Hypoallergenic Dog Food

Dog Food and Ear Infections

2011-04-28T23:37:00.000-07:00

Dog Food & Ear Infections

Is your dog scratching her ears? Shaking her head? Does she have a sour, yeasty smell? She could be one of the two out of five dogs who suffer from chronic, recurring ear infections. The cause is often a combination of allergies, bacteria and yeast. One major source of allergies could be the ingredients in your dog's food. What you feed your pet could cause an allergic reaction that inflames his ears, causes him to scratch and creates an infection that is painful, persistent and difficult to treat.

Symptoms
- Dogs and humans share mast cells which release histamine compounds when irritated. Dogs' mast cells are on their skin, so when confronted with an irritant like fleas, pollen, dust or a food allergy, their skin inflames and ears secrete, causing severe itching. When you inspect your dog's ears and find the skin swollen, painful and emitting a yeasty odor, it's time to take her to the veterinarian to find out the cause and get treatment.
Causes Are Complex
- Dogs with long droopy ears are particularly prone to chronic ear infections.
  "The most common ear problem we see in dogs is painful, odorous ear infections caused by a combination of allergies, bacteria, and yeast," says Roger Ross, DVM and author of the website animalpetdoctor. All three must be treated for a cure. He says some 20 percent of canines with chronic recurring ear infections that make dogs miserable and smelly have food allergies. These cause an initial inflammation that when scratched by the dog, allow yeast and bacteria to invade the site. While the ear infection responds to medication, it returns when the treatment is over. A food trial is the best way to find out the cause of your dog's misery.
Dog Food
- Commercial dog food contains a host of ingredients which could cause allergies in dogs. Your dog may be allergic to more than one. Each pet is an individual, so you may have to try more than one hypoallergenic diet food before you find the right one for your dog. Dr. Ross recommends a hypoallergenic food that has therapeutic levels of omega fatty acids to soothe the infected skin. In some cases, your dog could be referred to an allergy specialist for testing and desensitization.
Food Test
- The first thing to do on a therapeutic test diet is to stop feeding your dog any human food, all treats and all edible toys like rawhide or dental treats. His diet should be restricted to hypoallergenic dog food that contains an exotic protein your dog has never eaten and limited artificial preservatives and coloring. This trial could last six weeks and the food cost an extra $20 per month, but keeping a strict regimen will expose the food allergen soonest and relieve canine distress for about 40 percent of dogs, says Dr. Ross. He cautions that new commercial dog foods that claim to be hypoallergenic may not be effective. Simply switching supermarket or pet store brands or buying more expensive food won't work, because they all share similar protein ingredients, he says.
Results
- Allergy-free dogs are happier and healthier.
  About two-fifths of dogs with diet-caused ear infections improve on hypoallergenic food and snacks, says Dr. Ross of the FoxNest Veterinary Hospital in South Carolina. Dog foods using rabbit, salmon or duck protein with potato are often allergy-free. Ear infections should be treated with regular ear cleaning, says Organic Pet Digest.
  One the ears are clear, there are choices. One is to keep feeding the hypoallergenic diet food. Another is the challenge test where dairy, beef, wheat, corn and soy are reintroduced into your dog's diet one at a time, a week at a time, to find the ingredient your pet is sensitive to. Or you could switch to a less expensive brand of nonprescription diet food for pets with sensitive skin. Whichever you choose, you have given your pet relief from painful ear infections.

Hypoallergenic Canine Diet

2011-04-28T23:35:00.000-07:00

Canine food allergies result in skin problems, digestive problems and even respiratory problems. If your dog suffers from food allergies, your veterinarian may recommend a hypoallergenic diet as a method of treatment.

Function
- Hypoallergenic diets are specially formulated to remove specific food allergens from your dog's food in order to eliminate food allergies.
Types
- Hypollergenic diets can be purchased commercially or homemade. Commercial diets are available in canned and kibble forms, in pet stores or from your veterinarian. Homemade food can be made using ingredients from the grocery store.
Effects
- When being fed a hypoallergenic diet, your dog's symptoms normally clear within one to 10 weeks. Symptoms should not reappear as long as the hypoallergenic diet is fed.
Benefits
- Hypoallergenic diets are highly digestible. Some commercially available hypoallergenic diets guarantee your money back if your dog does not like or will not eat the food.
Warning
- It is important not to deviate from your dog's recommended hypoallergenic diet to prevent reoccurances of food allergies. If you dog's condition does not improve or grows worse, contact your veterinarian for further treatment

How to Get a Hypoallergenic Dog

2011-04-28T23:33:00.001-07:00

Face it, people have allergies. Whether you are allergic to everything in the great outdoors, or the dust in your home, you have to find ways to moderate the affects of allergies in your life. If you're an animal lover, yet are allergic to your dogs, then there isn't much you can do, other than find hypoallergenic pets that show a decreased tendency to affect allergies.

Difficulty:: Easy

Instructions

Hairless Dog Breeds
- 1
  Research hairless dog breeds on the Internet. While most hairless breeds are still considered rare, you can often contact their breeders directly. You best chances to acquire a Xoloitzcuintle or Peruvian Incan Orchid is through a professional breeder.
- 2
  Search for rescue organizations that specialize in hairless breeds such as Chinese Crested and American Hairless Terriers.
- 3
  Speak to your local veterinarian. Many veterinarians are heavily involved in the lives of their clients and are aware of upcoming litters of different breeds. They may also be able to put you into contact with individuals that have the breeds of dogs you are looking at, so that you can familiarize yourself with the breed personally, and not just on paper.
Single Coated Dog Breeds
- 1
  Visit your local pet rescue shelter. There are many of the hypoallergenic breeds of dogs which are popular enough to be found in local shelters all over the country. Some of the breeds you might look for are Poodles, Schnauzers, and West Highland White Terriers.
- 2
  Look up breed rescue agencies online. Some of the hypoallergenic single coated breeds are still somewhat rare, so you must talk to the people that are related to their rescue organizations. You will want to look for soft coated Wheaten Terriers, Bedlington Terriers and Bichon Frise.
- 3
  Search online for breeders. Some of your hypoallergenic dog breeds are easiest to find directly from a professional breeder. Breeds to look for include Coton De Tulear, Portuguese Water Dogs and Kerry Blue Terriers.

Hypoallergenic Dog Diet

2011-04-28T23:32:00.000-07:00

Some treats can cause allergies in your dog.

When your dog has allergies, it is much more than an annoyance. There could be itchy skin, oozing sores, bald spots and rashes that bring great discomfort to your dog. A food allergy is the itchiest condition for your dog. Your dog consumes a variety of foods of which the immune system may attack. Inflammation occurs, targeting the gastrointestinal tract and other organ systems, but it is the skin that most often suffers. Putting your dog on a hypoallergenic diet will bring him great comfort, along with a healthier body, skin and coat.

Significance
- According to Marvistavet.com, the classic food allergy signs affecting your dog are itching, chewing and ear infections. The food allergy is one of the itchiest conditions your dog will experience. Many dog foods contain mostly fillers, processed food proteins, colorings and other ingredients that have to be processed through his body. If the immune system cannot recognize what goes in the body, it attacks those foods, causes inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract and other digestive organs.
Diet Types
- According to Petinfo.com, there are three proven diet plans for your dog. The hydrolyzed protein diet is available from your veterinarian. The manufacturer of the diet altered the dietary protein molecules to make them so small that they cannot create an allergic reaction in your dog's immune system.
  The elimination diet consists of new protein and carbohydrate that your dog has never eaten. Good sources of protein can be venison, fish, rabbit or duck. Carbohydrate choices may be sweet potatoes or oats. Feed no treats during this period because ingredients in those treats can cause an allergic reaction.
  You can control a homemade diet. Work with your veterinarian regarding the types of possible foods, including hypoallergenic proteins and carbohydrates, along with vegetables, vitamins and minerals. Your veterinarian may suggest trying one of the hypoallergenic commercial diets, which are formulated for those specific needs, then resorting to a home diet if all else fails.
  With supervision by your veterinarian, you can choose a raw diet consisting of raw meats, bones and organs.
Allergy Foods
- Certain foods that are common in causing allergies are corn, wheat, chicken, most grains and fillers that seem to aggravate the immune system over time. With your dog on a good hypoallergenic diet, make sure to eliminate any other foods.
Considerations
- Hypoallergenic dog foods contain a limited amount of ingredients in order to lessen any allergic reactions. With fewer ingredients, it is easier to pinpoint if your dog is allergic to anything in that food. Many dogs are allergic to certain types of carbohydrates. Some hypoallergenic dog foods contain starches that are safe for dogs. Your veterinarian can offer advice on a proper hypoallergenic diet to fit your dog's needs.
Benefits
- If your dog is experiencing food allergies, finding the source of those foods will bring your dog great relief. His coat and skin will improve, along with his attitude and behavior.

How to Choose a High Protein Dog Food for Dogs With Food Allergies

2011-04-28T23:31:00.000-07:00

You want to feed your dog a premium high-protein dog food because your dog is active. But your dog also has food allergies. Most high-protein dog foods are based on chicken, poultry or other meat that is usually not acceptable for dogs with food allergies. Dogs that have food allergies must eat a food with a novel protein source, that is, a protein source which isn't usually fed to dogs such as certain types of fish, venison or even kangaroo meat. Dogs are often allergic to corn and wheat, which requires a different carbohydrate source such as potatoes, barley or rice.

Difficulty:: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

- 1
  Put your dog on a hypoallergenic diet. There are many prescription diets available through your veterinarian.
- 2
  Look for a high-protein pet food with the same protein and carbohydrate sources if your dog does not show sensitivity to the food after several weeks.
- 3
  Add a small amount of the new food to your dog's current food. Ninety percent of your dog's food should be the old hypoallergenic food and 10 percent should be the new food.
- 4
  Feed the new ratio for two weeks, watching for any signs of sensitivity such as hot spots on the skin, itchy coat or digestive problems.
- 5
  Increase the amount of the new food by 10 percent and decrease the old food by 10 percent, if no health problems appear.
- 6
  Decrease the old food by 10 percent and increase the new food by 10 percent each day until you have completely switched your dog over to its new food.

Hypoallergenic Dry Dog Foods

2011-04-28T23:26:00.001-07:00

Dog food allergies are common and cause things like itchy, irritated skin, hair loss, watery eyes, vomiting and diarrhea. Finding the right hypoallergenic food can sometimes be challenging. There are special dog foods made with limited numbers of natural ingredients and no common allergy causing ingredients such as corn, wheat and soy. Though these dog foods are usually more expensive, they will save you money in the long run on veterinary bills, treatments and medications.

Blue Buffalo
- All Blue Buffalo dog food contains no corn, wheat or soy since so many dogs are allergic to these common cheap filler ingredients. They use only real meat, whole grains, vegetables and even fruits to make their high-quality dog food. In addition, every variety of Blue Buffalo dog food contains LifeSource Bits, which are a mixture of vitamin, minerals and antioxidants to help strengthen your dog's immune system.
Royal Canin
- Royal Canin uses all natural ingredients, vitamins, minerals and no fillers. They have a specific Hypoallergenic HP dog food that is a complete and balanced hydrolyzed protein diet. The diet is specifically formulated to assist in the diagnosis and management of adverse food reactions.
Solid Gold
- Solid Gold offers dry dog food with bison or lamb in them. Going with more exotic proteins such as these increases your chances of finding a suitable food for your dog. Their food has all natural ingredients in them along with rice, some fruits, and minerals and vitamins, which also help with your dog's growth and coat.
Canidae
- Canidae also has hypoallergenic dog food. They offer things like turkey, chicken, lamb and fish with brown rice, herbs, vitamins, minerals, probiotics and other natural ingredients that are all good for your dog. They do not use corn, wheat, soy, grain fractions or other fillers.
Eagle Pack
- Eagle Pack dog food offers antibiotic-free lamb, pork and fish meal for a hypoallergenic protein. Their natural dog food also has whole grains, fruit orchard and herb garden ingredients, fibers, purified fats, quality oils and fatty acids.
Hills Science Diet
- Hills Science Diet also offers a line of dog foods called Prescription formula diets, which are made specifically for dogs with food allergies and skin conditions.
Nature's Recipe
- Nature's Recipe offers dog food with carefully selected grains, protein sources, fat sources and antioxidants. They have canine allergy formulas to provide the nutritional needs of your dog and help alleviate and prevent allergic reactions to food.
Tip
- There are also many other brands of hypoallergenic dog foods on the market. The best thing to do to find the right hypoallergenic food for your dog is to check with a veterinarian, your dog food supplier and to check and compare the ingredients on the bags. It may take time trying out different formulas to figure out what ingredients your dog is allergic to and what brand works best for him.

How to Buy Hypoallergenic Dog Food

2011-04-28T21:21:00.001-07:00

Buy Hypoallergenic Dog Food

Hypoallergenic dog food is fairly new to the mainstream dog market. Although it has been around for years, only recently have the run-of-the-mill pet owners started regularly purchasing it. More and more dogs are being diagnosed with food allergies. When gastrointestinal conditions and skin irritations used to go undiagnosed, now allergies are to blame. This article will help you find the right kind of hypoallergenic dog food for your canine friend.

Difficulty:: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Telephone

- 1
  Search for food that contains pork instead of beef or chicken. You might be able to save a bit of money if you purchase regular pork food as opposed to switching automatically to hypoallergenic dog food. It is extremely rare for a dog to be allergic to pork.
- 2
  Call your local veterinarian and ask if they can recommend any particular brand of hypoallergenic dog food. Vets see many more cases of dog food allergies than you, so they have a good idea of the brands that work and the brands that don't. In fact, most veterinarian offices carry hypoallergenic dog food for your convenience.
- 3
  Have your veterinarian perform several tests on your dog to determine what foods are actually allergy causing in your pet. There are many extremely expensive hypoallergenic dog food brands that address many allergic issues. You can, perhaps, save money by purchasing the dog food that only addresses your dog's individual allergies.

Hypoallergenic Dog Food Diet

2011-04-28T21:19:00.000-07:00

Hypoallergenic dog food diets offer a solution for dogs suffering from food allergies.

Much like their human friends, dogs often suffer from the food they eat. Frequent gas, diarrhea, chronic ear infections, bald spots, foot chewing and scratching are some of the symptoms of dog food allergies. Hypoallergenic dog food diets--special diets free from substances likely to trigger canine allergies--can relieve your pet's allergy symptoms. These diets are available through veterinary clinics, stores or homemade in your own kitchen.

Eliminate Other Causes
- Symptoms of food allergies can sometimes be linked to other health conditions. Like humans, dogs react to allergens in the air. Allergic symptoms include bad coat texture, itching, chewing and ear infections. Many of these are also symptoms of thyroid disease. A visit with your vet for blood and skin tests is a sound first step.
New Diet
- After determining your dog has some kind of food allergy, finding a diet he can safely eat becomes a challenge. Our canine companions can be allergic to many food ingredients used to make popular dog foods. The most common food ingredients that cause allergies in dogs include corn, beef, chicken, dairy products, eggs, soy wheat and yeast.
Process of Elimination
- Feeding your pet an elimination diet offers new sources of protein and carbohydrates that he has never eaten before. Through trial and error, you may be able to figure out which ingredients set off allergic reactions. Ask your vet to recommend brands of hypoallergenic dog food to try. Start out by trying types without beef and corn and check for signs of improvement. After a month or so--if that does not work--choose another food absent other common allergens until the symptoms cease. Keep your pet off any food scraps or treats while going through this testing process.
Homemade and Raw Diets
- If you have the time and passion, try mixing up your own home-cooked rations for your allergic dog. A typical mix contains hypoallergenic protein and carbohydrate sources, with vegetables, vitamins and minerals. Some dog owners find a raw diet of raw meat, organs and bones solves the pet's problems. Work with your vet to ensure that your home mix or raw diet is correct and balanced for your dog.
Some available hypoallergenic products.
- Some examples of hypoallergenic dog foods mentioned on the Love To Know Dogs website include Addiction Pet Food, Health Pro, Hills Prescription Diet, Holistic Blend, Nutro Ultra Holistic and The Honest Kitchen.

Natural Hypoallergenic Dog Food

2011-04-28T21:16:00.000-07:00

Hypoallergenic dog food can alleviate food allergy symptoms

Just like humans, dogs can be allergic to a wide variety of different triggers, including the ingredients in their food. If your dog is suffering from allergies, and is fed a commercial pet food diet, one or more of the ingredients may be the culprit. One solution to this problem is to turn to natural, hypoallergenic dog food for support.

Symptoms
- The most common symptoms associated with food-related allergies will appear in the skin, such as dry or itchy skin, dull coat and irritation. A dog suffering from skin allergies will chew on and itch his irritated skin and coat until he hurts himself, causing a never-ending cycle of healing and re-aggravating the irritations. Many visual cues exist, including hair loss, dry skin, red and irritated skin and open sores on the skin, indicating that a serious problem is afoot.
Solution
- The solution to dog food allergies and the symptoms they cause is a hypoallergenic diet using natural sources of protein and carbohydrates while limiting additives and fillers. The most common proteins used in hypoallergenic dog foods are venison, egg, fish and duck. The most common carbohydrates are rice, peas and potato. Most commercially available hypoallergenic foods contain only one type of carbohydrates and protein per recipe, making it easier to pinpoint the allergy by feeding only hypoallergenic ingredients rather than a mixture of multiple carbohydrates and proteins in the same recipe.
Homemade Dog Food
- Create your own dog food diet as an alternative to commercial dog food products. Follow the same principles as these commercial diets do, and experiment with different carbohydrates and proteins one at a time until you find the right mixture. You can follow one of several different schools of thoughts for homemade dog food, such as processing and cooking the food or feeding a raw diet.
Time Frame
- Feed each type of homemade food you create for a period of two weeks and observe the dog closely to see if anything changes, according to Caroline Tanaka, DVM. If you have successfully eliminated the allergen, your dog's skin will clear up drastically within a two-week period. It may take some time to arrive at the right combination for your dog, but the aforementioned carbohydrates and proteins are generally hypo-allergenic, making them the best bets for the job.
Warning
- Dog treats and some dog toys contain additives, dyes and other substances that may be creating an allergy. In order to completely remove all allergy triggers from your dog's life, you should also examine the treats and toys that you give your dog. There are natural treats and toys that you can buy that severely limit additives and dyes to help create a more hypoallergenic environment. Choose organic treats with the fewest number of ingredients possible, and aim for natural ingredient lists free of dyes or additive names you are unfamiliar with.

Homemade Hypoallergenic Dog Food

2011-04-28T21:13:00.001-07:00

Dogs may develop allergies for many reasons. Food allergies can cause allergic symptoms such as dry skin, licking, vomiting or asthma. Some common food allergies include grains, vegetables, beef, pork, chicken, milk, whey, eggs, soy, wheat and preservatives. Many times the dog is not allergic to the meat source itself but the cooked or byproduct (secondary) version. In addition, the additives in commercial dog food can cause allergic reactions. Preparing a hypoallergenic food at home can help eliminate allergens from the diet and is commonly referred to as an elimination diet.

Benefits of Raw
- Starting a dog on a homemade hypoallergenic or elimination diet may seem overwhelming at first. However, switching from commercial dog food to homemade raw food will provide your dog with a multitude of health benefits. Aside from allergy relief, a raw-fed dog should experience cleaner teeth, shinier coat, smaller stools and improved digestion. Although slightly more complicated than pouring processed food into a bowl, raw feeding is really quite simple. A dog's digestive system contains enzymes and a pH level designed to break down and utilize raw meat. However, if the dog has been raised on kibble, a few rules will minimize digestive upset during the transition. A simple rule of thumb is 80 percent meat, 10 percent organ and 10 percent bone. This percentage can be adjusted to the needs of each individual dog.
Making the Transition
- Determine the weight of the dog. Feed 2 to 4 percent of the dog's ideal body weight. A 100-pound dog should consume approximately three pounds. If starting a puppy, offer portions of food three to four times per day. Once the puppy reaches three months, back down to three meals. At six months, many move to two meals and after twelve months, one meal per day. This will vary from puppy to puppy. When transitioning an adult to raw, offer food twice per day, eventually combining both feedings into one. This meal can be offered any time of day.
Elimination
- Start with one protein source for about twelve weeks, such as chicken. Chicken is a very mild protein and one of the best sources used for a dog with food allergies. Smaller dogs may be fed pieces as small as chicken wings. Larger dogs may be fed chicken quarters or even a whole chicken. Most dogs will take to the switch immediately with no further encouragement. If enticement is needed, try slicing into the meat or lightly searing it in the beginning. If allergy testing has revealed chicken as an allergen, start with another protein source, such as pork. In time, chicken may be re-introduced once the reaction to processed chicken has subsided.
Protein Sources
- Introduce a new protein source after about 12 weeks of success with chicken or other initial protein source. Pork is another easily obtainable meat source and a great second step from chicken. After a few weeks on the second type of meat, move onto beef, lamb, duck, turkey, deer, fish or any other meat you can find. Keep in mind, most weight bearing bones of large animals such as the leg bones of deer or cattle are too dense and can break teeth, therefore should not be fed.
Organs
- Ten percent of the diet should consist of organ meat. This includes but is not limited to liver, spleen, lung and kidney. Organ meat does not need to be fed every day or every week, as long as it makes up ten percent of the total diet. Liver can be obtained most anywhere and usually comes frozen. Liver, for some dogs, can cause loose stools and should be added carefully in small amounts. The texture of liver can be offensive to some dogs. Again, if some enticement is necessary, lightly sear the liver to encourage consumption.
Bones
- Feeding bones makes up the last 10 percent of the homemade raw diet. Raw meaty bones are safe and necessary in a raw diet. Uncooked bones will not splinter like cooked bones. Raw meaty bones are essential for removing plaque buildup and keeping teeth clean and healthy. Consumption of bones helps maintain a healthy stool as well. Adjust the amount of bone fed based on the individual dog. If stool is loose, add more bone. If stool seems too hard and chalky, decrease bone.
Omega Fatty Acids
- Fish is not mandatory but is an excellent fatty acid source. Due to high mercury levels in slow growing large fish, it is best to stay with small growing fish like sardines and anchovies. Or stay with Atlantic caught fish like Atlantic Mackerel (high in Omega 3 and B12) or Salmon. Fatty acids, such as Omega 3 can be provided with the addition of fish oil pills. These fatty acids provide natural anti-inflammatory relief from inflammation caused by allergies.

Hypoallergenic Dog Food

Dog Food and Ear Infections

Symptoms

Causes Are Complex

Dog Food

Food Test

Results

Hypoallergenic Canine Diet

Function

Types

Effects

Benefits

Warning

How to Get a Hypoallergenic Dog

Instructions

Hairless Dog Breeds

Single Coated Dog Breeds

Hypoallergenic Dog Diet

Significance

Diet Types

Allergy Foods

Considerations

Benefits

How to Choose a High Protein Dog Food for Dogs With Food Allergies

Instructions

Hypoallergenic Dry Dog Foods

Blue Buffalo

Royal Canin

Solid Gold

Canidae

Eagle Pack

Hills Science Diet

Nature's Recipe

Tip

How to Buy Hypoallergenic Dog Food

Instructions

Hypoallergenic Dog Food Diet

Eliminate Other Causes

New Diet

Process of Elimination

Homemade and Raw Diets

Some available hypoallergenic products.

Natural Hypoallergenic Dog Food

Symptoms

Solution

Homemade Dog Food

Time Frame

Warning

Homemade Hypoallergenic Dog Food

Benefits of Raw

Making the Transition

Elimination

Protein Sources

Organs

Bones

Omega Fatty Acids