What Is The Best Hypoallergenic Dog Food?

Dog Food Allergies: Know The Best Hypoallergenic Dog Food

What Exactly is a Hypoallergenic Dog Food?

Most people who’ve had dogs, especially those who have allergies, know quite well what hypoallergenic dog food is. But for new pet owners in the world of pet care, we’ve got your back.

Is Zignature Dog Food Hypoallergenic?

Concerned about your dog with allergies and itchy skin? Consider Zignature hypoallergenic dog food.

The word “hypoallergenic” comes from two words. “Hypo” means low or reduced, while allergenic comes from the word “allergen,” a substance that can trigger a response in the immune system. Allergens cause allergic reactions, even in dogs.

If you put the two together, it makes hypo-allergen, which means reduced allergens. So in a sense, hypoallergenic dog food is dog food with fewer food ingredients that may be an allergen to most dogs.

The common food allergens found in dog food are beef, wheat, and dairy. That is why most hypoallergenic dog food in the market is free from these ingredients. For extremely sensitive dogs, there are also grain-free options stripped of all grain ingredients.

If your dog might have food allergy signs, it’s best to look at your current dog food ingredient list. Beef is the most common allergen for dogs. A dog is less likely to be allergic to all types of grain, which is why it is best to look at dog food options that don’t include beef, sometimes even dairy first.

If you’re having problems figuring the specific allergen triggering your dog, you could go for hypoallergenic dog foods that are grain-free or even a limited-ingredient diet.

What Are the Symptoms of Food Allergies?

Suppose you suspect that your dog could be having allergies. Be on the lookout for allergies’ common signs and symptoms. Since these symptoms vary from dog to dog, it’s best to note all of these signs.

Common Food Allergy Symptoms:

• Itching (particularly feet and ears)

• Sneezing

• Diarrhea

• Sensitive Stomach

• Vomiting

Subtle Signs Can Also Be:

• Hyperactivity

• Lack of Energy

• Weight Loss

• Aggression

However, take note that the most common sign is scratching resulting from itchy skin. Your dog might scratch its ears or feet as an allergic reaction to the itching, resulting in skin infections.

These symptoms may be common to allergies in dogs, but these can also be signs and symptoms of other issues. Be mindful that even if you’re aware of your dog’s allergen, you still need to visit your local vet to confirm these suspicions.

Identify allergies with these symptoms:

• Frequent scratching (mostly in ears and paws)

• Itchy Skin

• Chronic Ear Infections

• Hair Loss

• Hot Spots (hot and inflamed areas that your dog repeatedly scratches)

• Skin Infections

• Gastrointestinal Problems (vomiting and diarrhea)

When a dog is suffering from allergies, it’s best to consult a vet to administer the best care that your dog needs. Remember, when you locate the allergen your dog is allergic to, gradually introduce other options that do not contain that allergen to avoid recurring issues.

Easily Done Treatments For Dogs With Allergies

Many options can be explored when treating food allergies in dogs, including medications, allergy diets, and natural remedies that you can try with your canine friends. However, conventional drugs aren’t recommended because they restrain the immune system from fighting other infections. This could lead to even worse conditions other than food allergies.

Allergy diets, on the other hand, aren’t too hot either. This kind of food diet contains more starch, oil, fillers, and hydrolyzed protein, which can be harmful enough to cause further damage to your dog’s overall health and not just allergies.

Meanwhile, pet lovers and experts highly recommend natural therapy remedies. Here are just a few natural remedies you can try at home:

• Aloe Plant Leaves

• Licorice

• Baking Soda

• Nettles

• Quercetin

• Colostrum

• Certain Mushrooms

You can find the recipes and instructions in Dogs Naturally Magazine (https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/allergy-relief-for-dogs-top-ten-remedies/).

How Likely Is It That My Dog Has a Food Allergy?

If you’ve observed your dog to be really itchy or signs like scratching around the paws or ears or even recurring ear infections, there is a big chance that your dog has food allergies.

Food allergies are genetic and are triggered by exposure to allergenic ingredients. Commonly observed allergenic ingredients in dogs are wheat, beef, egg, dairy, chicken, lamb, pork, rabbit, soy, and fish.

How Does An Elimination-Challenge Diet Work?

When you’re unsure of what your dog is allergic to or what condition your dog is experiencing, the practical choice would be to go to a veterinarian to check your furry friend. Although this is a good decision, another way to figure out what’s wrong with your dog is to do an elimination diet.

Elimination diets are done by preparing a diet consisting of fresh protein and a fresh carbohydrate. You must find out what kind of foods your dog has eaten before, make a list, and remember not to include them in the ingredients of this diet. It has to be foods that your dog has not eaten yet. You are eliminating the potential allergens–the foods the dog has eaten already–from the meal they are eating now to see if the reactions stop. Also, make sure that the ingredient you’re using doesn’t have any seasoning or additives in it. The ingredients have to be freshly cooked or boiled.

How is a Food Allergy Diagnosed in Dogs?

There are two ways to diagnose food allergies in dogs, and this is done by doing a food trial using hypoallergenic dog food utilizing novel protein or utilizing hydrolyzed protein.