As pet parents, dog owners should have awareness if their pet is allergic to certain types of food like dairy, egg, wheat, soy and/or even meat such as pork, beef, chicken, lamb, rabbit and/or fish. Actually, a dog can be allergic to more than one type of food, to which pet parents become aware of, only when their dog shows signs of sensitivity to the substances.
In most cases, a dog’s food allergy takes time to develop. This means you may have been feeding your pet with an offending substance for quite some time, without the animal showing any signs of becoming affected. Yet when time passes and your dog starts itching all over even while flea-free, it is a sign that your pet has become allergic to something.
According to dog nutrition experts, about 10% of allergy cases in dogs are triggered by food. Aside from non-seasonal itching, the earliest signs of food allergy include chronic skin and ear infections, as well as excessive flatulence or gassiness.
As the sensitivity develops into full-blown food allergy, serious reactions will be manifested by way of vomiting and diarrhea.
What Causes Food Allergy in Dogs
Genetic predisposition is the most common cause of food allergy in dogs. However, there have been studies that indicate not all predisposition to the problem is genetic.
Puppies that receive antibiotic treatment have potential to develop food allergy as they grow older. Antibiotic medications tend to alter the natural immune system of a young animal’s body because it has not yet attained full development.
As the dog matures and reaches full development, the antibiotics may have caused the development of an immunity protection that has predisposing problems. The immune system will be inclined to misidentify some substances as potential threats. As a result, the animal’s body will react to that substance as an allergen.
Protein as they occur abundantly in most animal meats like pork, beef and chicken, as well as in plant-based dog food, is often misidentified as an allergen.
Duck Meat as Alternative Source of Protein
Most veterinarians recommend duck meat as an alternative source of natural protein for dogs suffering from food allergy to high-protein meats.
Nutrition experts have determined that duck meat is a novel protein that is easier to digest. That being the case, duck meat protein can be easily broken down into manageable levels, in ways that will prevent a predisposing immune system from misidentifying the nutrient as an allergen.
The abundance of protein while being processed by the digestive system, is said to be a possible cause why a predisposing immune system misidentifies protein as an allergen.
Additional Reminder and Tips if Your Dog Suffers from Food Allergy
Inasmuch as the symptoms of food allergy are manifested by way of itching, vomiting and diarrhea, animal slough and discharges must be thoroughly removed from your surroundings.
Otherwise, your home environment will become susceptible to the spread of harmful bacteria and allergens.
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