What is hypoallergenic dog food?

Hypoallergenic dog food does not have one specific definition. In the base it goes for the following. Hypoallergenic dog food is formulated to reduce the chance of an allergic reaction. There are several ways to ensure that the food is low in allergens. That is why there is confusion about the definition of hypoallergenic dog food.

Recognise an allergy in your dog?

In the case of a food allergy, a dog's immune system reacts hypersensitively to a particular ingredient in the food. Although every dog can react differently to an allergy, the following symptoms are common.

Skin and coat problems

When the immune system tries to fight off the allergy-causing substance, inflammatory products such as histamine are released into the skin. Histamine is a substance that causes a lot of itching for your four-legged friend, especially in the groin, armpits and paws. When your dog scratches for a long time, this can get worse and there is a chance of skin rashes, skin inflammations or hair loss.

Stomach and intestinal complaints

Your dog's stomach and intestines can also get upset. In general, this often results in frequent vomiting, persistent diarrhoea or enormous flatulence.

Recurrent ear infections

Finally, recurrent ear infections may also indicate a food allergy. If your dog scratches his ears a lot, shakes his head frequently, squeaks loudly when you want to touch the ear or if the ear looks red and smells, there is a good chance that your dog has an ear infection.

Your dog has a food allergy, now what?

If you recognise the above symptoms in your dog, it is important that you make an appointment with your vet as quickly as possible. He or she is the only one who can determine with certainty that your dog has a food allergy and rule out other diseases.

Has the vet diagnosed a food allergy in your dog? Then, unfortunately, he or she cannot cure the allergy. What the doctor often recommends, however, is to follow a special diet. This involves avoiding the substances your dog is allergic to. This way, you get your dog's allergy under control and your pet can enjoy a delicious meal without any worries.

Riverwoods hypoallergenic dog food

At Riverwood, there is only room for the best ingredients to make your four-legged friend happy. That is why we offer a wide range of healthy dog food. Our kibble is 100% natural, thanks to the use of 'free range' meat, and is also free from artificial aromas, colours and flavourings. Instead, our food is rounded off with a selection of fresh fruit, vegetables and a blend of powerful herbs.

In addition, our kibbles contain three different animal protein sources, so the food contains three different types of meat and/or fish. This ensures that the food contains plenty of vitamins and minerals that your dog needs and that he or she gets lots of energy from.

The advantages of hypoallergenic dog food

When you choose for hypoallergenic dog food of Riverwood, there are several advantages to mention. We put them in a row for you!

• The food is suitable as an elimination diet.

With an elimination diet you can exclude whether your dog is allergic to certain protein sources in the diet.

• With hypoallergenic dog food there is less chance of allergies.

Due to the well thought-out composition of Riverwood's hypoallergenic dog food, the chance of allergic reactions is considerably reduced.

• The dog food is ideal for skin problems.

Skin problems can be caused by histamine, an inflammatory product released into the skin when the body tries to fight off an allergy-inducing substance. Histamine causes a lot of itching and irritation, which can damage the skin. With hypoallergenic dog food, you reduce the risk of skin problems.

Can every dog get an allergy?

In general, all breeds, crossbreeds and mixes can have a food allergy. Often, such an allergy appears at a young age, but it can also become apparent at a later age.

Research shows that certain breeds have a food allergy or food intolerance more often than others. This is because these dogs are predisposed to breed-specific allergies. Do you have one of these four-legged friends? Then pay close attention to their diet and take any symptoms of allergies seriously.