Is your dog allergic to his food?

Answer 1

It's always wise to consult your Veterinarian when your pet's health is in question.

However, the answer is "yes" - many dogs actually ARE allergic to their dog food. All too many commercial pet foods are made with inferior ingredients. You can easily read on the internet about the Five D's of pet food which refers to the fact that the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) still, to this day, permit pet food manufacturers to use meat rendered from Dead, Diseased, Dying, Disabled and/or Drugged animals.

Beyond the ugliness of the Five D's in pet food, many major brands of pet food include corn, wheat and soy cereal grains. While these are used by major pet food manufacturers to meet the protein levels by the AAFCO as cheaply as possible, these grains are highly indigestible to most dogs and are known allergens. Corn is reported to be the #3 causing allergen in cats and dogs.

Avoid pet foods that include the following ingredients on the label: corn, ground yellow corn, corn gluten meal, whole grain corn, ground whole wheat, whole grain sorghum, wheat flour and others.

By-Products are also indigestible protein sources and may include animal hide, bones, bills and feet. These ingredients can also introduce contaminants to a pet food.

Finally, chemical preservatives can cause pets physical distress. BHA, BHT and Ethoxyquin are common chemical preservatives found in many pet foods that can cause serious harm to your pet, including liver failure.

Fortunately, there are healthy, reliable pet food manufacturers on the market today who make all natural, chemical-free pet food from high quality, human grade ingredients. You may be interested to watch a free online video offered by one such pet food manufacturer at www.BestFoodForYourPet.com.

In any case, be sure to look at the ingredients used to make your pet's food. Learn how to read a pet food label, and do your homework to ensure your pet is getting the best nutritional diet.