Just like humans, dogs can be allergic to certain foods. In fact, food allergies are one of the most common types of allergies in dogs. While some dogs may be able to tolerate certain foods that they’re allergic to, others may have a more severe reaction that could even be life-threatening. There comes the role of raw dog food recipes for allergies .
What Causes Food Allergies in Dogs?
There are two types of food allergies in dogs: true allergies and pseudo-allergies. True food allergies are caused by an immune reaction. This type of allergy is relatively rare, accounting for only 10% of all food allergies in dogs.However,it is more likely that your dogsuffers from food sensitivities rather than allergies. Dogs with food sensitivity are about 1out of 3 dogs.
● The most common proteins that dogs are allergic to are beef, dairy, wheat, egg, chicken, lamb, soy, pork, and rabbit.
● Pseudo-allergies, on the other hand, are much more common and are caused by a reaction to a food additive or preservative.
● The most common pseudo-allergens include corn, soybean oil, artificial colors and flavors, and preservatives such as BHA/BHT and ethoxyquin.
These ingredients can trigger a variety of symptoms including digestive issues, skin problems, and respiratory distress.
What you can do?
If you think your dog may have a food sensitivity then ordering a at home test kit the best thing you can do. The Whole Pet Wellness Panel Pet food and environment sensitivity test is affordable, simply send in a hair sample to our lab and in 14 days you will receive an email with a list of foods to avoid. You can may also consider an elimination diet trial which can take several weeks or even months and is costly, but it’s an option to get definitive answers.
Endnote
To get answers to your dog’s food sensitives order the Whole Pet Wellness Panel – Pet food and environment test will allow you to choose a hypoallergenic dog food formula. If you have any questions about what kind of food to feed your dog with a food sensitivity, you can talk to our food specialist for specific advice.