Tuesday, 12 February 2013

Does Your Dog Need Hypoallergenic Dog Food?


There are signs that are easy to read when your dog suffers from food allergies. Hypoallergenic dog food, such as Burgess Sensitive Hypoallergenic Dog Food may be the answer you are looking for to provide your dog with relief from the uncomfortable and sometimes even life threatening symptoms of allergic reactions. There are many dog breeds that are prone to suffering from a variety of food allergens. When you introduce a new food to your dogs diet there are a few things to watch for that may be signs an allergy or food sensitivity exists.

1)         Your dog suffers from itchy skin or feet all of a sudden
If your dog begins scratching excessively shortly after the introduction of a new food, there may be an ingredient your dog is sensitive too. Allergies often cause severe itchiness, and your dog may scratch herself until she bleeds. Chewing of her feet will also sometimes be involved and this can lead to terrible infections and extremely sore foot pads.

2)         Frequent yeast infections of the ears can occur in dogs with food sensitivities
If you notice your dog shaking her head frequently and itching her ears frequently you will want to check her ears for odors and fluid seepage. Clean your pets ears on a regular basis with a proper cleansing product, but if you notice unpleasant ear odor or a pussy fluid in the ears you should take her to a vet for a check up.

3)         Extreme gassiness or obvious digestive distress
Your dog may experience severe gassiness with the introduction of a new food. If this is a normal reaction to improperly changing foods it will only last a day or two. If this is a symptom of a food sensitivity or allergy it will continue for as long as you continue to feed the offending ingredient. Severe bloating, cramping and diarrhea or constipation may also occur. If these symptoms are extreme or lasting more than a day or two it may be necessary to take your dog to the vet as these symptoms can be life threatening.

4)         Lethargy or lack of energy
Your dog may seem too tired all of a sudden and spend most of the day sleeping. If she seems abnormally sluggish and does not participate in her normal play sessions you may have a dog with food sensitivities of allergies.

There are many ingredients that are common offenders and it can be very difficult to determine exactly which ingredient if offending your dog. In order to ensure your dog receives the most rapid relief from her suffering try purchasing a hypoallergenic dog food that removes most of the more common offending ingredients. Under these circumstances it is easiest to avoid the most common ingredients first in the hopes that this will heal the situation. Your veterinarian will offer a wide array of suggestions to determine the actual offending ingredient. Some dogs may suffer from a variety of allergies which can be harder to isolate. In many cases simply choosing to eliminate the most common culprits can help your dog live a more comfortable life. 

To find out more about the Burgess Sensitive range please visit our website.