Diet / Nutrition

Food Hypersensitivity (Allergy)
The hypersensitivity to a food happens when a dog develops an allergic reaction to one or more specific ingredients of his food. This condition may start at any age, even in dogs less than 1 year old.

In general, the allergic reaction most commonly seen in dogs is an allergic skin reaction. Usually this means the dog is constantly biting and scratching himself, causing skin damage and hair loss. This could lead to bacterial infections on damaged areas.

Other signs include vomiting and chronic diarrhea. The feces may be extremely odorous, soft, frequent and with mucus. Affected animals may be excessively thin despite good appetite.

The most common allergen that cause this condition are large proteins, associated with one or more protein sources in a commercial pet food. Beef, pork, cereal grains, and chicken are common allergens. It is moderately rare that dogs develop allergic reactions to more than one component of the food, but they can present sequential sensitivities to different ingredients.

The best way to deal with this kind of hypersensitivity is the use of elimination diets. These foods contain sources of protein and carbohydrates to which the dog has not been previously exposed, and therefore they couldn’t generate a sensitivity response. This kind of diet must be fed exclusively, with no additional table scraps or treats during the first stage to obtain a proper diagnosis.

Since the diagnosis and treatment of this syndrome consist in identifying the appropriate allergen and removing it from the diet, owners and vets play a very important role in helping the dog to improve his health condition, and they can make a big difference between having a dog with chronic itchiness and discomfort or one healthy and free of skin lesions.

If your veterinarian or you suspect your dog is become allergic to the components of his current food, think about using a new source of protein, that will diminish the risk. 1^st Choice Super Premium, Maintenance, Lamb and rice formula of high quality for adult dogs, represents an excellent alternative to change your traditional pet food.

Thinking about the health and well-being of your dog, 1^st Choice developed a Super Premium, Hypoallergenic, Duck formula, which includes a special mixture of duck meal, a new superior quality source of protein to help reduce the possible allergens, as well as potato meal and rice, two highly-digestible and low-allergenic sources of carbohydrates. This formula may help your pet solve his scratching and digestion problems once and for all!!