| Would you be able to tell if your dog needed | | | | "add-back" approach to your pet's diet. |
| hypoallergenic dog food? The main reason to feed | | | | After changing your dog diet to hypoallergenic food |
| hypoallergenic food is when your dog is showing | | | | and eliminating all allergic symptoms, one at a time |
| symptoms of allergies. Some of the most common | | | | add back one ingredient of the allergy causing food. |
| symptoms of allergies caused by foods are loss of | | | | For example, add corn, wheat or a specific type of |
| appetite, sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, upset | | | | meat. Then you simply wait and see if any allergic |
| stomach, irritated skin, breathing problems and | | | | symptoms return. If so, you are safe in assuming |
| gastrointestinal difficulties. Foods that are the most | | | | that the allergen is in the food you returned to the |
| frequent offenders include dairy products, yeast, | | | | diet. |
| wheat, soy, chicken, beef and eggs. Less common | | | | Never Ignore Altered Behavior |
| but worth mention is lactose intolerance as an | | | | Whenever your dog shows new behaviors such as |
| allergen. | | | | obsessive scratching and licking or digging at their |
| If your dog is showing signs of allergic symptoms | | | | ears, pay attention! This type of behavior change is |
| such as throwing up, diarrhea or constant scratching | | | | often indicative that your dog is under some form of |
| and inflamed red skin, it is recommended that you | | | | stress and is very uncomfortable; commonly the |
| quickly start them on a diet of hypoallergenic dog | | | | source of the stress is an allergy. Just like people, |
| food. | | | | dogs can "grow into" an allergy by becoming |
| How to Isolate the Allergen | | | | sensitized to an allergen over time. Just because your |
| If your dog was showing allergic symptoms and you | | | | Goldendoodle puppy does not have an allergy now |
| put them on a hypoallergenic food, did the symptoms | | | | does not necessarily mean they will live their entire |
| improve? Note: It can take up to 8-12 weeks for | | | | life allergy free. Always be in tune to your dogs |
| symptoms to disappear so be patient and give the | | | | behavior so that if it changes, you will notice it |
| hypoallergenic food a good trail period. If the | | | | sooner rather than later. |
| symptoms disappear you can be certain there is an | | | | Testing for Allergies |
| allergy involved and you will need to isolate it in order | | | | Your vet can run allergy tests and determine what |
| to avoid it in the future. | | | | your dog is allergic to. However, it is an expensive |
| Isolating an allergen is easier said than done. After all, | | | | alternative for making the determination, especially |
| man's best friend doesn't talk much and thus, it is | | | | when compared to simply changing their food. |
| hard sometimes to ascertain how they are feeling. | | | | If your dog shows any of the classic symptoms of |
| However, though it may not be immediate to find | | | | allergies, hypoallergenic dog food is the most highly |
| the offending allergen, it is not really all that difficult. | | | | recommended method to alleviate the problem. |
| The method most commonly recommended is an | | | | |