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Food allergy in dogs

Voedselallergie bij honden

Solving Dog Food Allergies with the Right Diet

  • Solving food allergies in dogs with the right nutrition.
  • Allergies are often directed at animal proteins in food.
  • Hydrolyzed proteins in dog food prevent an allergic reaction because they are, as it were, "cut" into pieces.
  • Denkadog Micro Protein and Denkadog Micro Protein Grain Free contain hydrolyzed proteins . It is a hypoallergenic dog food and is extremely suitable for a dog with a food allergy.
  • To prove a food allergy in dogs, the dog will have to eat a diet food that is free of certain food ingredients. We call this food an " Elimination Diet ".
Denkadog Micro-Protein

How to solve food allergies in dogs with the right nutrition?


Food allergies or food allergies in dogs are a common problem, both in dogs and humans. Four out of five dogs have an allergy caused by beef, chicken or wheat. Be aware that snacks, sweets, chews and bones often contain animal products. A food allergy in dogs is annoying, but fortunately it can be prevented or solved. A food allergy can best be solved with the right hypoallergenic diet food for dogs.

Sensitive breeds


There are several studies that indicate different breeds that more often have a food allergy such as Terriers, Labrador Retriever, Dachshunds and Boxers. The condition often occurs at an age of 9 to 18 months. There is no difference in occurrence in males and females.

Symptoms of food allergies in dogs


Most dogs with a food allergy have skin complaints , possibly in combination with gastrointestinal problems . We often see itching in the dog. Places where this itching often occurs are the paws, in the armpit, ears, groin and at the tail. The itching causes the dog to lick and scratch. As a result, redness, bumps and even scabs develop. In a light-colored coat, a brown discoloration can sometimes also be seen in the places where licking is done. Stomach/intestinal complaints consist of vomiting, spitting up or diarrhea.

Diagnosing and Resolving Food Allergies in Dogs


To solve a food allergy in dogs, you must first make a diagnosis. There are several possibilities to determine the diagnosis of food allergy in dogs:
[caption id="attachment_13181" align="alignright" width="235"] allergy skin test in dogs[/caption] However, the tests often give poor or unusable results or can only be performed in specialized laboratories. The most reliable result in dogs is obtained by means of a test diet and that is called an "elimination diet". An endoscopy can give more information than just a hypersensitivity. An elimination diet is always a hypoallergenic dog food.

Elimination diet or test diet


The elimination diet for dogs consists of 2 components:



    1. The elimination phase: Here a diet food is given: https://denkadog.nl/product/denkadog-grain-free-micro-protein/ of which we know that the ingredients in it give no or minimal chance of an allergic reaction. You are actually already solving the food allergy.
  1. The provocation phase: can begin when the dog no longer shows an allergic reaction to the elimination diet. In this phase we add ingredients that are often the cause of the allergic reaction (chicken or beef for example). If the dog starts showing symptoms again, we know that the added ingredient is the cause of the allergy. We consider the elimination diet method to be the gold standard in the field of diagnosing food allergies in dogs. Treating a food allergy is primarily based on hypoallergenic dog food. This can be supplemented with medication such as prednisone or other cortisone.

When the symptoms disappear, the medication can be reduced. The hypoallergenic food will usually have to be given for life. Snacks, chews, sweets and other rewards can also cause the allergy, so be careful with snacks or do not give a reward.

The problem with food allergies in dogs


Just like in humans, food allergies are also becoming increasingly common in dogs. Food allergies in dogs are actually a severe immune reaction of the body to something foreign that enters the body. In this case, substances from food. The dog is allergic to one or more nutrients. These are usually animal proteins (chicken, beef), dairy products or egg. Allergies to vegetable proteins or gluten rarely occur in dogs.

Proteins


Proteins are very large molecules that are broken down into small particles in the stomach and intestines. These smaller pieces (amino acids) are then passed through the intestinal wall into the blood. If complete proteins pass through the intestinal wall into the blood, the body can react excessively violently. This is reflected in redness of the skin and sometimes diarrhea occurs. The redness causes itching and as a result the dog licks and scratches and can develop bumps and scabs.
Research has shown that the immune system of dogs only reacts to proteins that are larger than 10,000 Daltons (Daltons are a measure of the size of protein molecules). Denkadog Micro Protein and https://denkadog.nl/product/denkadog-grain-free-micro-protein/ diet food contains small (hydrolyzed) protein particles. Hydrolysis of protein means that the protein has been "cut" into small pieces. The strength of this innovative product is that these cut proteins are too small to be recognized by the immune system. The body does not react with allergic reactions (exceptions aside). With these hydrolyzed proteins, the allergic dog can continue to eat the same food for the rest of its life.

The right nutrition for a food allergy


In the case of a food allergy, a "foreign" protein source is usually chosen in the food. These "foreign" proteins for the dog lead less often to allergic reactions. For example, there are products such as "lamb and rice", "duck and rice" and "salmon and rice". The disadvantage of these products is that the dog can eventually become allergic to these animal proteins again due to long-term triggers. The solution will not always be long-term. What then? The new generation of hypoallergenic food?
[caption id="attachment_9887" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Solving Food Allergies with the Right Diet After 2 weeks Denkadog Micro-Protein[/caption]
Denkadog has developed a unique food: Denkadog Micro-Protein , against a food allergy in adult dogs but also for puppies . The source of the protein was not important, but the size of the protein molecule. The solution for a food allergy is a food without those large proteins. Simply a very healthy food, but also the safest to prevent food allergies. Due to the hydrolyzed proteins, no reaction can occur from the body, because it does not recognize the food as foreign. With a good diet you can easily solve a food allergy in dogs.
Because your dog needs time to get rid of the reaction to the old food, the new food should be given for at least 6 to 8 weeks. You should not give your dog anything extra to eat during this time. Every snack can disrupt the elimination test. After 8 weeks, you can assess the result of the change in food.
[caption id="attachment_9886" align="aligncenter" width="300"] food allergy under control After 6 weeks Denkadog Micro-Protein[/caption]

Denkadog's hypoallergenic food range


The difference between different varieties of dog food is big. It is therefore important to make the right choice based on arguments. Your dog cannot make that choice. The Denkadog Superior range has been specially developed and composed by veterinarians and nutritionists for all dogs. This food is especially for dogs with health problems. We are convinced that only good raw materials can be used to make good food, which is why we have composed all Denkadog meals with very high-quality raw materials and in the right proportions. We have made good balanced food. After all, your dog cannot choose for himself what is good for him and what he gets. Fresh drinking water must always be available. Less salt and not too much additive gives us the experience that healthy food leads to a higher life expectancy of your dog.
Does your dog also have a problem and would you like some advice? Our vet gives free advice at: www.denkadog.nl
Also read the blog: Allergy and atopy in dogs
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