What is Food Intolerance in Dogs?
This is the second part in our series about food allergies and food intolerance. In our first post we talked specifically about food allergies. In this post, we’ll look at how a food intolerance is different from a food allergy. Want to read Part 1 of this series?
Both food allergies and food intolerance in dogs are caused by a reaction to a particular ingredient. With a food allergy, the immune system is involved. A food intolerance is a digestive problem rather than an immune response. The intolerance refers to a gastrointestinal response triggered by certain ingredients.
Signs of a Food Intolerance
What are some of the signs? They can include digestive distress – gas, bloating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or irritable bowel, failure to gain weight or a weight loss.
Causes of a Food Intolerance
A dog experiencing intolerance problems may be sensitive or intolerant to one main ingredient in the dog food such as beef, chicken, lamb or fish. The problem ingredient could be one or more of the artificial colors, preservatives, texturizers, palatability enhancers or other substances in any of the 27 categories of allowable pet food additives. These ingredients aren’t what you’d normally consider to be in dog food, but they are there. Due to the hundreds of different ingredients used in poor quality commercial pet food, it’s not surprising that some of them cause problems for dogs.
Treatment for Your Dog’s Food Intolerance
The treatment usually includes an elimination diet for 8-12 weeks, supervised by your veterinarian. Food intolerances often clear up quickly once the offending food is eliminated. If you see any of these symptoms in your dog, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian.
What Type of Treats Would Be Best?
At Eli & Jojo’s, all of our treats are grain-free. This eliminates the worry of allergies to grains. In addition, we never use any artificial ingredients, preservatives, colors or flavors, and absolutely no fillers or by-products. Every ingredient is organic and human-grade quality, which means you can buy it in a grocery store and you probably have it in your own home. Yes, you could eat our dog treats! Have a look at our Grain-Free Treats.
Want to read a bit more about food intolerance in dogs? Check out these two links.
Dietary Reactions in Dogs
Dr. Karen Becker
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Eli & Jojo’s dog treats are premium treats made with wholesome, real food.. We never use artificial colors, flavors or preservatives, wheat, corn, soy or salt or sugar. Real Food. Simple Ingredients.
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