By DogLovely Team
Which treats are best for dogs on hydrolyzed protein diet? Is your canine allergic to dietary proteins? Is hydrolyzed protein good for dogs? Your four-legged friend can still have a delicious treat!
How to Choose the Best Food for Your Dog?
Dogs require protein in their diet to keep them healthy. The muscles, hormones, and antibodies in your pooch’s body are all proteins. To fuel their body, your pooch takes in proteins from their food and breaks them down into amino acids, which is then made into new proteins.
However, some dogs can be allergic to dietary proteins. This can trigger an abnormal immune response, causing your pup to exhibit symptoms like itching, diarrhea, and vomiting.
To help prevent your pup from experiencing gastrointestinal or skin issues caused by dietary proteins, hydrolyzed dog food and treats are an ideal option. Hydrolysis uses water to break down proteins into small pieces so your pup’s immune system doesn’t react to them.
Is Hydrolyzed Protein Good for Dogs?
Food allergies in dogs occur when the gut begins to see benign dietary proteins as harmful. This mounts an immune response against the proteins, causing an array of symptoms. If your pooch is allergic to a type of food, they might have itchiness, skin lesions, hair loss, frequent skin or ear infections, and digestive discomfort.
Most food allergies start before your pup is less than a year of age, but they can also develop at any age. Some allergies can form after switching to a new diet or even after years of eating the same food.
Hydrolyzed protein dog food is good for dogs with potential food sensitivities as the hydrolysis process helps reduce the immune system overreacting. If you suspect your pup has a food allergy, you should feed them a hydrolyzed protein food for at least two months to help diagnose an allergy.
Alternatively, you could use a food made from a single-protein source that your dog hasn’t eaten before. If your dog?s symptoms improve on their new food but resurface on their old food, then a food allergy can be diagnosed.
Can Dogs Be Allergic to Hydrolyzed Protein?
Dogs can?t be allergic to the method of hydrolysis, but they can be allergic to the protein source. The most common protein allergens in dogs include soy, chicken, pork, and beef. If you suspect your pup is allergic to their food, then it’s a good idea to use a brand with a more uncommon protein source like fish and venison.
What Are the Best Treats for Dogs with Allergies?
When your pooch has allergies, finding treats that don’t trigger a reaction can be difficult. A lot of store-bought snacks for dogs contain a large list of ingredients, particularly fillers and artificial additives.
Treats that contain a small number of ingredients are a good choice for dogs with allergies as they?re less likely to cause symptoms. These are often called ‘limited-ingredient treats’ or single-ingredient treats. The latter are especially beneficial for dogs with skin or digestive issues as they only contain one ingredient.
The way dog treats are manufactured and processed can affect your pup’s allergies. Treats that are subjected to high heat or a lot of preservatives can change the natural qualities of the formula, which can cause your dog to display symptoms to an ingredient they might not even be sensitive to.
For this reason, natural treats that are minimally processed and don’t use any artificial colors, preservatives, or flavors are a solid option as they’re healthier for your pup. Like I mentioned earlier, the most common allergens in dogs are soy, chicken, pork, and beef. Using treats that don?t contain these foods in their formula are worth considering, particularly if you?re not sure what your pup is allergic to.
Treats that use vegetables (like sweet potato and pumpkin) or alternative protein sources are your best bet for a dog with allergies. You might want to consider grain-free and dairy-free snacks for your pooch, too.
Treats for Dogs on Hydrolyzed Protein Diet
If your dog is on a hydrolyzed protein diet, you should opt for hydrolyzed protein dog treats or those with limited ingredients. These allow you to give your pup a tasty snack without upsetting their stomach or triggering a reaction. Natural or unbaked treats can also be beneficial as they’re minimally processed.
Hydrolyzed soy protein dog treats are a good option if your pooch follows a vegan or vegetarian diet (or to mix up the protein sources your pup consumes), but be cautious as soy can be a common allergen in dogs.
If your dog is elderly or has dental problems, consider using hydrolyzed protein soft dog treats. These are much gentler on your pooch’s mouth as they have a soft and chewy texture. Hard treats, while advantageous for reducing plaque and tartar buildup, can be difficult to chew for senior pooches or those with poor dental health.
Conclusion
If you suspect or are currently dealing with a dog with food allergies, then switching your pup?s food to a hydrolyzed protein one can be hugely beneficial. This type of diet can help improve symptoms associated with a food sensitivity as it’s less likely to trigger an immune response in your pooch.
To go with your dog’s hydrolyzed protein diet, it’s also recommended to use hydrolyzed protein dog treats or brands that use limited and natural ingredients.
