, we will also be discussing which food is best for the dog who has a food allergy and which food is to be avoided. So, be quick and read the article.
What exactly is a food allergy?
The food allergies in the dogs are different from that of food intolerance. Food intolerance results from poor digestion like that of lactose intolerance. Dogs as well as people with lactose intolerance either have a low level or completely missing the digestive enzyme lactase of the milk.
The allergies of the food in the dog are over-response by the immune system of the dog to invading protein. In the situation of the allergy food, the protein is contained in the food of your dog.
The proteins are very much present in a major part of the food which the dog of yours eats. While most people do recognise the fact that meats are the source of protein but then there also are proteins that are present in vegetables and grains.
Any of these could become a potential cause of the food allergy in your dog. So, one has to be careful while feeding his or her dog.
The gastrointestinal system of the dog protects the dog from potential allergies or allergens every day. Around 70% of the immune system of the entire body is mainly centred inside the gastrointestinal tract. Whenever the dog of yours eats the meal, the food which eats first gets digested inside the stomach.
At first, the big pieces of food get broken down into small pieces through the acid of the stomach, and then the enzymes, as well as the stomach acid together, work to break complex structures of protein down into the smaller structures.
These partially digested pieces of food moves then to the small intestine where it is further broken down and then been observed why body why are special cells. These special cells act as welcoming hostesses to the amino acids as well as bouncers for the amino acids. When the whole protein gets absorbed in the intestine, instead of breaking down, the symptoms of the food allergy becomes visible.
What are the signs and symptoms of food allergy?
Having a dog with allergy issues could be frustrating for you as well as your dog. But then how do you exactly understand whether your dog has a food allergy or not. What are the signs and symptoms that you should check to know whether your dog is free from allergy or not? The article below is to help you understand the signs and symptoms that you should know about.
Allergy in general means:
- Having itchy skin
- Recording infection in the ear
- And the non-stop scratching over the face, paws, and ears.
The vet of yours might prescribe the seasonal dose such as Claritin and Benadryl, but then you might see that the itching does not stop, it persists. You may then feed more of omegas for moisturizing his skin and wait to see the results, but nothing helps. The seasonal allergies, however, do not last this long, do they?
The signs that your dog is having food allergies include the following:
- Chronic infection of the ear
If the dog of yours is having a chronic infection of the ears, it might be a sign of food allergy. The example includes head shaking or persistent scratching over the ears and others. Then, be quick to consult the doctor regarding the same.
- Bronze, brown, or red nail beds
You could observe the signs of food allergy by looking at the nails of the dog. You may look at the base of the dog’s nail to check the same. If it is red in colour or bloody looking, then it is a sign of inflammatory response of immune. If you see your dog scratching and licking them again and again, it is a sign of a food allergy.
- Bronzing around lips
The same is the case with bronzing around the lips. If you see your dog has bronze colouring around the lips, it is a sign of food allergy. Itchiness is another reason that your dog is suffering from a food allergy.
- Watery eyes
Apart from the above factors if the eyes of your dog have become watery. Then do not take it lightly, do consult the doctor as soon as possible as this is a major sign of having a food allergy.
Now, let us move on to the next section where you would get to know why exactly does something like food allergy happen to occur in the dog. Or in simple terms, what exactly are the causes of the food allergy?
What are the causes of it?
The dogs with food allergies typically are allergic to the protein that comes directly from the plant-based ingredients or the animals in the diet. When the dog eats these ingredients the protein breakdown into small pieces like molecules which the immune system of the dog misidentifies as the potential threat.
Wheat dairy beef chickens are the most common food leading to food allergies in dogs. The development of these food allergies does take a lot of time. So, it could be assumed that your dog might have been consuming the offending ingredient for a long time.
There are many reasons why your dog might have a food allergy. A few of them have been enlisted below:
- The first and foremost is the type of food that the dog eats could be the culprit behind the allergic reactions. The owners might at times overlook it when the dog scratches the ears or the skin. But, it should be given serious attention as this might be a sign of food.
- You might think that this itching or the scratching might be because of the environmental factor and might overlook it. But be serious about the simple signs next time onwards.
- It is seen that many of the dogs with food allergies also have environmental allergies with similar kinds of signs and symptoms. The food allergy in the dogs is quite a serious matter as it might cause not just digestive problems such as diarrhea and vomiting but also several behavioral problems and other skin-related issues.
- Another most common type of food allergens includes proteins. The proteins could also be one of the major factors in contributing to the food allergy to your dog especially dairy products, lamb, chicken eggs, chicken, beef, gluten from the wheat, or soy.
So, whenever your pet, or particularly your dog eats the food which contains any of these substances then the antibody in the dog’s system reacts with antigens. This leads to food allergies which you could see through the signs and symptoms in the behavior of your dog.
Now, as you might have understood why exactly it happens, let us move on to what types of food should be avoided in such a situation.
What are the types of food that should be avoided?
If you want to know- What food is best for dogs with allergies? Then keep reading the article. If your dog is suffering from a food allergy then make sure you follow the measures properly. Certain categories of food should be avoided and certain food should be given. A few of the food which should be strictly avoided in such situations have been mentioned below:
- Beef
The proteins are the main source of good allergy in dogs. If you feed your dog with the same food for years then, it is very obvious he might develop allergies or intolerance towards that food. Beef is among the common ingredient that a lot of pet foods have. And this might lead to allergies in dogs.
- Dairy products
Another source of allergies is dairy products. Some dogs might have problems digesting the lactose. But then this is intolerance and not the actual allergy. Lactose intolerance might lead to diarrhea gas or even vomiting. But the main point here is that a true allergy to dairy products might lead to the above symptoms as well.
So, it is pretty hard to find out if the dog yours is suffering from intolerance or allergy. But one important point of difference is that the allergy of the dairy product might manifest skin itchiness or some related symptoms, while the lactose intolerance mainly is about digestion.
- Wheat
There are several misconceptions in regards to the food containing carbohydrates especially grains. But then it is more common to have allergies in dogs from meat rather than grains. Though, some dogs might have allergic reactions against the wheat as well. It is recommended to check with the pet nutritionist for your vet about the grains.
- Eggs
The allergy against the egg might mean that the immune system of your dog overreacts to proteins that are present in egg yolk. But, fortunately, it is comparatively easy for avoiding eggs. So, do ensure that the food you feed your dog, does not contain any egg or egg products.
- Chicken
The chicken might also be the reason for the allergy in your dog. And the same kinds of rules apply for the chicken as well as they apply for lamb and beef. Just because the chicken is plain and old does not, however, mean that it might not cause any allergic reaction to your dog. So, be sure about everything that you feed your dog with.
Apart from the above food, one should also avoid giving Lamb, rice, sweet potato, or any soy products to the dogs if they are having a food allergy. Now, let us move on to the food that one should feed the dog having a food allergy.
The best food for the dog with allergies
As you are aware of the food that should be avoided in case of food allergy, we can now shift our attention towards the food that should be given in such a situation. A few of the best foods for dogs having food allergies have been mentioned below.
- Brothers complete ultra-premium dog food
This particular food avoids the ingredients which cause allergies in the dog. It includes the goat as the main protein. The brand tries to promote balanced nutrition and healthy weight along with probiotics for gut health.
- The Nulo Freestyle Small Breed
Featuring a single protein this brand of food is available without the common allergens it also boasts the patented probiotics for promoting digestive health. The brand also provides the food packet in different sizes, so that you could test the food before making a big investment.
- Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient Diet
The brand Blue Buffalo provides the food with a blend of vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals to support the immune system of the dog. The best part about the product is that it is available in lamb and duck recipes as well.
- Lucy Formula for Life
This is yet another type of food which is considered as best to give to the dogs having food allergy it is a great choice to ensure that your dog gets fewer allergens this particular brand also includes the antioxidants in the products so to support the immune system.
Apart from the above, you could feed your dog with products of Wellness and Purina Pro Plan as well. But then the most important question which would have occupied your mind is if you could somehow cure the food allergy and prevent it to occur. Do not worry! the next section of the article will answer your question.
How to cure food allergies in dog?
The best way out for treating the allergies in the dog is by avoiding the allergens and the cause of the allergy. But then this might not be possible at every moment. The treatment of the allergy depends upon the type of allergy your dog is suffering from.
For instance, if your dog is having a flea allergy, the best way would be to change the diet. If your dog is having a severe allergy or allergic reactions, then the best method is to take him to a veterinary hospital as soon as possible.
But if you are looking for a home remedy for treating the allergies of your dog then a change in the lifestyle might also help to relieve this allergy. All you could do is to avoid feeding him those categories of food which are leading to allergy.
If you have been giving the same type of food for several years, your dog might get intolerant of the food. So, in such a situation a change in the diet might help the dog to cure the food allergy.
Apart from the above you can also help your dog by feeding him the best food that is available for the dogs with food allergy, avoid the allergens and then check if this brings the change and if it is giving positive result but, if the problem still pertains, it is highly recommended to visit the veteran or an expert as soon as possible to avoid complications.
Well, we hope the article was of great help to you and that we were able to solve all your queries regarding food allergies and the ways to cure them. But one thing to always keep in mind is to visit the vet in case of severe complications. In such a situation do not delay visiting the vet to consult and understand the severity of the allergy of your dog.
