Dog Allergies | Dog Food Allergies

One of the biggest concerns for a dog owner is dog allergies. Allergies can happen to any dog of any breed, although some breeds are more susceptible than others. Among the most common types of dog allergies is food allergy and can lead to indigestion for one’s dog. The trouble with food allergies however, is that its symptoms tend to be latent for quite some time, even despite the dog’s regular consumption of food.

Should this happen to your dog, don’t make the mistake of assuming that they are experiencing something akin to human food allergies. Most dogs don’t get food allergies unless they have eaten it food on a regular basis. Dogs are resilient animals and they can eat a type of food which they are allergic to and not show any symptoms until after a month or so. 

Like all animals dogs can show intolerance to certain food stuffs, but that does not necessarily mean that they are allergic to it. Allergies may result in skin irritation, and may not even illicit any reaction from your dog until it’s too late. Food intolerance on the other hand can be likened to food poisoning. It results in a serious case of indigestion and threat to dog health. 

A lot of pet gurus these days point to lamb and rice diets as the solution for food allergies from dogs. Unfortunately, this is still a new type of diet and whether or not it’s effective is something which the jury is still out on. It is also possible that given a dog’s tolerance levels, allergies for any new diets will not be known until a certain period of time has passed. So it’s best not to put one’s hopes on a diet alone.

Sometimes, the only way to overcome dog food allergies is through experimentation. Through the process of elimination, you can try feeding your dog various food stuffs to find out which of them he is allergic to. It’s not going to easy but each dog has different levels of tolerance just like people, and the only way to be sure is to check your dog’s reaction to each type of food you feed him.

The tricky part is that you may need to wait a month, perhaps longer, to accurately determine if your dog really is allergic to something or not. Allergens tend to stick around especially in animals and it will take some time before they are completely eliminated from your dog’s system.

And in case your dog does catch allergies and his fur is falling off at a fast rate, the best thing that you can do for him is to bring him to a vet for a medical exam, so that tests may be applied to see what type of health problems your dog may have developed as a result of eating something he is allergic to.

Pet Products - A new challenged in your dog's health

There are estimated more than 71.1 millions pet owners in US alone. And majority of these people are willing to spend $43.4 billion to get the best Pet Products for their beloved pet. This can range from Pet Health Products, Accessories, Pet Insurance and the regular visit to veterinary clinics. Pet owners are expected to most likely have sufficient if not excessive budgets specific to pamper their pet in different ways.

However making the right choice when it comes to their pet’s diet, especially dog foods is a new challenged for dog lovers. They are more careful and vigilant when it comes to choosing the best and reliable brand of dog food. Personally I have a preference for a pedigree dog food for my beagle which can actually be purchase in cans or dry. Be careful when purchasing your dog food though because there are actually Pedigree foods which are specifically for Adult Dogs only and pedigree for puppies which is designed for all types and needs.

Keep in mind that dog food is supposed to provide the dog's nutrient necessities and not to jeopardize your dog’s health. It’s important to read and check the nutrition facts in the bag of your dog food. After all it always pays to check the label.

BARF Diet for your dog health

Are you feeding your dog with the right food to ensure its optimum health? Do you think that what you see as a good stuff for your dog health is really appropriate and could give you and your dog the security that what you've been feeding to him/her is safe? Now what kind of food is it really that can not only satisfy your dog's hunger but will also optimize its health?

It has been a practice for pet lovers, dog lovers specifically to feed their dogs with processed foods. Branded dog foods are just what they would prefer. They think that by feeding their dogs with this kind of stuff, they will have no worries or whatsoever regarding their nutrition. But little did they know that these processed foods can just bring about more harm to their dog health. Most of these foods contain a long list of additives, preservatives and grain products.

So why not stick to the traditional manner of feeding our pets? Why not feed them the way they would feed themselves into the wild? Why not give them the kind of food that their ancestors feasted originally when they were once scavengers and hunt for food to suffice their hunger? Feeding your dog with fresh, raw foods is just what I am talking about. Giving them exactly what the typical food chain would allow them to have is more likely to guarantee you a supreme kind of healthy lifestyle for your dog.

BARF (“biologically appropriate raw food") or "BARF" diet is the healthy, safe and nutritious way to feed your pet. The natural way your pet or dog used to eat just before all those manufactured, highly-processed and grain-based foods entered the system of their food chain is what this BARF diet is trying to portray and win back to all dog lovers all over. This diet is typically made up of 60-80% of raw meaty bones(RMB), that is bones with about 50% meat, (e.g. chicken neck, back and wings) and 20-40% of fruits and vegetables, offal, meat, eggs, or dairy foods. The BARF diet looks only to the freshest whole raw food sources rich in vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids derived mostly from human edible ingredients.

The presence of bacteria in raw food often worries pet owners and vets. They assume these bacteria will imperil their dog health. However, dogs, being scavengers, have evolved to eat and thrive on bacteria laden food, requiring them for immune system maturity. Living enzymes are proteins found in raw foods which help the body function. Enzymes are only beneficial to the body if they are living. Once food is cooked or processed, it no longer contains living enzymes. Living Enzymes in a raw diet restore, repair, and maintain health. Animals replenish their enzymes systems by eating raw unprocessed foods. As a result, feeding your dog with raw food is more likely to give out a lot of benefits for the betterment of your dog health.

So if you want to improve your dog health, lengthen the span of its life, give your dog stronger teeth and fresher breath, indestructible immune system and fully-developed bones or body structure, then settle for something that's natural and proven to have made supreme developments for your dog health. If we people are now trying to resort to alternatives or those natural ways to improve our lifestyles, then why leave out our dogs with the least essential stuff if we can give them the most appropriate and rewarding kinds of food to feast with?

Dog Food Recall; Past Present and the Future

The term back yard dog is becoming more of taboo now for dog lovers. Pet owners’ nurtures and spoil their dog as if it’s their only child. They are actually spending a lot of money now on eye-catching yet expensive collars, dog kennel, dog health insurance and a good brand of dog food.

However after the series of unpleasant incident of a massive dog food recall, pet owners are taking a lot consideration when it comes to choosing what to feed their pet. The improved self-consciousness of pet owners in their dog health and choices greatly affects and still affecting sales of various pet food products. Various associations for dog health protection and FDA are sterner on regulating the distribution of pet food. Companies are obligated to follow strict guidelines and requirements which should in general satisfy the needs of most pets.

Harking back to the past, the FDA found out that a certain brand/brands of dog food are the primary caused of dogs getting sick and a considerable number died after eating that food contaminated with harmful chemicals. Dog health were put at risk and dogs generally experienced kidney problems and showed sign of poisoning which includes but not limited to vomiting, convulsion and difficulty of breathing. Pet owner’s grievances steers the very heart of the media and therefore heightened consciousness of the general public.

In the face of the past sticky situation on dog food recall, studies shows that in America alone, pet owner will spend $43.4 billion on their pets in 2008, which is way higher that $41.2 billion last year. And the focal target market is of course the Baby boomers, since being alone in the house; they are most likely the people to own a pet and will have enough superfluous budgets to pamper their pet in most ways. Nevertheless they are also the type of pet owner who are more involved in their dog health and will spend extra time reading nutrition facts and bag of dog food.

After the dog food recall, comes a new challenged for dog food manufacturer to make available to the more educated pet owners the best products they can offer without jeopardizing the dog health and being. It would probably be one of the grounds for higher price on dog food, improve premiums, and confusing hype. Either way, dog food ought to supply the dog's nutrient necessities. After all you dogs are your family and you don’t want any of your family eating pieces of crap, don’t you?

Dog Health and Obesity Awareness

When we talk about “obesity”, humans normally come in our mind. But what if it is dog obesity and not humans? Strange, right? We ought to know that dog health and obesity awareness is a perfect way to save the man's best friend. Maybe it was too distinct for people who lived many years ago; but fortunately not for people living in the modern society nowadays. Dogs of today, like humans, experience obesity as one of the major health risks.

Dogs that eat excessively and with unhealthy binges can become obese. This situation often triggered by some environmental factors could create more problems in a dog health if not controlled. Dogs also develop certain diseases if they are overweight that can lead to more serious complications including death. Obesity in dogs tends to put extra weight developing arthritis on their joints and other parts of the bones. It can also develop other muscle and joint problems like spinal disc disease, hip dysplasia, and cracks on the joint ligaments.

We all know that overweight causes diabetes in humans. It certainly does happen to dogs, too. More fat stored in the dog's body generates more insulin in order to cope with its increasing mass. Dogs have the tendency to resist too much insulin in the body, so this results to diabetes. Skin problems also occur if a dog is overweight. Excessive fat deposits are stored in the skin makes the owner find it hard grooming his dog. Dogs without proper grooming oftentimes accumulate bacteria, dirt, or other elements that can harm their skin. This eventually develops rashes, skin ruptures, and infections that are very dangerous on your dog health.

Overweight dogs are prone to heat stroke especially during summer time. Too much fat deposits accumulated in their skin lowers their heat tolerance. Obese dogs can also develop respiratory problems and heart diseases. Thick fat deposits covering the chest cavity, thus making the lungs and the heart expand hardly whenever the dog breathes. If the heart and the lungs can no longer produce the right amount of oxygen and circulate it within the dog's body, it could kill him. Inflamed pancreas, which is very painful, can seriously affect dog health. Lastly, obesity in dogs can create a liver malfunction because of too much fat deposits accumulated in the area. This may even cause the death of your dog.

These health problems are all life threatening to both humans and dogs. But in the case of our pet dogs, it all depends upon the owner on how he secures his dog health. It is important that dog lovers should create a healthy exercise schedule for their dogs like taking them for a walk every afternoon or letting him run through a field. This does not only benefit the dogs but their owners as well. Owners must also create a healthy diet for their dogs. Diet meals with necessary nutrients should include the right combination of fiber, meat, vegetables, vitamins, and minerals in order for the dogs to stay healthy.

Dog lovers should always give more water to their dogs when they feed them fiber. This can prevent constipation. Above all, they should also remember that before trying out new things on their dogs, it is best to consult the veterinarian first. Give your dogs the best love and care you can. Your dog health and obesity awareness is a perfect way to save the man's best friend.

Chocolates for your Dog Health - A big NO NO

They say that chocolates are symbols for love, but certainly not when it comes to your dog health. Most dog lovers are aware that chocolate should not be given to pets particularly your pet dog. Dogs are receptive to a chemical called methylxanthines and unfortunately the compound theobromine found in chocolates is members of that family. Although it is fairly safe in humans, dogs are having difficulty if not unable to digest theobromine at all. Expectantly the dogs system will continue on digesting this substance and in effect poisoning itself instead of eliminating it as waste. That is why the premature manifestation of chocolate poisoning for dogs includes but not limited to diarrhea, vomiting, hyperactivity, dehydration and restlessness. The effect on dog's heart is the most decisive because it can cause rapid heartbeat and abnormal breathing rate and eventually can cause death.

Dog lovers should be aware that even though the severity of chocolate poisoning depends on the type of chocolate or the amount eaten, it nevertheless contains the same chemical harmful to your dog health. Although it’s of equal importance to know the toxic dosage amounts and the type of chocolate because it can be of help in determining what proper treatment or medicine your veterinarian should administer. Dark chocolates or chocolates high in cocoa is the most fatal of all the types, while white chocolate has the lesser amount of theobromine and therefore not as harmful as the former.

Dog lovers should take heed on their dog health if they suspect that their dog has eaten chocolates in anyway. Even if early signs of poisoning are palpable, most of these symptoms will appear at a snail's pace and can take 3 days to completely manifest. So by the time you assimilate that there is a threat to your dog health, it will be too late. So do not wait for this to happen, be sure to bring your dog to the nearest animal hospital and have it diagnosed for possible poisoning. Whatever the result are, you’ll be glad that you brought your adored pet in the vet. If you have discovered intake within 2 hours or less it will be helpful if you can simply induce vomiting while preparing to take him to the vet for further treatment and possible admission.

It is our inmost interest to endow with the best things for our treasured pet but sometimes we should keep in mind that what they want are not essentially they justly needed.

Harmful food for your dog health

If you care about your dog health and you want them to live the longest, healthiest life possible, it is critical that you know what you should and what you should not be feeding to them Click Here!. Dogs have different metabolism compared to humans and feeding them with foods that we enjoy can be very fatal.

Here are some of the common food items that should not be given to your dogs, as they have been found to be either directly or indirectly "toxic" to them:

• Grapes and raisins
  Grapes and raisins should be avoided as pet snacks as they can cause the dog to develop a sudden kidney failure with anuria (a lack of urine production).

• Raw eggs
  Undercooked eggs still contains an enzyme called avidin. This enzyme decreases the absorption of biotin or B vitamin, which can lead to skin and hair coat problems.

• Tobacco
  Like in humans tobacco is also very harmful to your dog health. Tobacco (from cigarettes and cigars or their butts, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco, nicotine patches, and nicotine gum) contains nicotine, which affects the digestive and nervous systems. This can result in rapid heart beat, collapse, coma, and death.
  

• Onions and Garlic
  These contain thiosulphate, which can damage red blood cells and cause a form of anemia called Heinz body anemia, where your pet's red blood cells burst while circulating in its body.
  

• Raw Fish
  Feeding your dog raw fish regularly can result in a thiamine (a B vitamin) deficiency leading to loss of appetite, seizures, and in severe cases, death.
  

• Alcoholic Beverages
  Feeding your dogs alcoholic beverages can result to intoxication, urination problems, coma or death from alcohol poisoning. Remember that your pet is smaller than you are, so even a small amount is very lethal to your dog health.
  

• Potato, rhubarb, and tomato leaves; potato and tomato stems
  The starchy white flesh inside potatoes is not harmful, but potato skins which are still green and any green sprouts or "eyes" contain the alkaloid solanum which is poisonous to dogs and humans. The stems and leaves of tomatoes and rhubarb contain oxalates, which can cause bladder stones.

• Yeast Dough
  Yeast dough is designed to expand and when eaten by your pet, it can expand in your dog's warm stomach and produce gas in the digestive system. This causes extreme pain and possible rupture of the stomach or intestines.

• Chocolate, coffee, tea and other caffeine
  Chocolate contains theobromine, a naturally occurring stimulant found in the cocoa bean.
  
  
  This compound is a cardiac stimulant and a diuretic. It increases urination and affects the central nervous system.

As a dog lovers, it is very important to remember that dogs and puppies do not have the ability as we humans have to digest and to utilize these foods for our benefits. Foods like these are delectable to us human but these are damaging to our dog's health.