DOG DISHING: Could Your Pug Have A Food Allergy

Do you know the difference between mild and severe allergies in dogs? For starters, it's several hundred bucks in vet bills 😜. My last blog dealt with relieving itchy coats and skin rashes which can be caused or at the very least, aggravated by allergies. I addressed how to tell whether these issues are the result of environmental, or seasonal allergies and how to provide relief for your pet. Today I will be examining another major culprit: FOOD ALLERGIES. While the weather, changing of seasons and other environmental factors may be partially to blame for your pug's issues, the main trigger and cause is usually always THEIR FOOD.

Identifying the specific food allergen however, can be a daunting, expensive headache. First let's look at what a food allergy is: When a dog is allergic to a food ingredient in their diet, their immune system jumps into overdrive thinking that substance is attaching their body. The body goes to war in the same way it would if exposed to a real danger such as a deadly bacteria.

Everyday I see frustrated pet parents trying to help their dogs who are suffering from food allergies. The first thing they frequently tell me is their vet says they're allergic to chicken. When I ask what brand of pet food has been giving them problems, often it is a dry processed kibble loaded with corn, wheat, grains and gluten, paired with poor quality poultry, and/or beef that is often pumped with growth hormones, antibiotics and other harmful chemicals. When I switch them to a grain-free, low glycemic carb pet food that contains pure (free-range, grass-fed without antibiotics or hormones) human grade protein, (such as Nulo❤️) the problems quickly clear up, even if it contains the suspected protein source.

Because not all pet-foods are created equally, and 99.9 percent of pet foods use conventionally raised, factory farmed meats and only the leftover, rendered pieces and parts, this will continue to be a problem for almost all susceptible pets. Also there is ample deception in ingredient labeling in pet foods so it can be impossible to find the exact cultrip.
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If your dog has a food allergy, he'll typically have symptoms like itchy skin, and ear infections but usually there will also be vomiting and diarrhea. However, it can often take some time for the immune system and GI tract to be significantly compromised enough for your dog to show digestive disturbances.

While most of us use the term "food allergy" to describe the problem we suspect is the result of something our dog ate, according to Dr. Jean Dodds, a world-renowned veterinarian and creator of the NutriScan food intolerance test, in all likelihood, it is not an allergy but a food intolerance. True food allergies, also called Adverse Food Reactions are actually quite rare. A simple description is in the body's immune responses. A true food allergy produces a much more immediate reaction and a specific type of antibodies. A food intolerance or sensitivity produces a much more delayed response of a different type of antibodies.

Most conventional veterinarians who suspect a pet is dealing with a food intolerance typically recommend a highly processed "prescription" diet. Holistic vet's often take a different approach which I recommend. If you have a dog or cat over the age of one year who is dealing with a possible food sensitivity, ask your vet about the NutriScan food intolerance test which identifies 24 of the most common foods dogs eat, including:
Beef
Chicken
Millet
Soy
Pork
Rabbit
Venison (deer)
Barley
Rice
Sweet potato
Salmon
Quinoa
Chicken eggs
Wheat
Potato
Oatmeal
Lamb
Lentils (includes peas)
Corn
Turkey
Peanuts/peanut butter
Cow's milk
Duck
White-colored ocean fish (includes menhaden, pollack, herring and sardines)
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NutriScan is a simple salivary test, and is currently the most accurate food sensitivity test on the market. A simple swab not only takes away all the guesswork but also makes tedious and time consuming elimination diets unnecessary. It's important to note that NutriScan doesn't test for food allergies, but rather food sensitivities and intolerances occurring over the last six months to two years.

When dogs eat the same food day after day, year after year they can develop a sensitivity to the protein source. Especially if the food is inexpensive, highly processed, and features crappy meat pumped full of antibiotics and hormones, which alone can cause the immune system to go into overdrive. Dogs can also grow sensitive to the host of other allergenic ingredients in the food, typically corn, grains, gluten and other carbohydrates. The
NutriScan test can miraculously identify the specific ingredient(s) in your dog's food which are causing problems. This makes it much easier to revamp your dog's diet and successfully resolve problems.

If your dog is experiencing adverse reactions to some aspect of their diet, it is imperative to give their body a break from the food they've been eating. This will give the immune system an opportunity to calm down and hopefully you will see improvement in symptoms.

After determining your pet has a food intolerance, the next step is to slowly introduce a new diet containing ingredients their body isn't familiar with. For example, if your puggy has been eating chicken and rice-kibble since you brought them home, I would suggest trying a salmon and sweet potato or lamb and lentils based food. Most vets suggest switching both the main source of protein as well as the primary carb to achieve the most effective results.

I have seen dramatic results by just having pet parents eliminate grains, corn, gluten and filler ingredients that are common triggers. They continue to thrive when they stay on low-glycemic carb diets that contain clean animal proteins. Again, Nulo takes all the guesswork out of it and makes it simple.

If you are transitioning your pet to a diet, I recommend working with a holistic or integrated veterinarian. To find a list of them in your area visit: http://www.ahvma.org/find-a-holistic-veterinarian/
However, whatever you decide, the following tips from Dr. Karen Becker should be extremely helpful:

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A dog with food sensitivities should remain on a novel diet for a minimum of two months and preferably three, to allow the body time to clear out the allergenic substances and begin the detoxification process.
During this period it's important to use good pre and probiotics to build up their inflammatory response in the GI tract.
Because each case of food intolerance and dysbiosis is unique, I recommend working with a holistic or integrative veterinarian. Once a patient has completed two to three months on a novel diet, other foods are slowly reintroduced one at a time, and the dog's response is closely monitored. Some dogs show dramatic improvement on the new diet, and in those cases, I often don't rush the reintroduction of food that could be problematic.
When the dog is stable and doing well, I encourage dog parents to find at least one and preferably two other protein sources their pet tolerates well so that every three to six months, they can rotate proteins and hopefully avoid further allergic reactions.
In addition, the cleaner the proteins, the less chance your dog will become sensitive to them over time. Clean animal proteins are non-toxic. For example, food animals raised on a natural diet (grass-fed, not factory farmed), as well as hormone-free animals, are better food sources for sensitive pets.
During and after a novel diet, I recommend natural supplements to aid detoxification, relieve allergic symptoms and support your pet's immune system. Your holistic veterinarian can help you select the supplements most appropriate for your pet's individual needs.
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Coming soon in TWR, will be a blog featuring great, inexpensive things to enhance your pets health that can be found right in your own cupboards at home👍🏼💕.