Food Allergies & Your Dog

Did you know that the most common foods dogs are allergic to are proteins? Beef, pork, lamb, chicken, corn, and soy are common culprits. Allergic reactions show up within a day of eating the offending food - often within a few hours. Reactions can entail gas attacks, diarrhea, itching and skin problems. So, what do you do when you suspect your dog has a food allergy? You'll have to put your dog on a special diet.

To begin with, use a different protein source. (Did you know that lamb based food was originally introduced as an alternative for dogs allergic to beef and chickan because lamb was very rarely used in dog food?) Try duck, venison, fish or, if you can find it, rabbit.

Also ensure that there is no corn or soy in the food. Look for rice, oatmeal, barley or sweet potatoes. The first food I like to recommend when food allergies are suspected is California Natural Herring & Sweet Potato. The reason I recommend this food is because herring and fish are not often allergens and there is a very small number of ingredients in this food. Thus, limiting possible allergins.

Other foods to consider when food allergies are suspected include, but are not limited to: Avoderm trout & brown rice; Wellness Rice & Duck Formula; Orijen 6 Fresh Fish with Sea Vegetables Dry Dog Food; Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Venison Formula Dry Dog Food; and Eagle Pack Holistic Select Duck & Oatmeal Formula Dry Dog Food.

Whatever food you choose, make sure you read ALL the ingredients. Sometimes you will find a common allergin listed well into the body of these.