Food allergies are increasingly common in dogs and in fact right now they are the third cause of allergic reactions, which are seen on the skin with the appearance of redness, itching, wounds, etc., and in the digestive system with constant vomiting and diarrhea.
When we suspect that our dog has an allergy to some food, we can start giving it a natural food, but sometimes that is not enough and we have to resort to hypoallergenic dog food.
What is hypoallergenic dog food?
Hypoallergenic dog food is formulated with special care to prevent the symptoms of food allergies from appearing.
In this way, and as with natural dog food, it does not have preservatives, colorings or flavorings of artificial origin.
The main difference with respect to other types of feed is that in hypoallergenic feed the protein source is limited to the maximum, in such a way that in some brands there is only one, such as soy.
In addition, the proteins have been hydrolyzed through a process that makes them much more digestible by breaking them down into smaller peptides.
This transformation causes the proteins to be absorbed much faster as it leaves them in a state in which we find them predigested.
As a result, proteins subjected to hydrolysis do not cause allergies in dogs, which can return to eating normally under veterinary supervision.
What is the best hypoallergenic food for dogs?
One of the main problems with food allergies is seen in the dog's skin. The itch causes her to scratch non-stop until she becomes red and sores appear.
To improve the skin after these episodes, hypoallergenic dog food always comes with supplements that vary from one brand to another.
Almost all of them agree when it comes to adding fatty acids such as omega 3 and omega 6 that help repair the skin and stomach, as well as vitamins such as A and E for the same purpose. We will also find minerals such as Zinc or Selenium that also help our dog recover sooner after an allergic reaction.
Food allergies in pets are more common than you might imagine.
Some food allergy symptoms in dogs include:
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Intense itching of the skin
• Redness of the skin, paws, snout...
• Inflammation
• Difficulty breathing
• More abundant runny nose or tearing
• Loss of hair
• Infections may occur due to the weakening of the immune system.
We recommend you choose a hypoallergenic feed with a single protein source, that is, monoprotein such as salmon or lamb feed.
If after trying these feeds or those with the same characteristics your pet is still not well, you can try hypoallergenic veterinary feeds that are made with ingredients such as egg protein.
Other types of dog food:
• Supreme wins
• Light food for dogs
• Natural feed
• Food for sterilized dogs
