There are several myths that have been believed by pet parents when it comes to food allergies in dogs. Let’s bust these myths and ensure good health for your pets.
We all vividly remember the day we got that small furry friend to our home. How our life started to revolve around it in some time and how easily he became an inseparable part of our family. It is therefore not without a reason that pet owners have now earned for themselves new name- pet parents!
We look after our pet’s health just the same way we’d look after our baby. While we all strive to give our pet a healthy diet, there are several dog allergies we need to be careful about. In the process, let us also bust some myths and reveal some truths about dog food allergies.
Myth 1: When a dog has food allergy, its intestinal tract gets exposed to the allergen and the pet starts to show gastrointestinal symptoms.
Fact: The first sign of a food allergy in a dog is itching that result in excessive licking, biting and scratching.
Myth 2: The symptoms that your dog is experiencing cannot be because of food as he has been eating the same food for several years.
Fact: Food allergies do not have to a reaction to something your dog has eaten lately. After being exposed to an allergen, it takes a lot of time for the dogs to develop enough antibodies to trigger and show an allergic reaction.
Myth 3: Pet parents keep their dogs away from wheat, soy, corn and other plant-based ingredients for fear of catching allergies.
Fact: In a study of food allergies in dogs, dairy products ranked quite high in the offenders list, followed by wheat, soy and corn. It was clearly found that more than the wheat, protein was the bigger culprit when it came to allergies.
Myth 4: Switching your dog to some other diet can help him get rid of food allergies.
Fact: Unfortunately, that is not the case as most dog foods have similar ingredients. So, even if you switch food, your dog will still remain exposed to the same allergens. It is suggested to put your dog on a food trial where he gets to consume only those sources of proteins and carbohydrates to which he has never before been exposed. A food trial is usually conducted for at least eight weeks to determine and evaluate its success or failure.
If you suspect your dog has food allergies, take him to a veterinarian who will suggest a well balanced diet for him that can keep his symptoms at bay.
