Hypoallergenic Dog Food
In recent years, more people have found out that humans aren't the only creatures that have to deal with allergies. Our pets are just as likely to have them as we are, though they might not have the same ones. In fact, the behavior or health problems you're having with your dog might all be due to diet! This is why so many more companies have begun producing hypoallergenic dog food. If you are interested to know more, take a look at Hypoallergenic Dog Food. These products are intended to help our pets avoid the discomfort and unpleasant reactions that result from food allergies and intolerances.However, that doesn't mean that every dog allergy is the same. There are all kinds of foods that your dog might be allergic to. The most common culprits are the grains and starches that are in nearly every dog food. Carbohydrates like corn, rice, soy, oats, and others can cause real digestive problems for a dog that can't tolerate them. A hypoallergenic food will attempt to use less of these ingredients. That's why you'll see anti-allergy dog foods made with barley and other less common starches.Meats can also be an issue. The more common the meat is and the higher your dog's level of exposure, the more likely he or she is to have an allergy to it. Beef and chicken are the most common animal sources for dog allergies, because they're found in so many foods. Hypoallergenic dog foods are more likely to substitute lamb instead. That way, your dog can avoid the problem meats.Of course, not all dogs are allergic to the same carbs or the same meats. Only experimentation and a careful examination of how your dog feels and what he or she eats can tell you what's the problem. Most vets prescribe an elimination diet to help figure this out. Just remember that you'll need to follow these diets very carefully to find out what's wrong.Your dog may need a lower carb diet than a healthy dog. Regular dogs with no allergies can eat up to fifty percent of their food in carbohydrates, though they should ideally consume something more like a fifth of their diet as carbs. Dogs that have a sensitivity to certain carbs should have fewer grains and starches, even if they're the ones they can tolerate. Change dog foods regularly to try to reduce the chance of a new food becoming an irritant.Avoid making the mistake of believing that healthy pets should have hypoallergenic dog food, too. The ingredients themselves aren't actually less likely to cause allergies. It's just that most dogs have allergies to beef and corn because that's what they're exposed to. Instead, change your dog's diet from time to time and read labels carefully. That'll help you reduce the chances of your dog suffering from allergies. For more info, visit Hypoallergenic Dog Food.