Do Hypoallergenic Dog Foods Matter?
Health, diet and wellbeing are vital aspects to look after for any dog owner. Food can be a huge aspect of any pooch's health and wellbeing. Owners strive to give their furry friends the best of the best to ensure they give them what they need for a happy, healthy life. However, it can be difficult to choose what is best as the dog food market is very saturated.
Pero has outlined everything you need to know about hypoallergenic food for dogs. This is to help you make informed choices when it comes to your canine companion’s diet. From what it is to the benefits, explore if this alternative dog food suits your dog.
Hypoallergenic food for dogs
Hypoallergenic food for dogs is a type of food that caters best to pooches with intolerances, sensitivities and allergies. A hypoallergenic diet can help your furry friend in numerous ways, depending on your dog's needs. Discover all you need to know about a hypoallergenic diet to see if it’s best for your dog.
What is hypoallergenic dog food?
Hypoallergenic dog foods are foods and ingredients that are less likely to cause allergic reactions. Hypoallergenic food for dogs doesn’t completely protect pooches with allergies. As long as your dog isn’t allergic to any of the contents then it is safe to use. If it includes something your pooch is allergic to, then the hypoallergenic dog food will still be an issue for them.
Hyper-allergenic ingredients in dog food
If your furry friend can have hypoallergenic dog food, it is best to avoid hyper-allergenic ingredients. These are commonly found in typical dog food:
- Dairy: This is a common allergy as it can contain sugars which increase bacterial overgrowth.
- Grains: Any dog is in some way intolerant to grains and needs to be avoided.
- Corn: This is an ingredient that can be regularly added to even hypoallergenic food for dogs as it’s an alternative to grain. However, this is high in sugars and can lead to inflammation and a leaky gut. It can be difficult to not be exposed to this ingredient.
- Soya beans: These are commonly included as protein in plant-based foods. It can be high in herbicide residues and lectins which are pro-inflammatory.
Types of sensitivities in dogs
There are various types of sensitivities in dogs which all differ from each other. These can cause confusion for owners as they can often be mistaken as the same when they are very different. Explore the types of sensitivities dogs can experience below to help you understand the differences and if your dog has one.
Allergies
An allergy can be severe and can lead to death, while the other sensitivities don’t. An allergic reaction is an immune response and occurs immediately when a dog is exposed to an ingredient they are allergic to. The common signs of an allergy to spot in dogs are:
- Redness
- Swelling
- Itching
- Hives
- Diarrhoea
- Anaphylaxis
- Coughing.
Dogs are rarely born with an allergy as it develops when their immune system is abnormally exposed to the allergen. This is why it is crucial to look out for the key indicators that your pooch is allergic to something. An allergy can also rarely be resolved through nutrition and some need careful monitoring and medical attention. It is also key to know that a slight allergy can have similar symptoms to a food sensitivity and a food intolerance.
Food sensitivities
Food sensitivities are a different kind of immune system reaction which involves inflammatory compounds. These are often referred to as the innate or primaeval immune response and can be acquired over time. This includes the illness of leaky gut and undigested food particles passing into the gut tissue repeatedly. This causes dogs' bodies to become inflamed and creates thickened areas.
Dogs with food sensitivities find it harder to absorb nutrients and can experience colic and diarrhoea. Reactions can often differ from time to time. Occasionally, after consuming a small number of foods your pooch is sensitive to, they can experience an immediate reaction. However, other times, they may not react, or it can be shorter than previously.
Some symptoms your furry friend can experience with a food sensitivity are:
- Tissue swelling with fluid
- Lethargy
- Weight loss
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Itchy skin
- Arthritis.
Food intolerances
A food intolerance isn’t an inflammatory response or an immune response either. It is a functional or mechanical issue with digesting particular foods. A popular example of a food intolerance is milk. This occurs commonly in dogs due to a lack of enzymes that are able to digest the lactose.
Symptoms of food intolerance in dogs can be:
- Discomfort
- Bloating
- Flatulence.
The key indicator of intolerance in dogs is through wind as the others are harder to spot. To avoid triggering your dog's sensitive stomach, you must stop feeding the foods that cause this. This is where hypoallergenic food for dogs can come in to help with intolerances.
Benefits of hypoallergenic dog food
Hypoallergenic food for dogs can have multiple benefits. These include:
- Reduces the risk of allergic reactions, sensitivities, intolerances and other health problems.
- It has added proteins, vitamins and minerals that boost your dog’s immune system.
- It can improve your dog’s condition of its coat.
- Gives owners peace that their dog is healthy and has reliable, high-quality ingredients that are digestible and nutritious.
Best food for hypoallergenic dogs
At Pero, we have a wonderful range of 100% hypoallergenic food for dogs that can aid with your pooch's diet. Our food helps to soothe their symptoms from allergies, sensitivities and intolerances. We supply super sensitive and grain-free dry dog food that can suit specific dietary needs. They are made to be incredibly gentle on the digestive system, especially our Ocean Fish and Tapioca flavour. These allow your pooch to eat a healthy meal without the worry of an upset stomach!
Hypoallergenic food for dogs is ideal for those with allergies, sensitivities or intolerances. Before making the switch, ensure the content of the food doesn’t include something they are allergic or intolerant to. It is always best to check the contents of the food to ensure that it is safe for your pooch. Hypoallergenic food for dogs can avoid nasty reactions, symptoms and illnesses. This leads to a better quality of life and a healthy lifestyle for your pooch.
Check out our organic dog foods blog to see what alternative works best for your pooch.