Your Ultimate Guide to Hypoallergenic Dog Food Recipes

If your dog is suffering from food allergies, you should consider preparing hypoallergenic dog food recipes. Dogs, just like people, can also have allergies to different food ingredients. It is important that you know to which type of food your pet pooch is allergic to so that you will be able to prepare the right kind of recipes at home. It is better prepare your pet's food at home so that you can limit the ingredients to only those that are safe for your dog to eat.

When it comes to preparing dog food recipes for canine pets with allergies, it is important to know some useful information. These facts can help you decide on what kind of hypoallergenic recipes you should prepare for your dog. Check out the following paragraphs to know more about hypoallergenic dog food recipes.

1) Food allergy vs. food intolerance

You have to determine whether your dog is allergic to the food ingredient or it just cannot tolerate certain kinds of food. If it is a food allergy, the immune system is involved. The dog's reactions will include skin rashes, asthma, vomiting, paw biting, licking, dry skin, and itchiness. If it is food intolerance, the digestive system is involved. This means that the dog's digestive system cannot break down one component of the food, which results to bloating, diarrhea, or gas.

2) Characteristics of hypoallergenic dog foods

Hypoallergenic foods for dogs have certain characteristics. One is their limited ingredients. It is important that the recipes have fewer ingredients to make it easier for you to pinpoint which food ingredient your dog is allergic. This minimizes the risk of allergic reactions. Another characteristic is the addition of novel ingredients. Regular dog foods are made of same kinds of food ingredients like beef, chicken, fish, or poultry which can be a cause of allergies to your dogs. This is because the dog's immune system 'remembers' these ingredients and are most likely the cause of allergies.

3) Ingredients of hypoallergenic dog food recipes

It was mentioned in the previous paragraphs that you need to introduce new ingredients to your dog's food. Some examples of novel ingredients are meat of kangaroo, pheasant, buffalo, or millet. These are meat ingredients that provide the right kind of nutrients for your dogs but may not cause allergies. Some common ingredients that you need to avoid are beef, chicken, lamb, fish, dairy, soy, wheat, corn, and yeast. These are just some examples of safe ingredients and ingredients that you need to avoid when preparing dog food recipes. You can be creative by choosing other food ingredients that are normally used in dog food recipes.

4) Food transition

If your dog used to eat commercial dog food, you need to know how to make the transition from commercial dog food to raw or fresh food. This depends on the size, weight, and age of your dog. Large dogs require large servings, and small dogs and puppies require small servings. Do not instantly feed them with your newly concocted hypoallergenic recipe because this can shock the dog's digestive system. Initially, you need to feed them with raw food together with commercial dog food. After a few weeks, completely remove the commercial dog food from your pet canine's diet. This gradual transition will be easier for the dog's digestive system.

5. Consult your dog's vet

Before adding, removing, or changing anything in your dog's diet, you have to consult your pet's vet first. When the vet finds out that your dog is allergic to certain food types or ingredients, he or she will instantly recommend alternatives. Be sure to consult the vet before preparing hypoallergenic dog food recipes for your pet.

Marybelle Harbach is an author of Hypoallergenicdogfoods.com that published some interested articles about hypoallergenic dog food recipes and dog food allergies.