How to Choose Hypoallergenic Dog Food To Keep Your Dog Happy and Healthy

Hypoallergenic dog foods can be a problem for some dogs.  

Some dogs suffer from allergies or sensitive stomachs. 

If you feel that your dog is having these issues, it would be a good idea to switch from regular dog food brands to specially made hypoallergenic dog foods for hypoallergenic conditions.

This is important so that your dog won't have to suffer intestinal distress and skin conditions so that they can lead a healthier, happier life.

The most common symptoms of allergies are digestive problems like vomiting and diarrhea and skin irritation and inflammation.

Allergies can develop from a single or several ingredients from dairy products, wheat, soy, yeast, beef, and chicken.

Regular dog food products, in most cases, also include flavorings, dyes, chemicals, and preservatives that can also cause allergic symptoms.

Hypoallergenic dog foods -  You Need To Avoid These

Here are some of the most common foods that your dog may have allergies:  beef, dairy, chicken, wheat, egg, lamb, soy, pork, rabbit, and fish.  

Typically, many dogs are allergic to more than one of these.  Some dogs may have allergies from their genetic makeup, and some dogs may develop allergies as they grow older.

What causes dogs to have allergies to certain foods?  

Certain proteins cause many dogs to have allergies.  The protein they eat breaks down into their immune system and then their immune system misidentifies this as a threat.

There are other additives that are not good for your dog.

Dogs with food sensitivities can shows signs of various symptoms, including  vomiting and diarrhea, or skin problems such as; itchiness, poor skin and coat, and chronic ear or foot infections.  

Here is a list of symptoms that could signs of allergic reactions in your dog.

• Your dog Itching All The Time

• Breaking Out With Hives

• Swelling Of Your Dog's Face, Ears, Lips, And Eyelids

• Your dog Develops Red and Inflamed skin

• Diarrhea

• Vomiting

• Sneezing

• Your Dog Develops Chronic ear infections

Trial and Error:

While there are several hypoallergenic dog foods available in the market, the difficult part is to identify the foods that your pet is allergic to.  

The best way of doing this is by the process of elimination through trial and error.

Keep trying different ingredients in the foods you give your dog and see which ones trigger allergic reactions.

In most cases, dogs tend to be allergic to corn, soy, and beef, so it might begin with the elimination of these.

If you do not see the symptoms disappear, you need to try other combinations eliminating different ingredients at every step.  

Eliminate any other medical conditions: In many cases, pet owners mistake other medical conditions for allergies.

Your dog might actually just be suffering from a bad stomach or an infection that could cause diarrhea and vomiting.

It is therefore advisable to have it checked by the vet to rule out any other causes.

Maintain a Log:

Maintain a diary to keep a record of the food experiments you have tried and the ingredients that affect/ do not affect your dog's health.

The hard part is that dogs could be allergic to two or more ingredients or combinations of certain ingredients.  Thus, you may have to try out several experiments to derive accurate conclusions and maintain a log or a diary to keep everything organized.

Where to Look for Hypoallergenic Food:

Hypoallergenic dog foods can be found online as there are many varieties available.

Several hypoallergenic dog foods will list specific ingredients.

Make sure you compare between brands to find the best ingredients for your dog.

Here Are Some Of The Best HypoAllergenic Dog Foods For 2024: