The German Shepherd Dog is prone to gastro intestinal diseases. Why this is, no one knows for sure. Among some of the diseases that this breed can have is a condition called Inflammatory Bowel Disease or IBD.
IBD is a when one or more sections of the gastrointestinal tract have been invaded with inflammatory cells. Left untreated, this inflammation can cause the intestinal tract to become less efficient at absorbing nutrients from their food. The result can be a dog that loses weight, vomits and has diarrhea. Many times this condition develops slowly and can go on for several months or even years before a real problem presents itself.
There are several types of IBD. These different types affect different parts of the gastro intestinal tract and the different cells that are affecting it. Because there are many different things that can inflame the dog’s intestinal tract, other diseases must be ruled out before a true diagnosis of IBD can be confirmed.
The four different types of IBD are: The most common type is Lympho plasmacytic. The second most common type is Eosinophilic which is also the most severe form of IBD. Food allergy and parasites must be ruled out for the inflammation before a diagnosis of IBD is made. Then there is the rarer form of IBD known as Neutrophilic. Bacterial infection must be ruled out for a proper diagnosis. And lastly another rare form of IBD is Granulomatous. Foreign bodies and fungal infection must be ruled out for this diagnosis.
The cause of IBD is not truly known although genetics, intestinal infections, food and abnormalities of the dog’s immune system can all play a role. The intestines produce a large amount of food and bacterial particles called antigens. It is these antigens that can cause an allergic immune type response. Bottom line, when these inflammatory cells invade the intestines, it interferes with the body’s ability to absorb and digest nutrients.
Some common antigens are proteins and preservatives from the dog’s food, parasites, virus’s and bacteria, and ingested foreign materials (garbage, toys, etc.). These things can start the abnormal immune response and even when the antigen is no longer present, the inflammation continues. When an exact reason cannot be found for the inflammation, this is call idiopathic, or true IBD.
The most common signs to look for are vomiting and diarrhea. Putting the dog on antibiotics and changing his food may help for a short time, but eventually the symptoms return. Usually the signs will slowly progress and then can become severe and sudden as the disease progresses. With IBD, the stomach, colon and small intestines may be involved.
When a dog has stomach inflammation, this is called gastritis. Typical of this condition is loss of appetite and vomiting. The dog may vomit undigested food, partially digested food, a clear or brownish liquid and sometimes a small amount of blood.
When the inflammation is in the small intestines, this is called enteritis. This can cause vomiting, weight loss and diarrhea. The dog may be lethargic and doesn’t look like he’s thriving very well. The diarrhea is usually a large amount and can happen one to three times a day.
When the colon is inflamed, it’s called colitis. This condition causes diarrhea in smaller amounts, but can happen up to ten times a day. The dog many times will strain while defecating and have blood or mucus in his stools. These dogs usually remain active, eat well and don’t lose weight.
Many conditions can cause a dog to vomit and have diarrhea and this can be the most difficult part in diagnosing IBD. After all testing is done which may include, a complete blood count, chemistry panel, urinalysis, fecal examination and culture, ex-rays of the chest and abdomen and sometimes an ultrasound, intestinal parasites, bacterial, viral and fungal infections, dietary allergies, foreign bodies and cancer. To determine intestinal malabsorption, specialized blood tests such as colbalamine and folate are often recommended to determine the severity.
If all tests fail to reveal another disease that’s causing the intestinal malabsorption, then IBD is suspected and a biopsy of the intestines is required to make a definite diagnoses. Once the biopsies are performed, then they are sent to a lab for a microscopic examination. A diagnosis will confirm if the IBD is mild, moderate or severe. This will help your veterinarian determine the best treatment for your dog.
Most dogs will require medication and dietary management to treat their IBD. Highly digestible diets are usually recommended for these types of dogs because nutrients are more easily digested and will reduce the amount of diarrhea. Usually it will take 8 – 12 weeks to see a positive change in the dog. If the dog’ colon is inflamed, then the vet may advise the dog get more fiber in his food.
The medicines that are usually used to treat this condition are: Corticosteroids (steroids, cortisone, and prednisone). These medications help reduce the inflammatory process and inflammation in the intestines. Since steroids can have potentially serious side effects, your vet will usually start at a lower dose until the dog can be helped by dietary measures alone. Another medicine that sometimes can be used is called Metronidazole which is an antibiotic that helps restore the normal balance of intestinal bacteria and has anti-inflammatory properties. Sometimes dogs with more severe IBD may be treated with Azathioprine, chlorambucil and cyclosporine that reduce inflammation by suppressing the immune system. Sometimes your vet will recommend treating the dog that vomits and has diarrhea with an antacid, anti-nausea, and anti-diarrhea medicine.
Although dogs with IBD can be treated and controlled, it is a condition that can not be cured. These dogs will require a strict diet and anti-inflammatory medicines to manage their disease. Unfortunately some dogs will not respond to dietary changes or medications. These severe cases can sometimes lead to intestinal cancer.
If a dog is diagnosed with IBD, it is wise to have your veterinarian check him over a few times a year to make sure the disease has not progressed to a worse condition.
My rating: early diagnosis of symptoms: (4), importance of dietary changes; (4), medical attention: (4)
Showing posts with label holistic dog foods. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holistic dog foods. Show all posts
Friday, October 23, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
ORGANIX DOG FOOD
Recently I had the opportunity to try a dog food that I never heard of before. Because I am always on the look out for dog food products that are natural, holistic or organic, I was delighted to find this product. The ingredient and protein list met my qualifications of the type of food that I like to feed to my dogs.
Organix dog food products are made by a company called Castor and Pollux. They are a leader in innovative, natural and organic products. Because I have written about organic and holistic products before, I was happy to see that these companies’ products met with the USDA natural organic program requirements.
I tried the Organix Canine Formula for adults. It had no corn, no soy, no wheat and no Ethoxyquin! I was very happy to see that it had no ethoxyquin because I also reported about this ingredient several weeks ago. This is what some dog food companies use to preserve their fish ingredients. It is banned from use for human consumption because it is a known cancer producer. So why do dog food companies think it’s perfectly alright to use it on our beloved pets? Cancer is one of the top killers of dogs! Anyway, this company doesn’t use it, so this made me feel more confident about using their product. It is very hard to find a dog food company that doesn't use this ingredient. Just go check out some dog food web sites. How many of them say that they don't use ethoxyquin? Organix's web site says that it doesn't use this ingredient. This is just one more reason they have my vote of confidence.
The Organix formula that I used for my dogs contains organic chicken, fruits and vegetables along with glucosamine and probiotics. The crude protein is 26% while the crude fat is 14%. The first five ingredients are: organic chicken, chicken meal, organic brown rice, organic peas, and organic millet. The kernel is small in size so it was easily digestible. My dogs loved it and their stools were firm and compact. I introduced them to it slowly by mixing it with the food that I currently feed so I wouldn’t have to worry about any tummy upsets.
Many dog food companies are now adding probiotics to their products. I am such a big believer in probiotics for the German Shepherd Dog who is known to have a delicate intestinal tract.
Organix dog food is in the pricey range of canine foods. But if you are of the belief that you get what you pay for, then this is definitely a dog food that you might want to check out. The bottom line is: does your dog like it? Are his stools good? Does he have good energy on the food you’re feeding? Does his coat look healthy and shiny? Is his muscle tone good?
This dog food has been recommended by Whole Dog Journal for the last six years. You can read more about this dog food and the company that produces it at: www.castorpolluxpet.com. From their web site, you’ll be able to find a store in your area that sells their products.
My rating: quality: (4), dogs liking it: (4), stools: (4), price based on many ingredients being organic: (3)
Organix dog food products are made by a company called Castor and Pollux. They are a leader in innovative, natural and organic products. Because I have written about organic and holistic products before, I was happy to see that these companies’ products met with the USDA natural organic program requirements.
I tried the Organix Canine Formula for adults. It had no corn, no soy, no wheat and no Ethoxyquin! I was very happy to see that it had no ethoxyquin because I also reported about this ingredient several weeks ago. This is what some dog food companies use to preserve their fish ingredients. It is banned from use for human consumption because it is a known cancer producer. So why do dog food companies think it’s perfectly alright to use it on our beloved pets? Cancer is one of the top killers of dogs! Anyway, this company doesn’t use it, so this made me feel more confident about using their product. It is very hard to find a dog food company that doesn't use this ingredient. Just go check out some dog food web sites. How many of them say that they don't use ethoxyquin? Organix's web site says that it doesn't use this ingredient. This is just one more reason they have my vote of confidence.
The Organix formula that I used for my dogs contains organic chicken, fruits and vegetables along with glucosamine and probiotics. The crude protein is 26% while the crude fat is 14%. The first five ingredients are: organic chicken, chicken meal, organic brown rice, organic peas, and organic millet. The kernel is small in size so it was easily digestible. My dogs loved it and their stools were firm and compact. I introduced them to it slowly by mixing it with the food that I currently feed so I wouldn’t have to worry about any tummy upsets.
Many dog food companies are now adding probiotics to their products. I am such a big believer in probiotics for the German Shepherd Dog who is known to have a delicate intestinal tract.
Organix dog food is in the pricey range of canine foods. But if you are of the belief that you get what you pay for, then this is definitely a dog food that you might want to check out. The bottom line is: does your dog like it? Are his stools good? Does he have good energy on the food you’re feeding? Does his coat look healthy and shiny? Is his muscle tone good?
This dog food has been recommended by Whole Dog Journal for the last six years. You can read more about this dog food and the company that produces it at: www.castorpolluxpet.com. From their web site, you’ll be able to find a store in your area that sells their products.
My rating: quality: (4), dogs liking it: (4), stools: (4), price based on many ingredients being organic: (3)
Friday, October 9, 2009
THE PICKY EATER - OR WHAT ELSE DO YOU HAVE IN THE REFRIGERATOR?
Nothing is more aggravating for the dog owner than a picky, fussy eater. And why does this happen to be the dog that you have big hopes for in the show ring? By the time you’re just about ready to have a nervous break down switching and trying new foods for “Ms. Priss”, she decides to eat something you give her. FINALLY! Oh, no, no, no…….don’t get too comfortable and feel you’ve finally conquered this food war. Your little darling has other ideas in mind. This new food might have tempted her for awhile, but she’s wondering what else you have hiding in the refrigerator that she can get you to give to her. All it takes for her to accomplish her goal is to……….go off her food AGAIN! You don’t think that they have your number? Oh yeah, they do. Our spoiled rotten dogs are no different then children. They know what works to get them what they want from you.
Unless there is a physical reason like an illness, most dogs are good eaters. It’s something that comes natural to them. They should never be thinking about it. You put the bowl down and they eat. It’s when they are thinking too much about it, that it becomes a problem and a “pain in the arse” dog is created. If he is not sick……then the fussy dog is created. Any dog can have a tummy ache and not feel like eating. Then you need to find out what is causing the problem for him.
Some dogs can be very emotional or very sensitive to their surroundings. Every little thing might bother these kinds of dogs. Any change in their environment can set them off and make them refuse to eat. As we all know, dogs are creatures of habit. That’s why it’s smart not to change their feeding schedule too often. Stick to a routine.
We all have had a favorite dog. This might be the dog that we lavish more affection to. He might be the one that we give lots of treats to, and even the occasional table scrap to. He knows you adore him and sometimes he will milk everything he can get from you because he knows all he has to do his look at you with those “big browns” and you’re going to give in to him. Being the pack leader that the owner needs to be must also extend to feeding the dog. Now some dogs may not like a certain brand of dog food. That’s alright. Once you have found a dog food that he likes, this is the food you should stick with feeding him.
I believe more than anything else, it is we humans who cause some or our dogs to have bad eating habits. If you see your dog walk away from his bowel and not eat his food, the first thing to do is to make sure the dog is not sick. Once your find out that he doesn’t have a medical problem, then you know that the dog is “playing you.” It becomes a battle of wills. If he doesn’t eat, you will add a little of this and a little of that…..anything to get him to eat. If he waits a little longer, maybe next time you’ll add a big old piece of steak to his dinner. This is not a stupid breed that we chose to own. The more we fuss, the more they win their way. Don’t ever think that your dog can’t read you. He can pick up on just about any mood that you are experiencing. If he feels that you get anxious around the time that you have to feed him, he picks up on this mood. Then he may choose not to eat. You get mad. You get frustrated and may tell him, “That’s it. I’ve had it with you. Either you eat your food or you're not getting anything.” Yeah, sure……..until the next time you add something else. Maybe he’ll like that additive better! He’ll wait!
If you make feeding time a big production, then that’s what you’re going to get……a big production. I’ve had dogs who were fussy eaters twice in my lifetime. One was a young male that I was showing to his championship. It was crucial for him to look good out in the ring against tough competition. It was always about a week or two before a big show that he would decide he didn’t want to eat his dinners. Did he pick up my excitement about the up coming shows? Maybe; I don’t know. He decided he wasn’t going to eat and had the attitude that there was nothing I could do to change his mind. I mean I was on my hands and knees with the dog pleading for him to eat. The more fuss that I made with him, the more that he’d turn his head the other way. I reduced myself as the alpha in his eyes by taking his food and shaping it into little meatballs. I’d open up his jaws and shove the meatball in the back of his mouth, then close it and wait for him to swallow it. Sometimes he did and more times than not, he’d hold the food in his mouth and not so politely, spit it out onto the floor. Did he gain any weight? Did he become a better eater? Did he look forward to his dinner? No, no, and again no! I created a monster all in the name of wanting the little darling to eat and get some weight on. Looking back on it, I now realize that eating time wasn’t a pleasant experience for my dog. I’d never put another dog or myself through that again.
My other dog, who tried to pull rank on me around supper time, is one of the girls that I own now. When I first got her, I wanted to show her how much I loved her and I spoiled her. Stupid me; I began to give her treats from the table. Smart her, she liked them better than her dried out dog food. She wasn’t dumb. Given the choice, the people food was always better than the dog food. After throwing away bowl after bowl of expensive dog food, I said enough is enough. I’m not a rich woman and I couldn’t afford to throw out this food. So I’d put her food down. She had 15 – 20 minutes (tops) to eat her dinner. If she walked away from it with her nose up in the air, then she wouldn’t see her second meal that day. She’d go to bed hungry. The next day, I’d offer her a much smaller meal. If she was hungry, she’d eat it. I kept on doing this until she got the idea that she better eat because nothing else was being offered to her. No dog snacks and most certainly no people food. She had a choice, either eat what I gave her or don’t eat at all. A healthy dog won’t starve themselves.
If we keep making special foods for them by adding all sorts of “yummies” to their food, we will create finicky eaters. If they are not given a choice of a menu to choose from, then they will eat whatever it is that you give to them.
Something that I have found that works well with a fussy eater is to feed them in a crate next to another dog who loves to eat. They’ll see the other dog gobbling their food down and many times this will give them an incentive to eat for fear that the other dog will get their dinner.
So before you reach for the Xanax, take control and make feeding time a regular part of your routine and stop giving special attention to the bad eater. He must be made to realize, dinner time is for eating. Any other activity is not acceptable and if he tries to interrupt your rules, he doesn’t get fed. Believe me, he’ll begin to wonder how come his bowl of food isn’t put don’t for him to turn his nose up at anymore. He’ll see you feeding the other dogs and they’re gobbling their food down happily. Perhaps, he’s not getting his that night. Once he knows that you are not going to cave into his “spoiled brat” ways, he will eat his dog food like it was a plate of filet mignon!
My rating: finicky eaters: (1), dealing with them: (1), success rate as long as it’s not medical: (4), happy dog, happy owner: (4)
Unless there is a physical reason like an illness, most dogs are good eaters. It’s something that comes natural to them. They should never be thinking about it. You put the bowl down and they eat. It’s when they are thinking too much about it, that it becomes a problem and a “pain in the arse” dog is created. If he is not sick……then the fussy dog is created. Any dog can have a tummy ache and not feel like eating. Then you need to find out what is causing the problem for him.
Some dogs can be very emotional or very sensitive to their surroundings. Every little thing might bother these kinds of dogs. Any change in their environment can set them off and make them refuse to eat. As we all know, dogs are creatures of habit. That’s why it’s smart not to change their feeding schedule too often. Stick to a routine.
We all have had a favorite dog. This might be the dog that we lavish more affection to. He might be the one that we give lots of treats to, and even the occasional table scrap to. He knows you adore him and sometimes he will milk everything he can get from you because he knows all he has to do his look at you with those “big browns” and you’re going to give in to him. Being the pack leader that the owner needs to be must also extend to feeding the dog. Now some dogs may not like a certain brand of dog food. That’s alright. Once you have found a dog food that he likes, this is the food you should stick with feeding him.
I believe more than anything else, it is we humans who cause some or our dogs to have bad eating habits. If you see your dog walk away from his bowel and not eat his food, the first thing to do is to make sure the dog is not sick. Once your find out that he doesn’t have a medical problem, then you know that the dog is “playing you.” It becomes a battle of wills. If he doesn’t eat, you will add a little of this and a little of that…..anything to get him to eat. If he waits a little longer, maybe next time you’ll add a big old piece of steak to his dinner. This is not a stupid breed that we chose to own. The more we fuss, the more they win their way. Don’t ever think that your dog can’t read you. He can pick up on just about any mood that you are experiencing. If he feels that you get anxious around the time that you have to feed him, he picks up on this mood. Then he may choose not to eat. You get mad. You get frustrated and may tell him, “That’s it. I’ve had it with you. Either you eat your food or you're not getting anything.” Yeah, sure……..until the next time you add something else. Maybe he’ll like that additive better! He’ll wait!
If you make feeding time a big production, then that’s what you’re going to get……a big production. I’ve had dogs who were fussy eaters twice in my lifetime. One was a young male that I was showing to his championship. It was crucial for him to look good out in the ring against tough competition. It was always about a week or two before a big show that he would decide he didn’t want to eat his dinners. Did he pick up my excitement about the up coming shows? Maybe; I don’t know. He decided he wasn’t going to eat and had the attitude that there was nothing I could do to change his mind. I mean I was on my hands and knees with the dog pleading for him to eat. The more fuss that I made with him, the more that he’d turn his head the other way. I reduced myself as the alpha in his eyes by taking his food and shaping it into little meatballs. I’d open up his jaws and shove the meatball in the back of his mouth, then close it and wait for him to swallow it. Sometimes he did and more times than not, he’d hold the food in his mouth and not so politely, spit it out onto the floor. Did he gain any weight? Did he become a better eater? Did he look forward to his dinner? No, no, and again no! I created a monster all in the name of wanting the little darling to eat and get some weight on. Looking back on it, I now realize that eating time wasn’t a pleasant experience for my dog. I’d never put another dog or myself through that again.
My other dog, who tried to pull rank on me around supper time, is one of the girls that I own now. When I first got her, I wanted to show her how much I loved her and I spoiled her. Stupid me; I began to give her treats from the table. Smart her, she liked them better than her dried out dog food. She wasn’t dumb. Given the choice, the people food was always better than the dog food. After throwing away bowl after bowl of expensive dog food, I said enough is enough. I’m not a rich woman and I couldn’t afford to throw out this food. So I’d put her food down. She had 15 – 20 minutes (tops) to eat her dinner. If she walked away from it with her nose up in the air, then she wouldn’t see her second meal that day. She’d go to bed hungry. The next day, I’d offer her a much smaller meal. If she was hungry, she’d eat it. I kept on doing this until she got the idea that she better eat because nothing else was being offered to her. No dog snacks and most certainly no people food. She had a choice, either eat what I gave her or don’t eat at all. A healthy dog won’t starve themselves.
If we keep making special foods for them by adding all sorts of “yummies” to their food, we will create finicky eaters. If they are not given a choice of a menu to choose from, then they will eat whatever it is that you give to them.
Something that I have found that works well with a fussy eater is to feed them in a crate next to another dog who loves to eat. They’ll see the other dog gobbling their food down and many times this will give them an incentive to eat for fear that the other dog will get their dinner.
So before you reach for the Xanax, take control and make feeding time a regular part of your routine and stop giving special attention to the bad eater. He must be made to realize, dinner time is for eating. Any other activity is not acceptable and if he tries to interrupt your rules, he doesn’t get fed. Believe me, he’ll begin to wonder how come his bowl of food isn’t put don’t for him to turn his nose up at anymore. He’ll see you feeding the other dogs and they’re gobbling their food down happily. Perhaps, he’s not getting his that night. Once he knows that you are not going to cave into his “spoiled brat” ways, he will eat his dog food like it was a plate of filet mignon!
My rating: finicky eaters: (1), dealing with them: (1), success rate as long as it’s not medical: (4), happy dog, happy owner: (4)
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
FOOD ALLERGY IN DOGS
When researching for this article, I found it very interesting to learn that food allergies in dogs is very uncommon. Further, it is a condition that is over diagnosed by some veterinarians. According to an article written by a veterinarian, only 10% of dog allergies are food related. Flea and environmental allergies will cause more itchiness and skin problems than a food allergy.
Many times a dog may have food intolerance, but not a true allergy to the food. There is a difference. When a dog has a real allergy to food his symptoms will be severe itching of skin, hives or skin breakouts, etc. Food intolerance on the other hand, may cause the dog to vomit or have diarrhea and does not create a typical allergic reaction. Because of the vomiting and diarrhea, many pet owners and veterinarians will assume the pet has a food allergy.
When a dog has a food allergy, it can strike at any age and may be caused by a protein or carbohydrate in the animal’s food. The things that can trigger a food allergy are beef, dairy products, chicken, wheat, chicken eggs, corn and soy. Many of these ingredients are in most of our dog’s food. These are the foods they are fed day in and day out so they are exposed to these ingredients on a regular basis. However, for a dog to develop a true food allergy they must not only have this chronic exposure, they must also have the genetic profile to develop this allergy.
Although food allergies are not common, adverse food reactions are. However, not all animals will react to certain ingredients in their food. There’s no way to predict who will. Some of the things they may react to are artificial dyes, preservatives and additives, and the gross rendered stuff that some companies add to dog food. That’s why it’s important to try to feed our dogs products that are natural or holistic or a raw diet to avoid some of these unsavory ingredients.
If a dog has a true food allergy, these are some of the symptoms you might notice. He might exhibit itching of the face, feet, and sides of the body, legs and anal area. These dogs also may develop yeast ear or skin infections. They respond well to antibiotics, but once the treatment is stopped, the symptoms return. Another sign of food allergy might be increased bowel movements or soft stools. As a reminder and to point out the difference, a food intolerance may cause vomiting and diarrhea.
The only way to find out if your dog has a food allergy is to perform a food trial with him. Blood work and skin tests are not reliable ways to determine if he has this condition. Although you will get results from these tests, they don’t accurately correlate with food allergies present in the dog. According to this study, it is not recommended by board certified dermatologists at this time.
The only true way to determine if your dog has a food allergy is to do a food trial using unique (novel) protein and carbohydrate foods to avoid possible allergens to which your dog has been previously exposed in order to cleanse their system of potential allergens. This trial period must be conducted for 8 – 12 weeks in order for it to be successful. During this trial period the dog must only eat the prescribed food with nothing else added. That means, no table scraps, no treats, no vitamins, no oils, and no medications such as heartworm preventative.
When the food trial is over, then the offending ingredients must be avoided. On the negative side, your dog may be fine for the next couple of years, but then he may develop a new allergy to something else.
Feeding a dog a raw diet is very beneficial if he has food allergies to preservatives, dyes and artificial additives. Because there are none of these ingredients to worry about with a raw diet, your dog may benefit from this way of feeding. If this is something that is not appealing to you, then going the natural or holistic route would be the next best thing for a dog that is sensitive to the ingredients put into that bag of dog food that we buy.
I think most breeders now are much more aware and educated about reading the ingredient labels on the dog food bags. Advising your pet buyers to continue on the same diet that you feed your dogs is a wise thing to do. Most of the time the new pet owner is receptive to following the diet that you advise him to follow if he wants his puppy to continue to be healthy. Some might consider buying a more expensive brand excessive and may want to feed him a store brand food. It is up to us to try to educate the pet people so they will have less reason to call us all hours of the night when Fido has a diarrhea attack.
My rating: natural or holistic foods: (4), raw foods (4)
Many times a dog may have food intolerance, but not a true allergy to the food. There is a difference. When a dog has a real allergy to food his symptoms will be severe itching of skin, hives or skin breakouts, etc. Food intolerance on the other hand, may cause the dog to vomit or have diarrhea and does not create a typical allergic reaction. Because of the vomiting and diarrhea, many pet owners and veterinarians will assume the pet has a food allergy.
When a dog has a food allergy, it can strike at any age and may be caused by a protein or carbohydrate in the animal’s food. The things that can trigger a food allergy are beef, dairy products, chicken, wheat, chicken eggs, corn and soy. Many of these ingredients are in most of our dog’s food. These are the foods they are fed day in and day out so they are exposed to these ingredients on a regular basis. However, for a dog to develop a true food allergy they must not only have this chronic exposure, they must also have the genetic profile to develop this allergy.
Although food allergies are not common, adverse food reactions are. However, not all animals will react to certain ingredients in their food. There’s no way to predict who will. Some of the things they may react to are artificial dyes, preservatives and additives, and the gross rendered stuff that some companies add to dog food. That’s why it’s important to try to feed our dogs products that are natural or holistic or a raw diet to avoid some of these unsavory ingredients.
If a dog has a true food allergy, these are some of the symptoms you might notice. He might exhibit itching of the face, feet, and sides of the body, legs and anal area. These dogs also may develop yeast ear or skin infections. They respond well to antibiotics, but once the treatment is stopped, the symptoms return. Another sign of food allergy might be increased bowel movements or soft stools. As a reminder and to point out the difference, a food intolerance may cause vomiting and diarrhea.
The only way to find out if your dog has a food allergy is to perform a food trial with him. Blood work and skin tests are not reliable ways to determine if he has this condition. Although you will get results from these tests, they don’t accurately correlate with food allergies present in the dog. According to this study, it is not recommended by board certified dermatologists at this time.
The only true way to determine if your dog has a food allergy is to do a food trial using unique (novel) protein and carbohydrate foods to avoid possible allergens to which your dog has been previously exposed in order to cleanse their system of potential allergens. This trial period must be conducted for 8 – 12 weeks in order for it to be successful. During this trial period the dog must only eat the prescribed food with nothing else added. That means, no table scraps, no treats, no vitamins, no oils, and no medications such as heartworm preventative.
When the food trial is over, then the offending ingredients must be avoided. On the negative side, your dog may be fine for the next couple of years, but then he may develop a new allergy to something else.
Feeding a dog a raw diet is very beneficial if he has food allergies to preservatives, dyes and artificial additives. Because there are none of these ingredients to worry about with a raw diet, your dog may benefit from this way of feeding. If this is something that is not appealing to you, then going the natural or holistic route would be the next best thing for a dog that is sensitive to the ingredients put into that bag of dog food that we buy.
I think most breeders now are much more aware and educated about reading the ingredient labels on the dog food bags. Advising your pet buyers to continue on the same diet that you feed your dogs is a wise thing to do. Most of the time the new pet owner is receptive to following the diet that you advise him to follow if he wants his puppy to continue to be healthy. Some might consider buying a more expensive brand excessive and may want to feed him a store brand food. It is up to us to try to educate the pet people so they will have less reason to call us all hours of the night when Fido has a diarrhea attack.
My rating: natural or holistic foods: (4), raw foods (4)
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