Puppy Food – Your Little Pooch Could Have An Allergy

Posted by Bree Rowan in Puppy Training on June 8, 2010 | no responses

Believe it or not, a leading cause of your pup’s allergic reactions is very likely the puppy food he is eating. It can be tricky to tell the difference from one allergy to the next, so people who own a pouch may not know a food allergy when they see it. Food allergies can present themselves at any stage, however, meaning your dog could actually not show any symptoms for a long time (even years), or the may happen within just a few short days. Basically, your pup could be eating a food he is actually allergic to, he’s just not showing any reactions yet. Symptoms of allergies can take time to present themselves, because sometimes allergens need to build up first. Statistics state nearly 70 percent of all food allergies are the result of giving your young dog the same puppy food for over two years.

The most essential thing for any responsible owner of a canine is to know exactly how a food allergy looks when it presents itself in your pouch.

* First, you’ll see skin conditions. Overly hard and frequent licking and scratching are dead giveaways. Obviously, your pup’s skin itches way more than it should. He may even grate his head, back, butt, or other parts of his body on the carpet, floors, walls, or furniture to try and end his itching pain. Digging and chewing on his skin repeatedly can result in further irritation, swelling, flakiness, and even bleeding. He could even begin losing hair.

Johnson’s dog puppy cat kitten calcium vitamin D tablet food supplement puppies

$5.52

Holistic Giant Breed Puppy Dry Dog Food 15lb

$28.45

* One more sign is trouble digesting food. Frequent flatulence, abnormally runny excrement, and vomiting are common symptoms that often accompany a food allergy.

* Impaired breathing is one more symptom. The allergy can cause your pouch to wheeze, cough, and sneeze, much the same as any other allergy can.

Now, we’ll look at some things you can do to treat, and even prevent, such reactions.

* When the allergic reaction starts to manifest, take your pup off her current food. The next step is to begin slowly returning the ingredients of this puppy food formula, ONE ingredient at a time. By doing so, you can pinpoint exactly which ingredient is causing your pup’s allergies when systems return. You will then know just which ingredient, or ingredients, to remove from your dog’s diet. Of course, you should consult you vet before starting this elimination diet. With consent however, your vet should recommend following this diet for 12 weeks.

* You can also feed your young canine a hypo-allergenic puppy food with more pure and healthy ingredients like vegetables, potatoes, rice, duck, and lamb.

* Build up an immunity. Just like in humans, there are injections that can be given to dogs, too, that will introduce small doses of allergens over a period of time. These allergens actually boost your dog’s antibodies, thereby building up his tolerance to allergies.

* You can give him medications. Also like people, your pouch can take antihistamines to alleviate allergy symptoms. For the right drugs to use and proper dosage, check with your vet first.

* Blood and skin testing is also available. Veterinarians specializing in animal dermatology can perform these tests. Research shows a very high rate of accuracy with these tests in pinpointing specific allergies, thereby eliminating any doubt as to which puppy food ingredients to remove from your pup’s diet.

If you’ve just picked up your family’s new furry addition and want to find out the right way to care for your puppy, then check out Puppy Pet Supplies for helpful tips and advice on puppy training, and so much more! Plus, discover the four essential puppy supplies you need to have for your puppy’s arrival!