How to Identify and Treat Food Allergies

Is your companion itchy?  Does she have digestive difficulties?  These are some of the most common issues that cause guardians to seek veterinary care for their companions.  Sometimes it is difficult to get to the bottom of those troublesome itches and tummy upsets.  They may be a sign of food allergies or sensitivities. 

The most common symptoms of allergies are:

• excessive scratching
• licking
• paw chewing

Additional symptoms of allergies:

• chronic ear infections
• respiratory symptoms such as coughing or nasal congestion
• eye discharge
• vomiting
• loose stools & diarrhea
• inflammatory bowel disease

Many holistic veterinarians also believe that seizures, arthritis, asthma and chronic urinary tract infections can be caused or complicated by food allergies.

If you and your veterinarian have ruled out other causes of your companion’s itchiness such as fleas, mange, ringworm or infection, then changing the diet may help alleviate the itch.  If tummy troubles are the predominant symptom, a diet change may help this as well.

Controlling Allergies with a Raw Food Diet

Many dogs with food sensitivities and allergies have seen dramatic improvements by switching to a raw food diet.  It’s a good idea to stick with one protein source when you begin the new diet, and then switch to another if symptoms do not begin to subside after 10 days on a raw food diet.  Often the change to raw food and elimination of grains is all it takes to begin to see improvement.  If symptoms persist, however, then switch to another protein source for another 10 days.  Duck, buffalo and turkey are often good proteins to use for an allergic animal.

If you typically mix kibble with raw, it is best to eliminate the kibble component of the diet until symptoms subside.  Then find a high-quality kibble, preferably grain-free, that contains the same protein you are feeding in the raw diet.

Essential Fatty Acid (EFA) supplementation with high quality fish oil can be beneficial for both itchy skin and digestive troubles.  EFA’s aid in reducing inflammation and support the health of both the skin and the lining of the digestive tract.

Keep in mind that any secondary bacterial or yeast infections must be treated during the switch.  Hot spots must be closely monitored as infection can easily ensue.  These must be controlled with bathing and topical treatments while the animal’s immune system is recovering.

Resources:

Natural Veterinary Medicine by Susan G. Wynn and Steve Marsden

Herbs for Pets by Gregory L. Tilford and Mary L. Wulff

I found this to be informative and felt a need to share it.  My dog has allergies,  but not from his food, from something that is air born. I know this because his constant scratching starts the minute I walk out to my car and see the yellow pollen on the windshield.   A vet can do an allergy test on your pet but it is very expensive and some vets don’t even offer the service. (Mine does not)

So I am now on a quest to find out what works for my dog. Of course each dog is different but if you can offer any advice regarding non-food allergies PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT. I tried Children’s Benadryl ( which my vet told me to continue using) but it didn’t help.  Last year I used a hard to find Shampoo, NuSal T and it seemed to work but I only found it at the end of the pollen season. I’m starting the use of this shampoo again and we’ll see what happens.

So, as of now, no more trips to the groomers for a while I’ll be doing the washing. Brooklyn will love that!  He doesn’t like to go to the groomers and besides he can pay me back for that bath that he dislikes so much. And pay me back he does. Shaking water on me as many times as possible until I’m wetter than he is. I swear he’s smiling as he watches me jumping back to TRY to avoid getting wet.

Below are a few of the symptoms of allergies:

• excessive scratching
• licking
• Red Eyes

H1N1 Virus Confirmed in 2 Dogs in China

The China Agricultural University tested 52 sick dogs, and two of them tested positive for H1N1. Since their virus matched the human virus 99%, it is likely they caught it from their human companions.

No cases have been reported in the United States yet, but this discovery means that transmission is possible. At this time, there’s no evidence that our pets can transmit the virus to us.

If you’re sick, it’s important to be careful not to expose your dog:

* Avoid coughing or sneezing on your dog.
* Wash your hands often, especially before touching your dog.
* Don’t allow your dog to come into contact with used tissues.
* Avoid touching your dog’s eyes, nose, and mouth while you are sick.
* Use alcohol-based hand cleaners.

Symptoms of H1N1 in pets may include:

* Loss of appetite
* Lethargy
* Difficulty breathing
* Fever
* Coughing
* Sneezing
* Wheezing
* Runny nose and/or eyes

If your dog or cat develops these symptoms, contact your veterinarian for the best course of action.

For more information, visit the American Veterinary Medical Association website.