If you’ve noticed your dog is excessively itching, scratching, or just acting oddly then a food allergy may be the culprit. Some of the most common symptoms of a food allergy in dogs is foot licking, chewing, or biting parts of the body. Since each dog is unique, which ingredients the dog is allergic to will vary, making it difficult to determine which ingredient the dog is allergic to.
The most common dog food allergies are wheat, corn, and soy. Although it is more uncommon, proteins can cause allergy problems in dogs. Proteins include ingredients such as chicken, beef, or lamb. Just because you’re dog is acting oddly recently, food allergies may not be the problem. Before investing in a new dog food try checking to see if he or she is getting their daily omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids. Some weather conditions in the winter and dry indoors can cause their coat to dry out easily, leading to excessive itching and scratching. To fix this problem you could simply invest in a supplement that provides more omegas for your dogs coat such as Pet Botanics Skin and Coat, Royal Coat, or Mrs. Allen’s Shed Stop. If this isn’t fixing your dogs pain then it is best to move onto a dry food for dog allergies. Our article on the best dry dog food is also helpful in this regard.
If you go to the vets they may offer you an expensive allergy free dog food, but there are other ways you can acquire a good allergy food without breaking your wallet. Many people these days are providing their dog with a mix of different dry food to reach a nutritional value their pet needs, without the hazard of what they’re allergic to. Some of the most popular mixes include Solid Gold Holistic Blends and Sojourner Farms New Grain Free Europa Formula. Mixes of dry dog food are an excellent source for your dog, but you have to keep a close eye not to give them the wrong ingredients. The Solid Gold Holistic Blends has fish protein in it, but no grain sources. The best mixed food is said to be Grain Free Europa Formula, because it contains no protein or grain sources.
Just look at the list of popular ingredients, and make sure it doesn’t include the wheat or soy your dog doesn’t need. After giving your dog a mixed blend for a few days you can add in some protein, which includes raw or cooked chicken, lamb, or beef. The first recommended ingredient to add to the dry food is chicken for just a week. If that doesn’t work then try beef, followed by lamb, and then fish. Try each of them for a week, and you’ll notice when your dog stops the odd behavior then starts it up again. This is how you can find out what their allergies are.
One of the best brands on the market for dry dog food allergies is Holistic. If your dog has a chicken allergy you should check out their Pinnacle Holistic Chicken Dry Formula. This is a allergen-free dry dog food, with chicken for protein and contains a balance of grains, vegetables, and probiotics. One of the best dry dog foods recommended by vets is the Canine ULTRA Allergen-Free by Hill’s, the popular producer of Science Diet. Several people have reported seeing results from their dogs in just weeks after switching to this food. This food is formulated with the Hydrolyzed Protein System by Hill’s, which are a group of proteins that have a low chance of causing an allergic reaction. It doesn’t have any animal proteins, which are one of the most common allergies. Their blend of dry food includes carbohydrates, fats, and omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. Plus it includes antioxidants which help control the death rate of cells, allowing for a better immune system and skin barrier functions. One of the best foods is also by Hill’s named Canine Low Allergen.
If you’re looking for another food, you can try Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredients Diets Sweet Potato and Bison Dry Dog Food, which got a five star rating. This food contains sweet potatoes and fresh bison, both which have a very low rate of allergic reaction. The dog food is a rich blend of carbohydrates and proteins, with no wheat, barley, rice, corn, or any other grains. It also has canola oil and omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, so you won’t have to worry about your dogs coat drying out. The best part of this food is that it has a high chance of finally relieving your dog of his or her allergy symptoms, so no more itching and upset stomachs.
Keep in mind that when you’re transitioning your dog to a new food you have to do it slowly over the course of six days. On the first days you should add in the new food so it is just a fourth of the food, then as they days go by add in more and more until the old food is no longer blended in.
