Hypoallergenic dog food
[11] Once binding occurs, mast cell degranulation follows, releasing granules that initiate the symptoms of an allergic reaction in the body.
[2] Whether a reaction is truly allergenic in nature or a sensitivity, it is important that hypoallergenic dog foods provide the ingredients necessary to keep canines from experiencing discomfort.
The signs of a canine food allergy or sensitivity vary greatly, but the most common to look for include rashes, swelling, itchy or tender skin, and gastrointestinal upsets.
[2] Beef, soy, chicken, turkey and egg products are commonly used ingredients in commercial dog foods as a source of protein.
[3] Novel sources of protein can be used in place of these allergenic ingredients to meet the feeding requirements for a dog, while minimizing or eliminating the chances of an allergic response.
[20] If symptoms of food allergies persist after the introduction of this type of diet, it can also be helpful for determining the new allergen that is causing the adverse reaction due to the limited number of ingredients.
[6] These essential fatty acids help to manage inflammatory responses by changing the levels of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory eicosanoids produced during a reaction.
[6] This is beneficial to have in hypoallergenic dog food diets to help maintain cell integrity in case damage does occur due to a reaction.
[26] Carbohydrates are large macronutrients which supply energy to the organism consuming them, and include nutrients such as sugars, oligosaccharides, and starches.
[28] Negative digestive effects that accompany dietary food allergies can be reduced by including soluble and insoluble fibers.
Insoluble fibers have a relatively low fermentability, which help to decrease the negative digestive effects such as gas and soft stools.
[8] When soluble fibers are mixed with water they form a gel-like substance which helps to reduce gastric emptying in order to increase the time available for nutrients to be absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract.
Common ingredients in dog food that provide such fibers include beet pulp, cellulose and chicory root.
