Food for Dogs With Allergies and Liver Problems

Healthy nutrition is important for a dog to have a long life.

Allergies in dogs can be caused by numerous sources such as food, mold and seasonal allergies. Allergy symptoms can vary, depending on the dog. Liver disease in dogs may be affected by other underlying factors such as a secondary illness, possibly diet-related. Understanding proper diets for both allergies and liver problems will give your dog needed nutritional support and enhance the overall health of the dog.

Diet for Food Allergies

If food allergies are suspected, attempt to find the allergen food source. Testing a different food may solve the problem. It may take some time for the symptoms to be relieved and a number of foods may be tried in succession. Food allergies account for 10 to 20 percent of all allergies in dogs. Allergies often stem from multiple sources.

Food Allergies or Food Intolerance

Allergy symptoms in dogs included scratching, biting the irritated area, licking paws and recurrent yeast infections in the ears. Allergic reactions may be a combination of food, other outside allergens or medicine. Food intolerance causes vomiting and diarrhea rather than the typical allergic response.

Dog Food Ingredients to Avoid

Grains, soy, corn and wheat gluten are common food allergens in dogs. Although these ingredients are frequently found in many commercial brands of dog food, there are commercial products that are free of these ingredients. Proteins such as beef, chicken or other meat may be alternated because allergic reactions to a particular protein may develop. Another option is to make food for your dog. Rice is often used with a protein source because it is generally tolerated well in dogs. However, it is important to know what human foods to avoid giving your dog. Vitamin supplements (made for dogs) enhance nutrient value in dogs on limited diets.

Human Foods to Avoid

There are some human foods that dogs should never be fed. This includes, but is not limited to, onions, garlic, chocolate, grapes, yeast dough, nuts, mushrooms and Xylitol (an artificial sweetener). These foods can cause a variety of severe health problems that may not be readily diagnosed.

Diets For Dogs With Liver Disease

Dogs with liver disease may require a diet lower in protein or protein in combination with a carbohydrate. According to veterinarians Mieke H.G. Leistra, Peter J. Markwell and Ton Willemse (2001), diets in either catfish and rice, venison and rice or chicken and rice may sustain dogs with certain types of liver disease.

Warning

Symptoms of an allergic reaction or a liver problem may mimic an unknown condition. If the symptoms seem typical of a food allergy and food trials were ineffective, consult your veterinarian. Although treatment of allergies and liver problems may require medical care beyond diet alone, proper nutrition plays an important role in maintaining a dog's health.

References

• Pet Education
• Allergic Pet: What's Behind Your Dog's Allergies?
• Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association: Evaluation of selected-protein-source diets for management of dogs with adverse reactions to foods