How to know if your dog has allergies
A few people raise an eyebrow when I mention my dog has allergies. But the vomiting, diarrhea and behavioral changes are very real. Early on, my brother suggested my dog might be allergic to something and a veterinarian confirmed. I'd only had Carson a few weeks at that point, but he would wait for days to eat his dog food then immediately vomit. He'd also sometimes wheeze or act crazy after eating kibble or dog treats. Some dogs get ear infections and skin irritations. Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to discuss pet health concerns.
Common allergens
It's often suggested that dogs are allergic to wheat, soy, corn, or even chicken fat. But my dog has no issues with those ingredients in human grade food. I suspect he's allergic to some low grade binding material or filler with a name I can't pronounce.
I started with a common grocery store brand then switched to one I found at a vet's office. That worked for awhile until the first bowl out of a fresh bag made him sick. In the decade I've had him, we've gone through this half a dozen times, each food more expensive than the last. And always after a significant amount of googling and reaching out to pet food companies, stores and veterinarians, I'd find some ingredient or additive had always changed. Regulations have improved, but companies can modify ingredients at any time without disclosure.
A brief history of commercial dog food
Researching dog food turned out to be fascinating. It originated in 1860 as a biscuit made from hardtack. Canned options were introduced not long after and became more readily available as automobiles replaced horses, the abundance of slaughtered horses being a main ingredient.
Dry dog food didn't gain popularity until WWII when meat and tin were scarce. This coincides with the introduction of processed foods in our diet. Cheap, quick and easy. The human food industry creates an enormous amount of waste, particularly processed foods. On the positive side, pet food repurposes that waste. On the negative side, profit margin is a bottom line for corporations. And while organ meats and bones offer nutritional value to your pets, other things extracted from human grade food might not. However, those inferior ingredients change the caloric breakdown of kibble making it appear well balanced and nutritionally complete. I'm all for reducing, repurposing and recycling. But not if it means making my pets sick.
Back to the drawing board
At this point, the cost required to keep Carson healthy on a regular diet of kibble has surpassed the cost of feeding him people food. A 50-lb dog requires 1000 to 1500 calories per day, depending on activity level. Of course some foods are harmful for dogs and need to be avoided, such as grapes, raisins, chocolate, raw onions and garlic, and macadamia nuts. Chicken, beef, venison, lamb, whole grains and many vegetables and fruits are all fine. As with us, simple whole foods are the best bet.
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