Natural Dog Food

What do I do if I think my dog's allergic to their food?

The first thing to remember is there's a difference between a food intolerance and a food allergy. An intolerance means your dog has difficulty digesting a particular ingredient. A food allergy means an immune response is triggered as their body has identified a particular ingredient as harmful. The physical signs you see from your dog are the result of their immune system creating defensive antibodies.

There are plenty of allergy tests you can buy yourself these days and many have good reviews but there is little scientific evidence to support their accuracy. A talk with your vet is always a good starting point if you're concerned about your dog's health and if they believe your dog might be suffering from a food allergy or intolerance, the elimination method is usually the most effective. Take the dog off their regular food (and treats!) for at least four weeks and introduce them to something they've never had before with a minimal ingredient list and as natural as possible. Once their digestive system has had time to recover, start introducing their old foods, one at a time, until you've pinpointed the route cause.

We're always happy to offer advice as well, our first priority is the health of your dog and we always make sure our advice is impartial so let us know what's troubling your dog, and we'll see what we can do to help.

What's the difference between a dog food allergy and a food intolerance?

An intolerance is likely to be confined to digestive symptoms whereas an allergy could also manifest as skin problems too. The most common signs to look for if you suspect your dog has a sensitivity to any of their food are:

• Itchy, scratchy, flaky skin
• Lethargy
• Hyperactivity
• Ear problems
• Light brown loose stools
• Diarrhoea
• Slime or jelly like substance being passed with stools
• Flatulence
• Bloating
• Weight gain or loss

Signs like itchy skin, ear problems or hyperactivity could be the sign of a food intolerance or the result of their environment. Changing your fabric softener could be enough to give your dog itchy skin just like it could in humans so it's important to address any change in your dog's behaviour as calmly as possible.

Can my dog inherit allergies?

Yes, if you know your dog's parent had an allergy, there's a chance your dog could have it too. Any responsible breeder would always advise their new puppy owners of any known allergies or sensitivities. Forewarned is forearmed and once you know, you can make sure your new puppy has a healthy and comfortable diet for life.