Hypoallergenic
Dog Food
Hypoallergenic
dog food is supposed to be less irritating to dogs with
allergies. Although there is no scientific proof that exists
nor official certification from any government authority. The
hypoallergenic term was first used by a cosmetics firm in
1953. Based on the Greek prefix hypo meaning "below normal" or "slightly",
hypoallergenic is a term coined by advertisers and not the
medical community or dietitians.
Many
dogs, just like their human counterparts, are subject to
allergic reaction to something that is normally harmless to
many. Allergies present themselves in dogs as itchy dry skin
and eruptions, commonly on the lower back near the dog's tail
but can occur anywhere.
Some
parts of the body such as inflammation of the ears, upset
stomach and regurgitation, and anus and genitals are also
suspected symptoms. Two common immune disorders that are often
mistaken for allergic reactions are hyperthyroidism and
inflammatory bowel disease. Immune disorders have been traced
to vaccinations, cortisone drugs, and commercial food
ingredients.
Common
food ingredients that can cause an allergic reaction in dogs
are beef, wheat, milk, cheese, eggs, nuts, fruits, tomatoes,
carrots, yeast, and preservatives. I don't know if you noticed
but all of those items are in most commercial dog foods. So
regardless of the claims of any dog food manufacturer, it
usually boils down to determining what items your dog may be
allergic to and finding a dog food with out these items as
ingredients.
A
good way to find out just what may be causing the allergic
reaction is to make some homemade dog food that is known to
have specific items that have no history of causing allergic
reactions. There are two popular recipes that can help you
figure out this puzzle.
The
first one is a turkey and mullet based homemade dog food
recipe:
Ingredients
6
cups of mullet
3 pounds of raw Turkey
2½ tablespoons of bone meal
¼ cup of vegetable oil
Boil
8 cups of water and add the mullet. Cover and simmer for 25
minutes until soft. Add other ingredients and mix well. This
makes enough for 3-5 days for average dog.
The
next one is a rice and lamb mix:
Ingredients
4
cups of brown rice
3 pounds of raw lamb
2½ tablespoons of bone meal
2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
Boil
8 cups of water and add the mullet. Cover and simmer for 40
minutes until soft. Add other ingredients and mix well. This
makes enough for 3-5 days for average dog.
Chances
are your dog will love either one of these recipes. Both of
these recipes will need to be refrigerated and can last up to
4-5 days if properly stored. You could also give daily
multiple vitamins that do not have any preservatives or yeast.
Try the diets for at least 2 weeks to see how your dog reacts
and make sure no other food is provided.
Once
you see that these recipes reduce or eliminate your dogs
allergic reactions, you can then look for a commercial food of
the same ingredients. There are several turkey or lamb based
foods available. Your veterinarian might also have some
suggestions on specific brands based on their content.
But
also consider that it may be something in the dog's environment
(inside and outside), water, or even other animals.
Determining exactly what might be causing the allergic
reaction can be quite a challenge once food is taken out of
the mix.
Feeding
hypoallergenic dog food of some type can be beneficial in
other ways. Many commercial brands of dog food have some nasty
ingredients like food dye, preservatives, and by products as
fillers that have no food value. There are some that may not
even provide the daily nutrition you dog needs to be healthy
or and ingredients that are actually bad for your dog's
health.
Always
read the labels on any dog food and chose one with the better
and more natural ingredients, even the ones labeled
hypoallergenic dog food. Don't let your dog eat cat food or
other animal feed either. The requirements for dogs are quite
different than cats. Cats are more carnivorous in nature of
diet and don't need the vegetables and carbohydrates a dog
does for a healthy diet.
