If your faithful friend has sensitive, red, itchy and inflamed skin, but you can't figure out the cause, know that he may have some food intolerances. In severe cases or if the animal is allergic (less common than intolerances), it may continue to scratch until an infection is triggered. Talk to your vet to develop a diet plan and learn how to prepare specific foods for your dog.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Evaluating Your Food Options
Step 1. Get your dog examined for food allergies
If you see that he continues to scratch his irritated or sensitive skin, or his ears and skin are greasy and smelly, take the pet to the vet. He will subject him to some tests for food intolerances or allergies. These are generally caused by the proteins found in foods, although the most common allergens are beef, chicken, dairy, wheat, corn and soy. These are also the most common ingredients found in commercial dog foods.
Preservatives and fillers can also irritate the animal's digestive system
Step 2. Consider putting him on an elimination diet
Since commercial products contain many ingredients, preservatives, and fillers, your vet may recommend that you try this diet regimen. To do this, you must choose a specific diet for food sensitivities with which to feed the dog exclusively. Avoid giving him any food that is not part of your chosen diet. This way, you can better understand which substance is disturbing his digestive tract.
Remember not to give him any treats or raw meat on the elimination diet. While it may seem like a harsh method to you, it will take six weeks for the dog's body to "detoxify" of unwanted allergens. Any other food you offer him in this process could make the whole diet potentially ineffective
Step 3. Choose a specific diet for dogs that have a food sensitivity
That way, you know exactly what your wagging friend eats. After a few weeks you will be able to see improvements in his health and you will be able to understand which food in particular is causing the problem. Some food sensitivity products are:
- Unusual proteins. With this diet, you can choose a single source of non-traditional meat that the animal has never eaten before. Among these, consider salmon, venison, buffalo or duck. Since dogs have never been exposed to these proteins, they are less likely to become allergic to them.
- Hydrolyzed proteins. This type of diet consists of proteins that have been broken down into small amino acids (which make up proteins). Since they are very small, the dog's body should not perceive the proteins, thus preventing possible allergic reactions.
- Therapeutic products. This diet consists of new or hydrolyzed proteins very rich in omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, which can reduce the symptoms of food allergies.
Step 4. Work with your vet to create a balanced diet
Once you have determined the cause of your allergies, you need to choose a diet rich in nutrients. Your doctor may recommend specific commercial products or may prescribe a detailed diet that you need to prepare for your dog. If you decide to cook the food yourself, you must consult a qualified nutritionist or dietician who has consulted with the veterinarian regarding the pet's dietary needs.
It is important to define a specific diet for your four-legged friend, as dogs have different needs than humans for vitamins and minerals. For most of them, a diet consisting of 40% meat, 50% vegetables and 10% carbohydrates is recommended
Part 2 of 2: Creating a Homemade Diet
Step 1. Prepare the food for your dog
When you have a rough idea of the diet recommended by your vet and nutritionist, you need to decide whether you prefer to give them raw or cooked foods. This is a very personal preference, although some dogs with certain health problems, such as an overactive immune system or inflammatory bowel disease, should avoid raw feeding to combat allergies.
Regardless of the type of raw or cooked food diet you want to give your pet, the important thing is to buy the best quality ingredients possible that you can afford. Once you have decided to give him the new proteins and carbohydrates, you must respect the choice and not give him any other foods
Step 2. Prepare the meat
Before handling food, wash your hands and cut the meat into small pieces suitable for chewing. If you decide to cook it, put the meat in a large pot. If you want to prepare a large amount, choose about 2 kg of proteins such as:
- Deer meat;
- Bison;
- Duck;
- Ostrich;
- Turkey.
Step 3. Add the oil and cook the meat
If you have opted for cooked meat, pour 120ml of olive oil into the pot and cook until the meat is completely cooked.
Step 4. Supplement the dish with vegetables and carbohydrates
If you prefer a raw diet, make sure that the vegetables and carbohydrates you have chosen are cut into pieces small enough, so that they are soft enough and the dog can eat them without having to cook them. If you decide to cook food instead, add about 2.5kg of vegetables and 0.5kg of carbohydrates. Vegetables can be fresh or frozen, but try to include at least two types of them in your preparation. Cook the meat, vegetables and carbohydrates all together until completely cooked. Some great vegetables and carbohydrates are:
-
Vegetables:
- Broccoli;
- Carrots;
- Green beans,
- Celery;
- Spinach,
- Pumpkin.
-
Carbohydrates:
- Sweet potatoes;
- Lima beans;
- Apples;
- Peas;
- Lentils;
- Chickpeas.
Make Allergy Food for Dogs Step 9 Step 5. Divide the preparation into portions and add the supplements
If you have opted for the cooked diet, let the food cool before adding other nutritional food supplements. Mix it carefully and divide it into individual portions before freezing them. If you also give him supplements, you can pour the recommended amount on the food before offering it to the dog.
Your vet may recommend a complete multivitamin supplement, in addition to the minerals your pet needs. Other supplements include probiotics and omega fatty acids
Advice
- Dogs are susceptible to the same food allergens as humans. Among the main ones are wheat, dairy products, eggs, nuts, soy, fish and shellfish.
- You can go to butchers to find new types of meat.
