Not sure why Fido is scratching incessantly? If it isn’t fleas or ticks, it could be a food allergy. Here are some ways to find out if your furry friend is suffering from food allergies.
Common signs of food allergies include:
- Chronic ear inflammation
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Chronic diarrhea
- Chronic gas
- Licking of limbs
- Itchy backsides
Common things that could trigger food allergies:
- Food allergies are genetic issues and are triggered whenever there is exposure to certain foods such as
o Beef
o Dairy
o Wheat
o Eggs
o Chicken
o Lamb
o Soy
o Pork
o Rabbit
o Fish
- Most dogs are allergic to more than one item
How to determine if my dog has food allergies
Put Fido on an elimination diet or go for allergy testing such as a bioresonance test.
Elimination diets require you to take Fido off all the foods he is currently eating and put him on a food that he’s never had before. Once the dog has improved, start reintroducing the old foods one item at a time to see if he has a reaction to that particular type of food.
Bioresonance testing is not scientifically proven and neither does it treat the issue of food allergies. However, it is useful in determining which types of foods your dog could be allergic to. It requires you to prepare any number of items that your dog frequently eats or comes into contact with – for example, shampoo and kibble – and the bioresonance machine will determine if your dog is sensitive to these items from the way it reacts with the items and your dog. Check with your vet if they offer such services.
Vets can also do specific testing such as taking a sample of ear discharge or skin culture to test for environmental allergies. Blood testing, however, is not an accurate test for any type of allergy.
How to help a dog live with allergies
Eliminating allergens from your dog’s diet and environment is a good way to help him or her cope with his or her allergies, but what if your dog is allergic to almost everything? It certainly wouldn’t enhance his or her quality of life with you. Instead of trying to eliminate every single possible allergen, there are ways we can try to improve our pets’ immune systems to be able to deal with food and environmental sensitivities.
Homeopathic remedies such as the Bach Flower Remedies, Schuessler Salts and SupraCell Homeopathy Remedies can help with food allergy issues by strengthening the pet’s immune system.
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