Is your companion itchy? Does she have digestive difficulties? These are some of the most common issues that cause guardians to seek veterinary care for their companions. Sometimes it is difficult to get to the bottom of those troublesome itches and tummy upsets. They may be a sign of food allergies or sensitivities.
The most common symptoms of allergies are:
- excessive scratching
- licking
- paw chewing
Additional symptoms of allergies:
- chronic ear infections
- respiratory symptoms such as coughing or nasal congestion
- eye discharge
- vomiting
- loose stools & diarrhea
- inflammatory bowel disease
Many holistic veterinarians also believe that seizures, arthritis, asthma and chronic urinary tract infections can be caused or complicated by food allergies.
If you and your veterinarian have ruled out other causes of your companion’s itchiness such as fleas, mange, ringworm or infection, then changing the diet may help alleviate the itch. If tummy troubles are the predominant symptom, a diet change may help this as well.
Controlling Allergies with a Raw Food Diet
Many dogs with food sensitivities and allergies have seen dramatic improvements by switching to a raw food diet. It’s a good idea to stick with one protein source when you begin the new diet, and then switch to another if symptoms do not begin to subside after 10 days on a raw food diet. Often the change to raw food and elimination of grains is all it takes to begin to see improvement. If symptoms persist, however, then switch to another protein source for another 10 days. Duck, buffalo and turkey are often good proteins to use for an allergic animal.
If you typically mix kibble with raw, it is best to eliminate the kibble component of the diet until symptoms subside. Then find a high-quality kibble, preferably grain-free, that contains the same protein you are feeding in the raw diet.
Essential Fatty Acid (EFA) supplementation with high quality fish oil can be beneficial for both itchy skin and digestive troubles. EFA’s aid in reducing inflammation and support the health of both the skin and the lining of the digestive tract.
Keep in mind that any secondary bacterial or yeast infections must be treated during the switch. Hot spots must be closely monitored as infection can easily ensue. These must be controlled with bathing and topical treatments while the animal’s immune system is recovering.
Resources:
Natural Veterinary Medicine by Susan G. Wynn and Steve Marsden
Herbs for Pets by Gregory L. Tilford and Mary L. Wulff
(More in my next post.)