07 Feb 10 Treating Food Allergies in Felines

An allergic food reaction happens when a number of ingredients in a pet’s food is understood to be ‘foreign’ by the pet’s immunity mechanism and this in turn initiates an inflammatory mechanism to defeat this understood ‘intruder’.

The common manifestations connected with food allergies are itching, gnawing and licking. The skin’s food hypersensitivity also causes skin conditions with some pets experiencing gut rot and other digestive issues too. Curiously some allergies feline experience may start after a pet has started on a new diet or perhaps after the pet has been eating the same food type for some years.

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Tags: allergic food reaction, allergies, allergies feline

28 Jan 10 Raw Food Dog Diet

Less than a hundred years ago, most dogs ate as wolves did. They ate raw food, meat and bone. Science has shown how closely dogs are related to the wolf through DNA comparisons. The difference between the two is only one percent! Both dogs and wolves need the enzymes and nutrients found in raw, uncooked, unprocessed food. Their teeth are designed to shred and grind up meat and bone. The enzymes within their short digestive track are able to deal with harmful bacteria such as salmonella.

A wolf’s diet has a natural variety. Some days he doesn’t eat at all. On some days his diet may include a raw omelet. On others, he and the pack may feast on a deer, starting with the innards, working toward muscle, and then bone, all over a multi-day time frame. Dogs who are fed commercially available canned and dry dog food can benefit from more variety. Mix in some leftover chicken or turkey. Add a turkey neck or other soft bone occasionally.

An example of a raw food diet for dogs would contain meaty, but soft boned entrees such as chicken wings and back, and turkey necks. Other meals could be raw meat and pulpy vegetables. We had a foster dog, Golden Retriever, who took trips to our backyard garden and helped himself to a mouthful of kale. He liked carrots too. Liver, gizzards, and raw eggs are also excellent choices for a raw dog food diet.

The raw food diet may not be for all dog owners, but once the benefits are considered, perhaps more owners will at least give their canine companions a healthier variety. Some of the benefits to this diet are: better hydration, fewer ear infections, cleaner teeth, enhanced immune system, fewer allergic reactions, fewer anal gland problems, and less doggy smell.

Do not feed your dog cooked bones. They are brittle and can splinter. If your dog has digestive problems or other chronic ailments, discuss with your veterinarian the possibilities of putting your dog companion on a raw food diet. For more information on dogs and dog behavior, go to Dog Training Courses. For tips and ideas on treats, visit Dog Training Treats.