Puppy food has been one of the most common causes of allergies in dogs and puppies. Most dog-owners have difficulty dissecting whether or not the symptoms presented are due to a food allergy or other allergic conditions, because it’s almost the same. Remember though, the onset of a food allergy may be acute or develop gradually over a period of days, weeks, months or even years. Therefore, it is possible for your puppy to be allergic to the food that you are presently giving him, but he hasn’t developed any symptoms yet. Sometimes, it requires continuous exposure to the allergens before an allergic reaction will develop. Studies show that almost 70% of food allergies are caused by feeding the puppy the same puppy food for more than two years.

The most essential thing for any responsible owner of a canine is to know exactly how a food allergy looks when it presents itself in your pouch.

* First, you’ll see skin conditions. Overly hard and frequent licking and scratching are dead giveaways. Obviously, your pup’s skin itches way more than it should. He may even grate his head, back, butt, or other parts of his body on the carpet, floors, walls, or furniture to try and end his itching pain. Digging and chewing on his skin repeatedly can result in further irritation, swelling, flakiness, and even bleeding. He could even begin losing hair.

* Digestive Problems If your puppy has a food allergy, expect to see him vomit, excessively pass gas, and have loose bowel movements.

* Breathing Difficulties Like all allergies, it may lead to conditions that can impair breathing such as, coughing, sneezing, and wheezing.

Now, let’s explore some things you can do to help prevent / treat these reactions.

* When the allergic reaction starts to manifest, take your pup off her current food. The next step is to begin slowly returning the ingredients of this puppy food formula, ONE ingredient at a time. By doing so, you can pinpoint exactly which ingredient is causing your pup’s allergies when systems return. You will then know just which ingredient, or ingredients, to remove from your dog’s diet. Of course, you should consult you vet before starting this elimination diet. With consent however, your vet should recommend following this diet for 12 weeks.

* You can also feed your young canine a hypo-allergenic puppy food with more pure and healthy ingredients like vegetables, potatoes, rice, duck, and lamb.

* Your pup can be desensitized. To desensitize (or hypo-sensitize) your pup simply means that your veterinarian administers a routine regimen of small-scale injections to built up a tolerance to certain allergens. Antibodies are then created to fight off reactions that allergies can otherwise cause.

* Antihistamine These are medications that are used to treat allergies, both in animals and humans. Ask your doctor for help regarding the proper use of antihistamines on your dogs.

* Blood and skin testing is also available. Veterinarians specializing in animal dermatology can perform these tests. Research shows a very high rate of accuracy with these tests in pinpointing specific allergies, thereby eliminating any doubt as to which puppy food ingredients to remove from your pup’s diet.

If you’ve just picked up your family’s new furry addition and want to find out the right way to care for your puppy, then check out Puppy Pet Supplies for helpful tips and advice on puppy training, and so much more! Plus, discover how to potty train your puppy effectively and quickly!

Related posts:

  1. Choosing The Right Canine Allergy Remedy
  2. Reasons To Choose Natural Dog Allergy Remedies
  3. Food allergies
  4. Dog Allergy Treatments
  5. Dogs With Allergies Can Be Subjected To Great Suffering And Food Can Be A Common Source.

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