Food allergies in dogs, its symptoms and treatment
With food allergy in dogs, I came across quitesuddenly. My dog breed American Staffordshire terrier adores different fruits, and so when she once started begging for me dates, I could not resist and gave her five pieces. The next morning, I was simply horrified when I saw that my beloved beautiful woman was completely covered with rashes, on which her short hair was strongly furrowed. I immediately took the dog to the vet, and what was my surprise when he asked me: "What was given the sweet?". I always watched the food of my pet and never gave her candy and sugar, so I did not immediately realize that these sweet were just those ill-fated dates. The benefit of treating such an allergy was to take several diazoline tablets. Now I carefully choose the products that I give to my dog.
Food allergies in dogs are a reactionthe body on some products and manifests a variety of rashes on the skin, accompanied by itching. Up to 40% of all allergic skin lesions of dogs are caused by food allergy. To the end it is not yet clear why this or that allergen affects some dogs and does not cause any reactions in others. Many dogs have a hereditary predisposition to allergies. The immune system is activated when various allergenic proteins enter the body, after which excessive release of active substances, in particular histamine, occurs. Then there are three types of immune reactions of the body: immediate type hypersensitivity, the formation of circulating immune complexes, delayed type hypersensitivity.
Food allergies in dogs, symptoms: rashes on the skin, skin itching, acute otitis media, diarrhea, vomiting, bloating, inflammation of the eyes with secretions of yellowish clots of mucus.
The causes of food allergies in dogs are many, but the main ones are:
- mixed food (dry food with natural products);
- increased protein content in the feed;
- the change of one food to another, causing stress, accompanied by an allergy to a new food;
- poor-quality feed;
- products containing various sugars.
Allergens can become a variety of substances,contained in food and feed. For example, among food products, allergies in dogs can be caused by: beef, poultry, dairy products, eggs, soy, wheat and corn products, vegetable oil, red fruits and vegetables, yeast, citrus, fish oil. Contraindications to dogs sweets (chocolate, sugar), spices, pickles and smoking can also lead to allergic reactions.
Food allergy in dogs manifests itself in different ways: some have hours after the intake of the allergen, and others - in days and even weeks. The most effective method of diagnosis is a food test.
Allergy in dogs, treatment:
1. Remove from the diet of the dog products that can cause allergies.
2. A special balanced diet developed by a veterinarian (duration from 3 to 12 weeks).
3. The use of antihistamines.
4. Treatment of secondary infections.
Many breeds of dogs have a geneticpredisposition to food allergies, so, unfortunately, such a disease is very difficult to prevent. But follow the recommendations of veterinarians regarding the diet of the pet is entirely within our power. Another option to prevent food allergies is the use of hypoallergenic foods, which recently are offered by many well-known manufacturers of dry food. The main condition for successful prevention is that such a hypoallergenic food should be the only food of your dog.
