Because every dog is unique, it's sometimes very difficult to
determine what causes food-related allergies and what doesn't.
Common pet food culprits include wheat, corn and soy. Various
proteins also create their share of problems in certain dogs.
I was shocked to learn that some dogs are allergic to chicken,
while I know from first-hand experience that my Jack Russell
Terrier Lucy used to be allergic to beef.
If excessive itching and scratching are the problems, that may
simply be the lack of Omega 3,6 and 9 fatty acids in your dog's
diet that's making their skin and coat dry. Winter indoor
heating may also be exacerbating the condition. Adding simple
food additives to your dog's food may be the key without
switching diets. Supplements like Mrs. Allen's Shed Stop,
Flaxseed Oil, Pet Botanics Skin & Coat supplement, Royal Coat
from Ark Naturals or Health & Shine from Dr. Harvey's are all
viable solutions for supplementing your dog's diet with the
needed Omegas that dog's and cats need to lubricate their skin
and coats.
Excessive and compulsive foot licking, or chewing and biting
other parts of the body, are generally a sign that allergies are
to blame.
Assuming it's food allergies and not environmental, many vets and
pet nutritionists recommend substituting a protein source that
your dog doesn't normally eat. Lamb is often used for this
purpose, because it's not as common a dog food ingredient. Lamb,
in and of itself, is not "non-allergic", but it's less common
than chicken and beef so it enables you to introduce something
new into your dog's diet, in effect, starting with a clean slate.
Some vets sell expensive "allergy free formulas" but there are
ways to figure this out on your own and a lot less expensively.
Increasingly, pet owners who have dogs with food allergies are
feeding various pet food mixes like Dr. Harvey's, Solid Gold
Holistique Blendz or The Honest Kitchen's FORCE formula, which is
grain free, or Sojourner Farms' new grain free Europa formula.
Mixes, while a bit more work, allow you to more closely control
what your dog is eating by beginning with a good "base" that
contains the proper nutrients and vitamins especially formulated
for dogs. Then, you can experiment by introducing your own
protein sources (whether raw or cooked) and seeing how your dog
reacts over the next few days.
Because The Honest Kitchen FORCE Formula is grain free but
chicken-based, I would stick to the Dr. Harveys or the Europa
which have no protein or grain sources. The Solid Gold Holistique
Blendz formula is also a good choice but that already contains
fish protein. Because fish-based protein is an unlikely protein
source for your dog to begin with, it's unlikely that it will
cause allergy problems now -- same theory with the lamb or any
other uncommon protein like venison or buffalo or rabbit. If
later you find that chicken is ok, I would give The Honest
Kitchen FORCE Formula a second look, too.
Beginning with one of these neutral, grain-free formulas, try
adding chicken for a week. If that goes well, than your dog is
probably ok with chicken. Then try beef. Then lamb. Try, fish,
too. If that goes well, than it was probably one or more of the
grains.
Now a picture is starting to form. Your dog's allergies have
improved with a grain free diet that includes certain proteins.
As we mentioned before, the point of introducing a different
protein source to test your dog's tolerance is because if your
dog is suffering some type of food-related reaction, common sense
tells you it's something she's already eating. Can't be having
reactions to something she never had yet, right?
Please note that when switching a dog's food, do it gradually
over 5 to 6 days. Begin a 4 to 1 ration, old to new food, than 3
to 2 on day 2, than half and half on day 3, than 2 to 3 on day 4
and 1 to 4 on day 5. Day six, you're switched over completely.
Than the real allergy testing can begin in earnest by sticking
with the new protein source for a week and than introducing a new
one every week taking note of your dog's reaction or, hopefully,
lack of one.
As you've probably figured out by now, there's no one answer
or "Silver Bullet" that will miraculously solve all your dog's
allergy problems overnight. You have to break the cycle by
moving your dog to a neutral, grain-free food and begin
experimenting with different proteins. Once you find a protein
or combination of proteins that work, try slowly introducing
grain formulas back into the diet to see if there's a reaction
or not. Using this gradual, common sense method combined with
a good quality dog food should have your dog on the road to a
happy, itch-free life.
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