The most distressful sight for any dog owner is to see his dog getting troubled by allergies. Vomiting, itchy skin, and spots on the skin are some of the most common symptoms that the dog is suffering from allergies. While there could be many reasons behind this, but in most cases, the predominant reason behind dog allergy is the food that is being consumed by the canine. It is hence very important that you know that what the best dog food for allergies is so that you can help your pet recover from the troubled state.
Avoid food with excess protein
As per studies, dogs that have allergies against food are allergic to proteins that are there in the food. Typically, dog food comprises about 40% protein, but if the protein is causing trouble to the dog, you will have to identify that and reduce the amount of protein in the dog food.
Protein in dog food generally comes from plant or animal based ingredients like wheat, dairy, beef or chicken. There are many other sources of protein, but these are the major reasons behind the food allergies in dogs. Hence, while you look for dog food for allergies, you have to lay your hands on food items which are low on protein.
What should be added to the food and what should be not?
Ideally, food for dogs with allergies should be taken as per prescription of the vet. In almost all cases, the vets would prescribe limited ingredient food and grain free food. These foods have limited protein in them, and hence the canine friend of yours would get some relief from the allergic situation if it is made to eat this food over a period.
Some of the things that should not be a part of dog food if you are trying to fight dog allergy include wheat, beef, and egg, chicken, as well as dog treats. Many people tend to feed human food to the dogs, but that should be strictly avoided during this phase as food meant for humans is usually heavily laden with protein, thanks to the various ingredients that gets used.
If you plan to cook the dog food at home, which ideally is the best thing to do, you should avoid adding the common allergens in the food. In case you cannot afford to cook at home and have to rely on commercial dog food, you have to spend those extra minutes looking at the ingredients section of the dog food packet to determine whether the food contains any of the allergens that could increase the protein intake of the dog that is already suffering from allergies.
Conclusion
If the dog is in the habit of eating the same food over a long period of time, there is a possibility that the poor animal will develop some form of allergy against the food. It is hence always wise to keep on shifting between different dog food items so that the protein levels keep on varying and the dog is never allowed to fall prey to allergic conditions.
