Posts Tagged ‘Allergens’
You are what you eat. We have heard this saying so many times. It can even be applied to our dogs. A dog that eats a healthier diet will in fact be healthier.
But, what is a healthy diet for a dog? Many of us don’t have a clue. If you walk into a store to buy dog food, you will find hundreds of choices. So, how do we pick the best one and what makes one brand better than another. The simple answer is “read the label”.
The label will hold the most information available to determine what your dog is eating. The average person probably wouldn’t think to read the label ingredients, but if you have done research into this and want the healthiest food for your dog, this is your starting point. By reading the label you will learn a lot about foods.
First of all, you want to see some type of meal listed in the ingredients. It doesn’t matter if it’s chicken meal or lamb meal, although chicken is considered the best choice since it is most easily digested. Make sure it doesn’t just say meat meal, but an actual meat name. Whole meat without meal is mainly water. Also make sure the ingredients include a variety of vegetables and fruits.
You don’t want to see a lot of filler ingredients. Grains should be at the bottom of the list. Some dogs may have problems with corn. Wheat and soy are also common irritants and allergens. Try to avoid labels with chemical preservatives. Food should be preserved with mixed Tocopherols, which is Vitamin E.
Also look for AAFCO (Association of American Feeding Control Officials) and feeding trials. This will mean the food was actually fed to dogs to see if they meet nutritional needs. It will mean the food is complete and balanced for adult dogs. Also, be aware that a manufacturer has up to six months to notify the consumer that it has made a change in its ingredients. So, keep checking the label even if you have been using a particular brand for a while. If you notice your dog is having problems with the food, there may very well have been a formula change.
If you obtained your dog from a breeder, then this is your best source of information regarding the best, healthiest food to feed your dog. If this is not the case, then you are pretty much on your own in finding the best food and your dog will be the food critic. When you feel you have found an appropriate dog food for your pet’s diet, buy small bags at first. Test it on your dog and see how he reacts to it. If it doesn’t sit well with him, then you aren’t throwing out a large package that cost a lot. Once you have found the right food for your pet, avoid switching to different brands. Their systems take time to adjust to new foods and this will wreck havoc on their digestions.
Highest priced foods do not always mean they are the best. Remember, the best foods contain real whole familiar ingredients. It is always wise to avoid foods that contain many by products and preservatives. And, a dog food company is not required to list preservatives they did not add. In the end, studying labels, and trial and error, will be the best indicators of what is healthy and nutritious for you pet.
Article Source: http://www.hobbyarticledirectory.com
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Human beings are not the only species that can suffer from allergies. Dogs can also have allergic reactions to objects in the home, chemicals and pollutants in the air, dog food, and their own hair and dander. Finding the source of these allergies can be difficult especially if the dog is allergic to a few things. If you have a dog that suffers from allergies, you may notice that they sneeze when around harmful chemicals, vomit after eating, have skin rashes, patches of fur missing, runny nose and eyes, or they may show signs of fatigue or restlessness.
Noticing these signs is the first step to helping your dog lead a normal, healthy life. You should monitor your dog for a month to see how it reacts to its environment, its food, and its own hair and dander. Since dogs need to keep themselves clean, they may be swallowing allergens that can cause an allergic reaction. The best way to combat a hair and dander allergy is to bathe your dog once a month and brushing the dog once a day.
If your dog has a thick undercoating, it will trap allergens and dander and keep it from falling off the body. After a while the dander will build up and fall off or be swallowed. If you have allergies, this could be one of the causes. Brushing the undercoating every day will help remove excess hair before it is swallowed or falls on the floor or carpeting. This will reduce your allergy problems as well.
Sometimes chemicals in dog food can lead to food allergies. If your dog vomits at least once a day, then they may be allergic to the food they are eating. Hypoallergenic dog food is available. The food contains fewer chemicals while providing your dog with enough nutrition. Try this dog food to see if it will reduce the vomiting. Wet dog food may also help your dog digest their foods easily. If the vomiting does not stop, you should visit the vet to see if your dog has other health problems.
Dogs that are allergic to cleaning supplies, mold, and shampoo may be more difficult to treat. You can switch to natural cleaning supplies that do not contain bleach and other harmful chemicals. This may help your dog breathe a little better. You can also have your home tested for mold, which could be causing your own allergies, and you can switch dog shampoos and try one for hypoallergenic dogs. You should not wash your dog more than twice a month as you could make the dog’s skin dry and flaky, which is why they are scratching and pulling more often than usual.
Taking care of a dog with allergies is easy once you have identified the problem. Asking a vet for advice is a good idea if you do not know where to begin. They will be able to ask the right questions and help you find the answers so you will be able to administer the proper treatments.
Article Source: http://www.hobbyarticledirectory.com
To read about dog crate training tips and choosing the best collar for dogs, visit The Dog Trainer.
Human beings are not the only species that can suffer from allergies. Dogs can also have allergic reactions to objects in the home, chemicals and pollutants in the air, dog food, and their own hair and dander. Finding the source of these allergies can be difficult especially if the dog is allergic to a few things. If you have a dog that suffers from allergies, you may notice that they sneeze when around harmful chemicals, vomit after eating, have skin rashes, patches of fur missing, runny nose and eyes, or they may show signs of fatigue or restlessness.
Noticing these signs is the first step to helping your dog lead a normal, healthy life. You should monitor your dog for a month to see how it reacts to its environment, its food, and its own hair and dander. Since dogs need to keep themselves clean, they may be swallowing allergens that can cause an allergic reaction. The best way to combat a hair and dander allergy is to bathe your dog once a month and brushing the dog once a day.
If your dog has a thick undercoating, it will trap allergens and dander and keep it from falling off the body. After a while the dander will build up and fall off or be swallowed. If you have allergies, this could be one of the causes. Brushing the undercoating every day will help remove excess hair before it is swallowed or falls on the floor or carpeting. This will reduce your allergy problems as well.
Sometimes chemicals in dog food can lead to food allergies. If your dog vomits at least once a day, then they may be allergic to the food they are eating. Hypoallergenic dog food is available. The food contains fewer chemicals while providing your dog with enough nutrition. Try this dog food to see if it will reduce the vomiting. Wet dog food may also help your dog digest their foods easily. If the vomiting does not stop, you should visit the vet to see if your dog has other health problems.
Dogs that are allergic to cleaning supplies, mold, and shampoo may be more difficult to treat. You can switch to natural cleaning supplies that do not contain bleach and other harmful chemicals. This may help your dog breathe a little better. You can also have your home tested for mold, which could be causing your own allergies, and you can switch dog shampoos and try one for hypoallergenic dogs. You should not wash your dog more than twice a month as you could make the dog’s skin dry and flaky, which is why they are scratching and pulling more often than usual.
Taking care of a dog with allergies is easy once you have identified the problem. Asking a vet for advice is a good idea if you do not know where to begin. They will be able to ask the right questions and help you find the answers so you will be able to administer the proper treatments.
Article Source: http://www.hobbyarticledirectory.com
Find tips about poodle grooming and shih tzu grooming at the Puppy Grooming website.