Hypoallergenic diets what is that?
Allergies in dogs are always expressed through the skin and felt through itching.
So if your pet has recurring diarrhea, itchy skin, rough coat, persistent ears, or anal glands, you're probably looking at an unwanted food reaction (AFR).
The terms 'allergy' and 'hypersensitivity' describe an immunological response to food allergens that subsequently occur in the form of rashes, hot spots, perennial itching, vomiting, diarrhea.
Dogs with food allergies are usually allergic to proteins, which come from animal or plant-based ingredients of the diet.
The causes of food allergies
Food allergy symptoms often start when dogs are young (before one year old), but can develop at any point in their lifespan. However, developing food allergies in dogs takes time. The main cause of a dog's food allergy may be due to the pet having eaten offensive ingredients for quite some time before symptoms develop. Wheat remains the primary source of such dietary allergies.
The most common symptoms
Allergic dogs will itch from scratching, biting, chewing, or licking their skin. These conditions can lead to red, irritated areas prone to bacterial infections. Bacterial skin infections in dogs appear red, inflamed, which can lead to scaly skin, scabs, and painful lesions. Other symptoms also include swelling and redness in the mouth and throat, which can make it difficult for your dog to breathe and swallow food.
Elimination is the way
If your vet detects food allergy in your dog, he may recommend an elimination diet to isolate allergen in the pet's food. This means feeding a diet that does not contain any ingredient from the previous food. Pet treats should also be avoided during this time. Veterinarians suggest keeping your dog on the elimination diet for up to three months to see if the clinical symptoms of the food allergy disappear.
The goodness of hypoallergenic diets
'Hypo' means low / reduced / lower than normal, so when it comes to the term 'hypoallergenic' on pet food, it means the food is less likely to cause an allergic reaction because it has few, if any, general ingredients or allergens that pets to respond to. A hypoallergenic diet is usually free from dairy and wheat. Any hypoallergenic diet should be given for a minimum of 4-6 weeks to see the initial response and then continue. Protein sources such as salmon, turkey, tuna and venison are called hypoallergenic protein sources. Fresh fruits and vegetables and a corrected dosage of pre-biotic herbs and antioxidants add goodness to hypoallergenic diets.
Choose the best
You can choose a hypoallergenic diet for your pet in consultation with your vet. Some options are turkey and salmon for young puppies of all breeds from the first month of life up to 18 months, salmon and chicken for all adult breeds. A good diet always plays a vital role, the life of your furry dog depends on three aspects, with nutrition and environmental interactions being the main pillars. And do not leave behind hygiene.