Food Intolerances in Dogs
Food intolerances, defined as a dog inability to digest a certain kind of dog food, are far more common in dogs than food allergies. Compare dog food intolerances to allergies: only 10% to 12% of the canine population has allergies while up to 50% could suffer from an intolerance. Nearly half of all dogs are unable to stomach a certain kind of food and could become sick within half an hour of consuming it.
There is a distinction that needs to be made between food allergies and food intolerances. Food allergies are true allergies and show the characteristic symptoms of itching and skin problems associated with canine and feline allergies. Food intolerances can result in diarrhea or vomiting and do not create a typical allergic response. Food intolerances in pets would be similar to people that get diarrhea or an upset stomach from eating spicy or fried foods. Fortunately, both food intolerances and allergies can be eliminated with a diet free from offending agents.
While milk is not necessary to a dog diet, it can be a treat if given from time to time. However, some dogs cannot tolerate milk because they do not produce an enzyme called lactase. Lactase helps with the digestion of lactose, which is found in milk. After weaning, the level of lactase activity falls to about 10 per cent of its peak activity. In some animals, diarrhea will occur if more lactose (i.e. milk) is consumed than the pet can digest. This is called “lactose intolerance”. On the contrary, in dogs that are able to tolerate it, milk can be an excellent source of protein and calcium.
A dog may develop intolerance to foods that they have been eating for years. Closely monitoring your dog diet is the best way to manage an intolerance. Vitamins and minerals are essential in maintaining tissue and are required for energy. Every time you feed your dog food that he or she cannot stomach, your dog is missing out on these necessary nutrients.
Most dogs do best with a varied diet. Variety helps keep immune systems strong and maintain good health. It also may help prevent food intolerance, obesity, allergies and other problems. Variety may also protect a dog from nutrient deficiencies not yet discovered by science. Many people provide variety by first feeding a dry food that matches the dietary requirements of the breed, age, activity level and overall health. Then they rotate high quality canned or raw foods for protein from a variety of sources.
It is important to identify an intolerance as soon as possible. There are several ingredients in commercial and natural dog food and any one of them could be the cause of the problem. Often there is information in the latest dog food reviews that can help you find a healthy alternative for your dog.
If your dog intolerance is caused by a common ingredient, then you will need to read labels extra carefully before feeding your dog anything. Management of dog food intolerances is relatively simple once the root of the problem is identified.
By: Alan Low
About the Author:
There is a distinction that needs to be made between food allergies and food intolerances. Food allergies are true allergies and show the characteristic symptoms of itching and skin problems associated with canine and feline allergies. Food intolerances can result in diarrhea or vomiting and do not create a typical allergic response. Food intolerances in pets would be similar to people that get diarrhea or an upset stomach from eating spicy or fried foods. Fortunately, both food intolerances and allergies can be eliminated with a diet free from offending agents.
While milk is not necessary to a dog diet, it can be a treat if given from time to time. However, some dogs cannot tolerate milk because they do not produce an enzyme called lactase. Lactase helps with the digestion of lactose, which is found in milk. After weaning, the level of lactase activity falls to about 10 per cent of its peak activity. In some animals, diarrhea will occur if more lactose (i.e. milk) is consumed than the pet can digest. This is called “lactose intolerance”. On the contrary, in dogs that are able to tolerate it, milk can be an excellent source of protein and calcium.
A dog may develop intolerance to foods that they have been eating for years. Closely monitoring your dog diet is the best way to manage an intolerance. Vitamins and minerals are essential in maintaining tissue and are required for energy. Every time you feed your dog food that he or she cannot stomach, your dog is missing out on these necessary nutrients.
Most dogs do best with a varied diet. Variety helps keep immune systems strong and maintain good health. It also may help prevent food intolerance, obesity, allergies and other problems. Variety may also protect a dog from nutrient deficiencies not yet discovered by science. Many people provide variety by first feeding a dry food that matches the dietary requirements of the breed, age, activity level and overall health. Then they rotate high quality canned or raw foods for protein from a variety of sources.
It is important to identify an intolerance as soon as possible. There are several ingredients in commercial and natural dog food and any one of them could be the cause of the problem. Often there is information in the latest dog food reviews that can help you find a healthy alternative for your dog.
If your dog intolerance is caused by a common ingredient, then you will need to read labels extra carefully before feeding your dog anything. Management of dog food intolerances is relatively simple once the root of the problem is identified.
By: Alan Low
About the Author:
I have studied the topic of dog allergies for about ten years. My goal is to help the dog owners to have better understanding of the treatment options in treating dog allergies. Find out more information about food allergies in dogs at my site.
Cure your Ibs Symptoms Through Ibs Diet
Irritable bowel syndrome or IBS is a disorder that didn’t become commonly known until 1992. Although IBS is still largely a mysterious disease, it is now more easily diagnosed by doctors because more symptoms have been identified. Some symptoms of IBS include stomach cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, constipation and diarrhea. IBS is not a life threatening disease, but it can cause great discomfort, distress and embarrassment to people who suffer from it.
Many IBS sufferers claim that their IBS symptoms are exacerbated by certain foods. If you have IBS, you will need to do some trial and error before you can identify exactly which food trigger your IBS symptoms. Keep in mind that the foods that trigger IBS in other IBS sufferers may not trigger your IBS symptoms and vice versa. This is because IBS is a very individual disorder.
The first thing that most people do once they are diagnosed with IBS is get on a strict diet, avoiding most food groups. In general, this is not a good thing because it deprives the body of the necessary nutrients in order for it to function. If you have been diagnosed with IBS, the best thing you can do is start taking out the more common IBS trigger foods from your diet. These foods include the following:
* foods high in oil content such as cooking oil, butter, spread, sauce, salad dressing, fried food and fast food
* milk and dairy products
* solid chocolate
* alcoholic drinks
* caffeinated drinks like coffee and soda
* foods that contain MSG, preservatives, additives, and artificial flavoring and sweetener
* sugar alcohols, which cause diarrhea
* foods like broccoli, corn and cauliflower that can cause gas
* starchy foods like potatoes, pasta, pumpkin, noodles and rice
While there are foods that can trigger IBS symptoms, there are foods that are safe for people with IBS:
* foods that contain soluble fiber (e.g., oatmeal, rice, banana and white bread)
* foods that contain insoluble fiber (e.g., raw vegetables and fruits)
* tofu, which is a rich source of protein and is easily digestible
* probiotics, which provide good bacteria in the gut for strengthening the digestive system
If you are worried that you won’t be able to eat foods you like because of your disorder, there’s good news. You only really need to avoid IBS trigger foods for a while to give your digestive system time to stabilize. You can then slowly add back some foods into your diet. However, you need to do this one food at a time. If your digestive system accepts the food without triggering any IBS symptoms, you can continue consuming it. It can be very time consuming to identify the foods that are safe for you and the ones that can trigger your IBS symptoms, but there is no other way you’ll find out.
By: Jen Miller
About the Author:
Many IBS sufferers claim that their IBS symptoms are exacerbated by certain foods. If you have IBS, you will need to do some trial and error before you can identify exactly which food trigger your IBS symptoms. Keep in mind that the foods that trigger IBS in other IBS sufferers may not trigger your IBS symptoms and vice versa. This is because IBS is a very individual disorder.
The first thing that most people do once they are diagnosed with IBS is get on a strict diet, avoiding most food groups. In general, this is not a good thing because it deprives the body of the necessary nutrients in order for it to function. If you have been diagnosed with IBS, the best thing you can do is start taking out the more common IBS trigger foods from your diet. These foods include the following:
* foods high in oil content such as cooking oil, butter, spread, sauce, salad dressing, fried food and fast food
* milk and dairy products
* solid chocolate
* alcoholic drinks
* caffeinated drinks like coffee and soda
* foods that contain MSG, preservatives, additives, and artificial flavoring and sweetener
* sugar alcohols, which cause diarrhea
* foods like broccoli, corn and cauliflower that can cause gas
* starchy foods like potatoes, pasta, pumpkin, noodles and rice
While there are foods that can trigger IBS symptoms, there are foods that are safe for people with IBS:
* foods that contain soluble fiber (e.g., oatmeal, rice, banana and white bread)
* foods that contain insoluble fiber (e.g., raw vegetables and fruits)
* tofu, which is a rich source of protein and is easily digestible
* probiotics, which provide good bacteria in the gut for strengthening the digestive system
If you are worried that you won’t be able to eat foods you like because of your disorder, there’s good news. You only really need to avoid IBS trigger foods for a while to give your digestive system time to stabilize. You can then slowly add back some foods into your diet. However, you need to do this one food at a time. If your digestive system accepts the food without triggering any IBS symptoms, you can continue consuming it. It can be very time consuming to identify the foods that are safe for you and the ones that can trigger your IBS symptoms, but there is no other way you’ll find out.
By: Jen Miller
About the Author:
Are you looking for an IBS Cure ?Then it is vital to first have a good knowledge of what IBS is and how to mange it. Symptoms Of IBS is a comprehensive resource with lots of information on Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Jen Miller is a health and fitness enthusiast. She currently runs a website at http://www.symptomsofibs.org to help people deal with IBS in their lives.