Guide to homemade dog food for allergies
An elimination diet for dogs are one of the best dog food intolerance tests. It is recommended by veterinarians if and when they are concerned of food intolerance in dogs.
Some of the signs your dog’s food may include an allergy protein are:
- Constant & intense itching
- Chewing their paws
- Scratching the snout
- Consistent loose stools
- In severe dog food allergy cases, vomiting after consuming the allergy protein
Introduction
Generally, dog food allergens are largely caused by the protein they consume. Even so, for some dogs, canine food allergies can also be caused by nuts, sugar or carbohydrates. Carbohydrates for dogs include wheat, rice, oats, sweet potatoes, potatoes and similar foods high in starch.
One of the best ways of finding out your dog’s food allergen, is by feeding them single protein dog food. If you intend to switch to homemade dog food for allergies. This article is an overall guide to a homemade elimination diet for dogs.
Why we recommend feeding fresh foods for dogs are covered here, click to know more.
Preparation
An elimination diet for dogs, takes approximately 3-4 months to identify the dog food allergens. One of the crucial task is to read your dog’s response on a daily or weekly basis. Journalling your dog’s response is recommended to avoid any doubts or confusion during your discussions with a veterinarian.
Start with not serving the suspected allergy protein
For example, if your dog is already eating chicken as a main protein source. Remove chicken from their dog meals & treats completely. Replace the chicken with pork, beef, mutton, tuna or sardines. Ensure the new protein introduced is suiting your dog. Keep an eye on their stool mainly.
If the new protein suits your dog, continue your dog on the same. At least for the remaining part of the dog food intolerance test. Ensuring the food is comforting to your dog, while on this process.
Note all the changes
During this period note all the changes in their behaviour and their poop. In this 3-4 months, do not feed your dog the suspected allergy protein. Making for a more successful elimination diet for dogs.
Make amends if necessary
However, if in 1 to 1.5 months, your dog’s food intolerance reactions still remain the same. Change the protein choice. Or consider putting your dog on a grain free low carbohydrate diet . Along with the newly introduced protein at the start of their dog food intolerance test.
Continue the process of noting changes
And consider start point from, either allergy protein change or from switching to grain free diet. Which would mean the elimination diet will last another 3 to 4 months to fully eliminate the allergy source.
Going through the process
While the process is challenging even for a pet parent. Make certain, you overcome your guilt by offering only single protein dog foods. Be it single ingredient treats, chews, broths or single protein meals. There are multiple animal proteins available in nature. Choose the ones that are best for your dog. Feeding limited ingredient home cooked foods for dogs are ideal to care for your pup with food allergies.
Common dog food allergens
Some of the common allergy proteins for dogs in India are chicken or egg. Considering that’s what we find most convenient feeding our dogs. Other dog food allergens common in India are starch. In the form of rice, wheat, potatoes and high sugar vegetables like carrot, beetroot etc. If you are feeding these, consider noting changes in case you eliminate these foods.
Result not clear?
However, if after an elimination diet for dogs, your dog still continues showing signs of allergy. Their reactions could also be due to a very sensitive stomach. Their gut would be the organ that actually requires strengthening. Read our blog, gut health for dogs with sensitive stomachs to know more.
What to expect
Elimination diet for dogs may take upto a year. Hence, preparing yourself and getting everyone at home onboard is necessary. It’s still a phase for you to enjoy pet parenting and for your pet to feel comforted. Together finding joy in bonding is always key to living with pets.