Natural Dog Food for Allergies
According to Pet Education, food allergies represent 10 percent of all types of allergies in dogs. Although dogs suffer sensitivities from a variety of foods, the most common include beef, dairy products, chicken, lamb, fish, chicken eggs, corn, wheat and soy. Unfortunately, a number of commercially produced dog food contain one or more of these ingredients. The Puppy Dog Place says 70 percent of food allergies appear after the dog consumes the same food for over two years. For these reasons, veterinarians generally advise pet owners of dogs with food allergies to avoid the food known to cause the food allergy. When the sensitivity isn’t immediately known, veterinarians recommend switching the dog to a high-quality natural dog food made with ingredients not otherwise found in most commercial dog foods, or a homemade diet to reduce the risk of an allergic reaction. Several high-quality natural food brands use venison, rabbit or salmon as their main protein, not typically found in commercial dog foods. In addition, natural dog foods contain fewer chemical additives and byproducts—known allergy triggers—compared to commercial dog foods. Of course, switching to a natural food won’t guarantee your dog is allergy symptom free, especially if the natural dog food includes an irritant; however, it’s another option.
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About Natural Dog Food
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The key to selecting a high-quality natural dog food for a dog with allergies is as straightforward as finding a dog food made with ingredients that don’t contain irritants. Vet Info says dog foods made with “human grade” ingredients or organic dog foods, which don’t contain pesticides, are good options. In general, pet owners should look for a natural dog food with a formula of 40 percent protein, 50 percent vegetables and 10 percent carbohydrates.
Natural Foods to Feed Your Dog
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Whether you choose a commercial natural food brand or a homemade diet, feed your dog quality ingredients. Proteins such as turkey, fish or liver make good alternatives for dogs that can’t tolerate chicken or beef. Sweet potatoes, spinach, apples, cranberries and/or blueberries provide your dog essential vitamins and minerals. Complex carbohydrates, such as barley, brown rice and rolled oats also give your dog nutrients to keep it healthy.
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Foods to Avoid
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When the food allergen is known, don’t feed it to your dog. Avoidance is the best way to prevent your dog from experiencing allergy symptoms.
In addition, you want to avoid dog food brands made with byproducts and preservatives, such as BHT, BHA and Ethoxquin—harmful chemicals that can trigger an allergic reaction in some dogs. The better premium natural dog foods don’t contain synthetic vitamins and/or chemical additives or unnecessary fillers, such as corn, soy and wheat.
Stay away from foods harmful to dogs, such as grapes, citrus, onions, garlic and walnuts.
Read the Label
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Before feeding your dog a commercially produced dog food, read the label to confirm its ingredients. Just because the manufacturer markets the product as a natural dog food, it’s not always the case. Vet Info states manufacturers commonly use raw ingredients that cost them less, and sometimes these ingredients, such as beef and chicken, represent the dog’s main allergy irritant. It’s also possible for some natural dog brands to contain fillers and preservatives—ingredients unhealthy for a canine allergy sufferer.
Where to Find Natural Dog Food Brands
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Smaller pet specialty stores generally offer customers a wider selection of natural dog food brands than chain pet stores. In addition, certain online pet retailers, such as Doctor Fosters and Smith, provide a selection of natural dog food brands and post the food’s ingredients online to make it easy for the customer to review them. Some veterinary practices sell specially formulated natural pet foods as well.
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