Food allergies are common in pets, especially dogs and wheat is often one of the culprits for poor health, itchy skin and a dull coat.
As a dog lover myself, I’ve treated past pets for skin conditions brought on by high concentrations of protein in their foods but some reactions can include ear infections, diarrhoea and vomiting.
There are a wide range of hypo-allergenic and low-allergen diet foods available but it takes time to diagnose and treat. Treating the symptoms as recommended by a vet is the first step but often the next stage is trial and error to see what is causing the reaction. Changing an animals’ food can be tricky and often requires blending with current foods over time to avoid upsetting it further, particularly in rabbits and small animals.
The most common causes of upset include beef, wheat, soya, dairy and artificial additives. High concentrations of a particular nutrient can also be a source of discomfort.
If your pet is suffering from a long term undiagnosed condition it could well be worth a change in diet. Ask your vet first but also have a look at the ingredients on your pet food and treats and try cutting down certain elements for a time to see if there is a change.
For online pet stores who deliver a range of alternative healthy pet foods try some of these:
BestPet.co.uk (UK & NI delivery)
MedicAnimal (IE delivery)
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