Best Dog Foods for Dogs with Allergies

Although your dog may not be allergic to the ingredients in his dog food I am going to write as if he is and recommend some options you can try.

First of all we really never know what is in a bag or can of commercial dog food? Oh yes, you read the label and check to see if you recognize any of the stuff in there, but how can you be sure? Commercial foods contain a lot of by-products and chemicals and are deemed safe to feed to your dog. But what if your dog can’t handle them? What if he vomits or has diarrhea each time he eats? What if he is scratching himself to the bleeding point? He is allergic to something-and it just may be his food. Obviously his system is trying to tell you something!

So, let’s find out which are the best dog foods for dogs with allergies

There are a lot of terrific brands on the market that claim they are all natural products, or have a ‘new and improved’ recipe. Educate yourself by searching online and reading the ingredient list before you jump in and buy a 50 pound bag! Read reviews and see what other people are saying about the brand. Ask your vet what he thinks-although they do tend to recommend their own products first, so you may be backing yourself into a corner by asking.

A really good dry dog food will not contain any chicken or beef-by products. Nor will there be any wheat, corn, soy, yeast or grain included. There has to be sufficient amounts of meat protein and fats that are easy to digest. Dogs are meat eaters by nature-they weren’t meant to eat corn or wheat or any of the other questionable ingredients in their commercial food. They are dogs, not chickens! I have never seen any dog turn down a nice juicy bone in favor of an ear of corn-have you? Or a bowl of wheat or yeast, either. Don’t feed him anything that contains this stuff, because no matter how fast he wolfs it down it isn’t doing him any good and will probably do more harm to his system.

You may find that spending a little more money for a better brand of junk-free dog food will save you money in the long run. Fewer vet bills, a healthier and happier dog that you know is getting the best dog food because you care about him. The same advice applies to any canned food you are feeding. The name may be familiar and you see the ads on television showing bouncy, happy dogs beating their way to the food bowl-but does this mean the food is better for them or is that what they want you to think?

If you are a pet owner do your best to see that what goes into your dog is the best you can afford and that you wouldn’t feed him anything you wouldn’t eat yourself! That sounds a little overboard, but in all seriousness it happens to be true.

If you simply don’t trust the dog foods for dogs with allergies available on the market then you can make your own. There are a lot of great recipes for homemade dog food and treats that you can prepare at home. This is one way to ensure that you know exactly what your dog is eating and feel good about it knowing he is healthy. Just remember-there are certain supplements, nutrients and vitamins a dog needs that are in the dog food and you want to be sure he gets what he needs. Talk to your vet about this before you turn your kitchen into “dog food central!”