Dog & Cat Skin Allergies

Many of us have pets with skin allergies. We suffer watching them suffer. I have a dog with skin allergies. It gets better and then reoccurs. My vet and all the reading I do says skin allergies are not curable, but can be controlled with medicine, diet, and good care.

It takes some effort, so work with your vet to find out what the cause of the skin allergy is. There are many causes. The vet can give skin allergy tests and blood testing to help determine what kind of allergy is haunting your pet.

These are some common causes of skin allergies:

1. Fleas are the most common cause of skin allergies. See my blog on flea control.

2. Food allergies to pet food is the second most common cause of skin allergies.

3. Allergies to pollens, grass, weeds, out door things.

4. Wool, nylon, plastic materials

5. Food additives

6. House dust, dust mites

7. Parasites

8. Molds in the house or air

9. and the list goes on.

You can rule out fleas by keeping your pet and areas the pet uses flea free. Use a good Flea control on a regular basis. Keep the pet clean. For food allergies you can do some detective work. Get your vet to do some testing to uncover known allergens. Put you pet on an elimination diet. Humans also go through a similar process to uncover food allergies. I did this and it really works.

Cats may be allergic to wheat, fish, beef, and dairy products or the coloring and preservatives in the food. Dogs most common food allergens are wheat, beef, dairy products, chicken, wheat, chicken eggs, corn, and soy. You can find out what you pet is allergic to by taking them off all the regular pet food and treats. Feed them steamed rice (brown rice has more nutrition), steamed vegetables like carrots-green beans-brocoli-squash (no onion, garlic) for at least six days. Then add back one item a day from the known allergen group. The next day, try a different allergen. Watch for any signs of reaction or sickness. Consult your vet on this before trying it. The vet may suggest a vitamin supplement as well or have other advice on diets for allery's. Some pets stay on home cooked foods and are very healthy.

Also, there are foods for dogs and cats made for allergies. Some of them are listed here and are available at http://www.everythingnaturalpetfood.com/ .

Food for pets allergic to meat (yes, this allergy truly does exist and needs vegetarian pet food):
AvoDerm Natural Vegetarian Adult Dry Dog Food
For meat sensitive dogs. Antioxidant rich for healthy immune system and highly digestable. Poor skin and coat health are often traced to dietary imbalances.
Ingredients:Ground Whole Rice, Soy Flour, Ground Pearled Barley, Canola Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Avocado Meal, Dicalcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Potatoes, Avocado Oil, Carrots, Peas, Flax Seed, Dried Kelp, Salt, Choline Chloride, Lecithin, Garlic Oil, Dried Garlic Powder, Dried Onion Powder, Dried Yucca Schidigera, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Niacin, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement (Source of Vitamin B Complex), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Source of Vitamin B6), Thiamine Mononitrate (Source of Vitamin B1), Folic Acid, Biotin, Zinc Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Ferrous Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite.

Food for pets with skin & coat conditions caused by food reactions or toxins in food:
Timberwolf Ocean Blue Canid Formula Dog Food
For animals requiring moderate protein diet caused by disease. Suitable for all stages of life, contains linolenic acid or Omega 3 essential fatty acids, herbal extracts and higher levels of mixed tocopheral & vitamin E.Ingredients:Low Ash White Fish Meal, Salmon, Potatoes, Sardine/Mackerel/Anchovy/Tuna Oils, Kelp, Alfalfa Leaf, Potassium Chloride, Amaranth, Carrot, Watercress, Spinach, Celery, Parsley, Fennel Seed, Blueberries, Cranberries, Pears, Figs, Thyme, Anise Seed, Ground Cinnamon Bark, Fenugreek, Garlic Pieces, Sunflower Seeds, Sesame Seeds, Apples, Taurine, Spirulina, Choline Chloride, Lecithin, Probiotics: (Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Lactobacillus Casei, Lactobacillus Lactis, Bacillus Bifidum, Streptococcus Diacetilactis, Bacillus Subtillus), Taurine, Mixed Tocopherols (a source of vitamin E), Lysine, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Thiamine, Methionine, Carnitine, Niacin, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Iodine Proteinate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Folic Acid, Pyridoxine (a source of vitamin B6), Copper Proteinate, Selenium Proteinate, Cobalt Proteinate, Papain, Yucca Schidigera Extract.

For allergies to grains: wheat, soy, corn, etc.
Before Grain Chicken Formula Dry Dog Food "1"Moderate protein rich in high quality meats, blue fruit, nutrient dense vegetables, and high quality oils. Easily processed by sensitive organs such as kidneys.
Ingredients:Chicken Deboned, Chicken Meal, Potato Dehydrated, Turkey Meal, Canola Oil, Sweet Potato Dehydrated, (preserved with mixed tocopherols - a source of Natural Vitamin E and Ascorbic Acid, a source of Vitamin C), Yeast Culture, Natural Dried Chicken Liver, Dicalcium Phosphate, Lysine, Guar Gum, Sea Salt, Alfalfa, Salmon Oil, Choline Chloride, Acai Berry Dried, Blueberry Dried, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Dried Venison Broth, Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Chondroitin Sulfate, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Natural Venison Flavor, Chicory Root, Marigold Extract, Rosemary Extract, Lactobacillus Plantarum, Enterococcus Faecium, Lactobacillus Casei, Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Natural Celery Flavor, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Vitamin E Supplement, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Natural Color (tumeric), Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Copper Amino Acid Complex, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin D3, Niacin, Lecithin, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Cobalt Amino Acid Complex, Folic Acid, Thiamine Mononitrate, Sodium Selenite.

For problem skin & allergies.

Canidae Lamb Meal & Rice Dry Dog Food
No corn, wheat, soy, grain fractions, flours or poultry products. Made with human grade grade lamb and whole grain brown rice.
Ingredients:Lamb Meal, Brown Rice, Canola Oil (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Flax Seed, Sun cured Alfalfa Meal, Sunflower Oil, Lamb, Lecithin, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Linoleic Acid, Rosemary Extract, Sage Extract, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Aspergillus Oryzae Fermentation Extract, Dried Bacillus Subtilis Fermentation Extract, Inulin (from Chicory Root), Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Fermentation Solubles, L-Lysine, Taurine, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Mixed Tocopherols (source of Vitamin E), Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Cobalt Amino Acid Chelate, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Ascorbic Acid (source of Vitamin C), Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Riboflavin (source of Vitamin B2), Beta Carotene, Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Calcium Iodate, Folic Acid, D-Biotin, Organic Selenium, Dried Papaya, Dried Pineapple, Vitamin B12 Supplement.

Food for cats with allergies
Natural Balance Green Pea & Duck Formula Canned Food
Special allergy formula made for cats and kittens with allergies. Single source protein and single souce carbohydrate blend.
Ingredients: Duck, Duck Broth, Duck Liver, Pea Flour, Duck Meal, Pea Protein, Salmon Oil, Dicalcium Phosphate, Guar Gum, Potassium Chloride, Taurine, Sodium Chloride, Flaxseed, Dried Cranberries, Yucca Schidigera, Carrageenan, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Calcium Iodate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B 12 Supplement.

Food additives to booster the healing caused by allergies
NUPRO Health Nuggets for Cats: Does not contain preservatives, fillers, sugar, corn, wheat, or by products.
Ingredients:Norwegian Kelp, Nutritional Yeast Culture, Flaxseed, Desiccated Liver, Fish Meal, Alfalfa, Bee Pollen, Garlic, Bone Meal, Lecithin, Lactobicillus Acidophilus.

Additional Food Supplements to help allergies:

PetGuard Natual Digestive Enzyme Blend for Cats:
Enzymes allow for natural absorption of life sustaining nutrients of food. Enzymes help fight allergy conditions, bad breath, gas & bloatedness, skin & coat problems, obesity & joint discomfort, immune & digestive system disorders.
Ingredients:Bromelain, Amylase, Cellulase, Lipase, Acid Protease, Alpha Galactosidase, Phytase, L. Acidophilus and Bifidus, Calcium Carbonate.
PetGuard Natural Digestive Enzyme Blend for Dogs:
Enzymes allow for natural absorption of life sustaining nutrients of food. Enzymes help fight allergy conditions, bad breath, gas & bloatedness, skin & coat problems, obesity & joint discomfort, immune & digestive system disorders.
Ingredients: Bromelain, Amylase, Cellulase, Lipase, Acid Protease, Alpha Galactosidase, Phytase, L. Acidophilus and Bifidus, Calcium Carbonate

Recommendations for a Fatty Acid supplement as well as Biotin should be added to your cat's diet.

If you would like to continue cooking homemade pet food, try one of the many pet food cook books at http://www.everythingnaturalpetfood.com/PetEducationBooks.html. Many of the 98 available homemade pet food cook books have sections for allergy diets. Also, books in the pet wellness care section have many books with information on pet allergies. I have several of them myself and use them often to assist my knowledge in caring for my three dogs.

All products are available at EverythingNaturalPetFood.com. Click on dog or cat food, click on brand of food, click on specific name of food. For enzyme additives, click on Wellness Care, Allergies, page 2. Cat food found at Everything Natural Pet Food, click on Natural Cat Food, click on Natural Balance, click on name of pet food.