Dog Allergies and Food Intolerance

There has to be a distinction made between food allergies and intolerance. Allergies will have symptoms such as itching and skin problems associated with canine allergies. Food intolerance can cause diarrhea and vomiting, but not a typical allergic response. Fortunately, intolerance and food allergies can be avoided by following a diet that excludes harmful agents.
The best solution for a dog which is suffering from itching is brushing the coat and brushing it daily.  Most dog skin factors that are irritating are composed of pollen, dust, knots in the fur or dead skin cells that are destroying your dog’s fur.  Some studies have shown that certain ingredients in the food  are likely to cause allergies.   The most common food for puppies that can create allergies is:  beef, dairy, chicken, lamb, fish, eggs, corn, wheat and soy.   As you can see, these foods are usually found in the food for puppies.   This correlation is not coincidental.  While some proteins may be slightly different, many proteins are similar and can lead to the appearance of an allergy.
Food allergy symptoms are similar to allergies that occur in dogs and cats. The primary symptom is itchy skin, especially in the zone of the face, legs and ears.  Symptoms may include chronic and recurrent ear infections, hair loss, excessive scratching, and skin infections.  These diseases respond to antibiotics, but recur after stopping treatment.  It is difficult to distinguish a dog suffering from food allergy compared to one who suffers from skin allergies.  However there are some clues that show that there is a skin allergy in play  such as recurrent ear infections,  severe skin problems (for young dogs),  symptoms that occur in winter and lasts throughout the whole year, and acute itching that does  not respond to treatment with steroids.
Diagnosing food allergies is direct however, because many other problems can cause similar symptoms and in many cases like that, the animals suffer from multiple other health problems  not only of allergies.  It is very important that all problems, for example the allergies to flea bites and the intestinal bacterial infections, to be identified and treated before a food allergy diagnosis.   Once all other causes have been determined and treated, it is the time for testing for food allergies.  Such a test is feeding the animal with a new source of protein and carbohydrates (which the animal has not eaten it before) for a period of at least 12 weeks.  For example: rabbit and rice, venison and potatoes.   In addition, there are special diets that have broken down proteins and carbohydrates at the molecular level so small so not to trigger allergic reactions.   Dog food  prepared at home is often used, too.   Regardless of the diets used, it must be the only thing the animal eats for 12 weeks with no snacks, medicines and spices or flavored plastic toys.  If you notice a reduction or disappearance of symptoms, then  you may have found the problem food. The only way to identify  a food allergy is to test this way.
You should take in consideration the fact that animals can become allergic to  foods  they have been fed for a long time.  If symptoms return, is advisable to consult a veterinarian.

Dog Allergies and Skin Problems

Dog lovers must know that there are a lot of skin allergies their dogs have to deal with. In this article I am going to talk a bit about dog skin allergies and what you can do about it.
If you own a dog you have to be sure you are willing to take care of it, properly. Many people are not able to take care of their dogs. Don’t buy a dog if you do not have the money for it’s shot’s, because it’s going to suffer. Only buy a dog if you are able to treat it right. Let me tell you some of the most common skin allergies in dogs that you may have to deal with.

Dogs can have allergies because of flea bites. If your dog is whining, then don’t wait any longer and do something about. You also have to know that in the saliva of a flea, there are more than 10 antigens and every one of them can produce an allergic reaction to your dog. Also, although medicine is available, flea bites can be a big problem.

One other thing that you can do in order to prevent some flea bites is to buy flea shampoos and also put a protective collar on him or her. This could help reduce the number of flea bites and the future complications.
In the case you don’t know what to do and your veterinary is not helping you, it’s time to find a new vet.

One other big problem is the food you give to your dog. Food can cause allergies in many dogs. In this case the first thing you can do is to switch to raw food immediately and go with your dog to veterinary. Also, be careful with grains in the food because most of the dogs are not allowed to eat them. Grains from dog food can cause allergies too. Take into consideration that dogs need to eat meat and bones, not grains or other vegetables.

Red and irritated skin is a common side effect to allergies. If your dog presents such symptoms, then you have to know that there is a problem with him or her.

Regarding food, you can buy food for dogs online. There are many foods that will reduce the allergic reactions that dogs get. Read the labels and do your homework online to make the choice of foods for your dog.