If he is getting recurrent ear infections, especially in the middle of winter (when there aren't many inhalant allergens floating around or fleas) I get really suspicious of food allergies so be sure you have done a true, strict food trial using
a prescription hypoallergenic food.
Not exact matches
In cases where
food ingredients are the cause of discomfort, try a
prescription hypoallergenic diet, suggests WebMD.
For instance, the allergy tests available are not terribly good at determining
food allergies, and therefore instead of identifying a specific
food and avoiding it, we instead recommend feeding a
prescription hypoallergenic diet on a strict trial basis (feed this and nothing else), while gauging to see how your pet responds.
Weekly, bi-monthly or monthly medicated baths, using daily ear washes,
Hypoallergenic prescription diet
food and treats, medications (Apoquel, Atopica, antibiotics, antifungals, allergy immunotherapy, etc), routine lab work and exams are necessary to keep your pet in their best health to avoid flare ups and addressing any skin issues before they become worse.
Prescription dog
foods are diets that have been tailored for your dog's needs and normally contain the above
hypoallergenic ingredients.
If your veterinarian suspects
food allergies, he or she may recommend a
food trial with a
prescription hypoallergenic novel protein diet or hydrolyzed diet.
There is no harm in offering your pet a diet that one leading manufacturer offers as a «brain
food» (
Prescription Diet Canine b / d) or a
hypoallergenic diet (CNM's HA or Hill's z / d).
Hypoallergenic Treats Treats for dogs with
food allergies and skin conditionsBecause dogs on
Prescription Diet brand therapeutic
foods need an occasional treat, at Hill's, nutritionists and veterinarians have developed special treats for dogs on...
Ruling out a
food allergy usually requires feeding a
hypoallergenic diet (
prescription / therapeutic diet) for a couple of months to see if the symptoms improve.
Checking for specific underlying allergies will include feeding your pet a
hypoallergenic (
prescription or therapeutic diet) to rule out a
food allergy.
If you and your vet are able to identify the
food allergen (s) during the
food trial, you will probably be able to find a good over-the-counter
hypoallergenic cat
food to take the place of the very expensive
prescription hypoallergenic cat
food.
In the case of
hypoallergenic diets for pets with
food allergies,
prescription diet companies take special precautions to avoid contamination of these
hypoallergenic diets with common proteins that could evoke allergic responses, using separate facilities or equipment than used for their other
foods.
When I first started working at my vet clinic, all of my doctors were pushing me to feed a
prescription hypoallergenic, hydrolyzed protein
food (primarily Royal Canin's) to my allergy dog.
Some patients will improve during a
food trial with a
prescription hypoallergenic diet.
PS For Dogs 100 %
Hypoallergenic Dog
Food - No More Paw Licking & Skin Scratching — Solves Allergies Naturally - No More Harmful Shots, Pills & Expensive
Prescription Food $ 27.95 $ 34.99
Hypoallergenic Treats Treats for dogs with
food allergies and skin conditionsBecause dogs on
Prescription Diet brand therapeutic
foods need an occasional treat, at Hill's, nutritionists and...
PetMD suggests
foods that are hydrolyzed and
hypoallergenic and available by
prescription only, specifically ones that are highly digestible, contain supplements that promote a healthy GI tract, and have undergone rigorous testing to ensure that cross-contamination has not occurred during the manufacturing process.