The incidence of allergy symptoms in pets is increasing all over the world. Gastrointestinal and skin disorders of allergic origin can manifest in a variety of symptoms, the most common being vomiting, diarrhea or skin symptoms associated with itching and hair loss. Many chicken breeders blame the background of the symptoms.
Manufacturers of MARS, Pedigree, Whiskas, Sheba, and other brands have asked famous local veterinarians to dispel misconceptions about allergies. Dr. Peter Kiraly is a specialist veterinarian He has been researching pet allergies for thirty years. In his opinion, allergies have become a “folk disease” in dogs today, occurring in approximately one in ten dogs. In addition to food, dogs with allergies can be sensitive to various substances in the environment. In a third of affected dogs, the first symptoms appear before the age of one year. The most common symptoms of a food allergy are the same amount of itching in all seasons, redness, and a small rash on the feet, ears, or around the rectum, but ear problems and gastrointestinal complaints (such as vomiting and diarrhea) occur with skin symptoms.
Recently, many misconceptions have arisen in Hungary about chicken allergy, so a large part of animal breeders are trying to exclude chicken meat from the diet of their pets. However, about one-tenth of dogs with allergy symptoms are allergic to food, including hypersensitivity to chicken meat. “Most allergic reactions (90%) are caused by environmental allergens (such as dust mites and pollen). The most common causes of food allergies are beef, dairy, wheat, eggs, chicken, lamb, pork, rabbit, and certain types of fish. Chicken is just one of many of allergens, which is not at the top of the list: according to statistics, beef and soybeans are the most common causes of diagnosis. ” The vet confirmed.
Dr. Peter Kiraly also drew attention to the fact that if our pet has a food allergy, it may be sensitive to many allergens, for example nearly a third of chicken allergy sufferers are also sensitive to fish protein. In addition, a food allergy is the so-called may also be associated with a respiratory allergy, which intensifies the picture. Our dog is ten times more likely to have symptoms of bronchial allergens (eg ragweed) than the protein in a particular food (eg chicken). Chicken allergy is an existing problem, but it only affects a narrow camp of dogs.
How do you prove a food allergy?
The way to make the diagnosis is a strict test diet that can contain only protein and starch with which the dog has not been in contact before. The selection and implementation of a special diet for 8-10 weeks requires great care, so it is advisable to consult a veterinarian before starting the diet. Also keep in mind that during the testing period, your pet should not receive any liquids or nutritional supplements (such as a reward wall) other than water.
The diagnosis of a food allergy is confirmed if clinical symptoms disappear or ease significantly within a few weeks of feeding the test diet. If you are wondering which component of your favorite food is hyperallergenic, you can start adding protein sources and carbohydrates that you got before the diet one by one in addition to the hypoallergenic diet. If the symptoms worsen with the administration of some ingredients, then we can say that our puppy is allergic to the particular food, and feeding him should be avoided in the future.
Clearly detecting hypersensitivity to chicken meat is a multifactorial task, so if a food allergy is suspected, consult a veterinarian to establish the correct diagnosis, preferably at an early stage of symptoms.
The most common misconceptions about pet food:
1. Ready-to-eat dog food is made from second-grade meat
Only meat left over from processing meat intended for human consumption can be used to produce dog food.
2. Parf, or raw nutrition as natural as possible
Your dog is not a wild animal, and eating raw meat can put you at risk of disease because raw meat can introduce a number of dangerous pathogens into your dog’s body. “Feeding raw meat or offal can infect your dog with a number of bacteria (such as salmonella) and parasites (such as protozoan tapeworms) that can sometimes cause serious or even fatal illnesses. Excessive protein intake can harm the organs of the body,” said the famous vet. The dog, especially the liver and kidneys, long-term.
3. And home-cooked food is the best, because a dog can eat what a human can eat
Homemade leftovers or home-cooked foods rarely provide enough nutrients for dogs or cats, so a home diet can harm the health and vitality of pets, which may be linked to a risk of obesity and other health problems.
It is the responsibility of the veterinarian to determine the weight of the dog according to its age and lifestyle and to adjust the daily food intake, as well as to make a diagnosis when allergic symptoms are detected. The guard is responsible for taking care of your pet and following veterinary recommendations.
