Dog Food Blog

Allergic reactions are usually directed against proteins that are recognized by the immune system. Since this protein needs to be of a certain size to be recognized, the industry has put this knowledge to use.

When hydrolyzing proteins the parts become so small that these are too small to be recognized by the immune system. An allergic dog can be fed food containing hydrolyzed proteins and won’t show an allergic reaction (providing no whole proteins are present in the food).

When proteins are hydrolyzed these are cut by enzymes (picture these as very tiny scissors) to smaller and smaller pieces. It’s an expensive process so the dog food manufacturer will need to investigate to which extent the proteins need to cut, so the food or treat won’t be unnecessary expensive.

A disadvantage is that the tastiness is affected in the hydrolyzing process. Hydrolyzed proteins tend to taste bitter. This needs to be compensated in some way. Especially when you use this method when creating snacks and treats. The whole point of rewarding your dog with a treat is that it must be tasty. When the hydrolyzing procedure continues, the bitterness disappears.

You don’t want to reward your dog with a yukkie treat. He might just decide to NOT obey so you won’t offer him that treat. Perhaps your pooch is not that clever, but you don’t want to take chances.

Hills has developed a hypo allergenic dog treat especially for canines with allergies and sensitive skin. It helps to eliminate the potential for adverse reactions. The formula is also enriched with anti-oxidants and omega fatty acids to nourish the skin and coat and support skin barrier function.

These treats can also be purchased through licensed veterinarians.

Now remember to feed less dog food when you also provide snacks and treats, so your dog won’t eat too many calories. Limit treats to 10% or less of your dog’s daily energy intake.

These hypo allergenic canine treats can be given to healthy dogs as well. Good to know in case you’re rewarding multiple dogs at the same time. Hydrolyzing is an expensive procedure though, so when your dog is healthy then just pick a treat from a wider (and cheaper) variety of choices.

For more information about prescription dog food or dog food allergies, visit Best Dog Food Guide.

Have you read the article about Demi the friendly Labrador that suffered from multiple allergies? This is a highly visited page and it contains lots of valuable information. It helps you to recognize the symptoms and prepares you for your vet visits.

If you have an allergic dog you may recognize (parts of) this story. Your experiences may also be totally different as each dog is an individual.

I invite you to share YOUR story. Tell us how you recognized the symptoms, did you switch dog food and with what result? How is your dog doing these days. You may also want to upload a photo and show us your precious pooch.

Visit the Dog Allergy pages on Best Dog Food Guide to submit your story. I’d love to read it

The day before yesterday I was at a birthday party. Me and my aunt were talking dog stuff and she was telling me the story of Demi the happy Labrador Retriever. Demi, now 4 years old, has suffered from multiple dog allergies since 15 months of age. It all started one summer and she was itching and scratching like crazy. Her skin was damaged and she was showing several bald spots. And on top of that… Demi the happy Labrador, was not so happy anymore. Scratching all the time of course requires a lot of energy, but when your skin keeps itching… how can you sleep?

Read the full story about allergy symptoms, diagnosis of different types of allergy, hypo-allergenic dog food and densensitization therapy in this dog allergy case study.

Did you know skin diseases are among the main reasons for veterinary visits for dogs of all ages?

A dog’s skin and haircoat are one of the most visible signs of health and vitality. Hair is of great aesthetic importance to dog owners, and a source of great concern when it is not as it should be. Guess this is true for your own ‘coat’ as well

Many factors can cause your dog’s furry coat to loose it’s charismatic qualities, such as:

Read the rest of this entry »

Dr. Cecilia Friberg, a veterinary dermatologist in Chicago, prescribes daily bathing for some of her canine clients with allergies.

The rationale behind this is that some allergens are absorbed through a dog’s skin. So bathing can reduce the amounts of allergen being absorbed. However, it will only reduce the allergic symptoms your doggie is suffering from when indeed the allergen is in his surroundings (environmental and contact allergies).

Most dogs don’t like bathing and regard it as cruel torture. You can train him to change his attitude. But before you start, please continue reading.

When the substance his immune system is overreacting to is a particular dog food ingredient, then please save yourself the trouble of daily bathing your dog. Or don’t you get wetter than he gets?

When your dog is suffering from allergy symptoms then go and see your veterinarian. He (or she of course) can advise you and there are several dog allergy tests that can be done to pinpoint the culprit.

Did you know that food allergy is the most likely cause of allergic symptoms in animals under 1 year of age? Is your dog itching and scratching? Has he vomitted on your carpet? Diarrhoea or upset intestines? Then be alerted! Your dog may have developed an allergy to some substance in his regular dog food. Your vet can test whether this is the case and then you can go and look for the best dog food for your hairy friend and give him some relief.

Want to learn about dog food allergy symptoms? Then go and visit BestDogFoodGuide.com to get objective information.