Hypoallergenic Dog Foods Information and Guide

Why chose hypoallergenic dog foods?

Dogs, like humans, can be susceptible to food allergies. When humans have known allergies to certain types of food, they avoid them. However, dogs are unable to correct the problem themselves. For this reason, responsible dog owners who have a companion with food allergies choose hypoallergenic dog foods.

How are hypoallergenic dog foods different?

Hypoallergenic dog foods come in all shapes and sizes; most pet stores will carry a variety of dog foods that have all-natural ingredients. It is important to know the difference between choosing a multi-purpose food and choosing one that is made especially for sensitive skin and stomachs.

1. Some manufacturers will utilize by-products and fillers that help "fill" a bag of food and is less expensive to produce. These ingredients are often the offending source of allergic reactions in dogs. Corn is a widely used filler and the number one skin allergen for dogs. Rashes, hot spots, raised skin and fur are all signs of potential skin allergies, stemming from corn or other ingredients.

2. Before switching brands of dog food, consider what the allergy may be. What type of reactions are being seen? Itching, irritation on the skin, diarrhea and vomiting are all signs of potential allergic reactions. If you want to eliminate the allergen source, a limited ingredient diet will have to be implemented. Slowly add back in an ingredient at the time until you see the reactions again, isolating the allergen.

3. Hypoallergenic dog foods boast an "all-natural" list of ingredients, often times limited. Dogs can be highly allergic to certain types of meat, including chicken, making it difficult to feed a routine formula. However, brands that offer sensitive skin and stomach formulas and those with hypoallergenic limited ingredient formulas tend to offer many meat varieties to cover a bigger population of dogs. Lamb, salmon and venison formulas tend to be the most popular hypoallergenic recipes.

What to look for in hypoallergenic dog foods.

As allergy problems rise, manufacturers are taking a harder look at their ingredients lists. More brands are offering limited ingredient and all-natural formulas that serve as a hypoallergenic alternative to regular dry dog food. The list of these companies include:

1. Royal Canin

2. Canidae

3. Eagle Pack

4. Hills Science

5. Blue Buffalo

High ticket bags like Blue Buffalo and Royal Canin are quality formulas for dogs with and without allergies. For those suffering with known allergies, it is easy to pick out a product that can help. Those that have unknown allergies can be put on limited ingredient diets or a vegetarian recipe that keeps all meat out of the formula, sometimes eliminating the allergen. In general, staying away from corn, meat by-products and other non-human grade ingredients will help your companion stay happy and healthy.

You owe it to your best friend to know if they need hypoallergenic dog foods.

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