Food Allergies in Dogs - Finding the Right Diet
Feeding Options for Dogs with Skin Allergies Related to Food
Apr 26, 2009
Food allergies are a common cause of skin allergies in dogs.
Dogs with food allergies generally tend to be very itchy and may experience excessive hair loss, reddened inflamed skin and even bald spots.
When a dog is suffering from a food allergy, the type of food offered will be a major factor in whether the dog experiences relief from the allergy. However, choosing the proper food for a dog with food allergies can be a daunting task.
Novel Protein Diets for Dogs with Food Allergies
One of the most commonly recommended foods for dogs with food allergies is a novel protein diet. A novel protein diet is basically a diet which contains a protein source which the dog has never eaten before.
Potential novel proteins include:
- fish (such as salmon)
- egg
- duck
- venison
- kangaroo
Lamb was once considered to be a novel protein source, but with many foods now including lamb as a main ingredient, lamb is no longer a novel protein for most dogs
The most helpful information available when choosing a diet for a dog with food allergies would be a list of foods the dog has eaten in the past. Knowing which proteins the allergic dog has already been exposed to can help determine which food to choose for a food trial.
Hydrolyzed Protein Diets for Dogs with Food Allergies
Hydrolyzed protein diets are diets in which the protein source has been synthetically reduced to small fragments. The theory behind feeding a hydrolyzed protein source is that the proteins in the food should be small enough that the allergic dog's immune system will not recognize the protein fragments and will not mount an immune response resulting in an allergy.
In reality, this works well for some dogs but not for all food allergic dogs. The only way to find out whether hydrolyzed proteins will be effective for an individual dog is by performing a feeding trial.
Homemade Meals for Dogs with Food Allergies
When conducting a feeding trial for a dog with a food allergy, many people prefer to prepare the dog's food at home rather than purchasing a commercial hypo-allergenic diet.
Homemade meals should contain a novel protein source which the dog has not eaten previously. Normally, a carbohydrate source such as rice or sweet potato is added to the meal as well. Your veterinarian will be able to provide you with a recipe which can be used temporarily for the length of the feeding trial.
If the feeding trial is successful and the homemade diet is continued, it is crucial to make certain that the diet is properly balanced to provide all the nutrients a dog needs to maintain good health. Improperly formulated homemade diets can produce more health problems than they solve.
Conducting a Feeding Trial for a Dog with Food Allergies
Food allergies in dogs can take a great deal of time to respond to a change in the dog's diet. Feeding trials being conducted for dogs with food allergies need to be continued for an appropriate length of time to determine whether the change in diet will be effective in controlling the food allergy.
Generally, six to eight weeks is recommended as a safe amount of time for a feeding trial. Some dogs may respond well before the end of the six-to-eight week period. However, other dogs may require up to 8 weeks to show an improvement.
When conducting a feeding trial for a dog with food allergies, it is important that the dog does not receive any foods other than the diet being used for the trial. Even small treats and flavored heartworm medications can cause allergic responses in sensitive dogs and can nullify the feeding trial.
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