It's strange to think that food intended to nourish the body and maintain health, is for many dogs and cats the cause of much discomfort and distress.
Why is this?
Almost everywhere these days, we see stories of people suffering from skin problems, emotional issues, IBD and gut microbiome disturbances, where diet is a major factor in triggering or aggravating immune reactions and inflammation in the body. Bloating, indigestion, constipation, diarrhoea, depression, mood changes, brain fog and skin eruptions can all be part of this picture.
Perhaps not unsurprisingly, the extraordinary explosion of food sensitivities which has occurred in humans over the last 25 years, has also been seen in pets. In the early 1990's for example, we would see less than a handful of dogs a year with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), that was directly attributable to reactions to parts of the diet. We're now helping dogs with this condition every day.
But it's not just the number of pets being affected that has skyrocketed, so too has the number of ingredients in pet food which trigger itching and inflammation, in the bowels, skin, ears, feet, anal sacs and elsewhere. And all because the immune system sees food as the enemy - something to be attacked and rejected at all costs.
Decades ago, it was mainly the 'wrong' kind of meat that caused diet related skin and bowel problems in dogs. And in most cases switching to a novel animal protein - usually lamb - brought about an immediate improvement. Since then however, not only have pets become sensitive to virtually every meat available, numerous other foodstuffs now cause a similar reaction. This includes, fruits, vegetables, herbs, oils and the 'nutritional' additives included in most commercial pet food.
In essence this means two things:
1. *Nothing in the diet, however innocuous it might appear, can be considered safe.* Remember, someone with a peanut sensitivity exposed to a trace, can suffer a severe (and sometimes fatal) reaction. It's not the amount of allergen (any substance that initiates an immune reaction) that determines the scale of the ill-effects that follow, it's how sensitive the body is to it.
2. *The more ingredients there are in a particular food, the more likely it is that one or more of these will cause a reaction in a sensitive pet. *And so a food with 10 constituents is 10 times more likely to be part of the problem, than a single protein food.
Here is an example of this, in a dog with recurrent digestive disturbances and bouts of abdominal pain we're currently helping:
Note that in this food sensitivity report:
1. There is a reaction to 19 out of the 24 food groups tested.
2. Ten of these are off the scale.
3. Many of the foods often described as 'hypoallergenic' are anything but in this case, such as venison, white fish, salmon, rabbit, rice and sweet potato.
Pet Friendly Food - The Way Forward
Diet as we all know is the foundation of health.
Without a daily supply of the right nutrients, the body simply can't build the healthiest possible organs, tissues and cells. And it can't ensure that the countless physiological processes responsible for hormone regulation, a strong immune system, cancer prevention and effective self-repair, function as they should.
And yet, if the body rejects the very food it needs, what next?
The answer, is to build health, like a house - brick by brick. And the first of these is to identify which meat the body will accept. That done, carefully selected supplements can be introduced one at a time and at intervals, to provide additional important nutrients. This is continued until the diet is balanced, complete and supports optimum well-being in problem areas.
NOTE
Dietary related IBD, eczema, and similar conditions in people are largely thought of as being incurable, as they are in pets.
Despite the huge challenges involved however, it's not uncommon for significant improvements in quality of life to be seen, when the diet is flipped to become part of the solution, rather than part of the problem. It's important to be aware from the outset though, that just as a house isn't finished overnight, neither can a diet designed to address food sensitivities and any resultant health issues, be completed in a few weeks. A realistic time scale is often 6-9 months, or more. And there are a small number of pets, so 'allergic' to life that prescribed medication when necessary, may the only way to provide relief.
What You Can Do
RAW
The best foundation for tackling food sensitives, is a single protein raw, which includes high quality meat, bone and offal (no tripe), and nothing else.
To go down this route:
1. Choose one meat (beef, chicken, turkey or lamb) from the Vince the Vet single protein range, which you are reasonably confident, hasn't caused itching, digestive disturbances or any other untoward reaction in your pet previously.
2. In the 'Any Additional Comments?' section at checkout type 'Enrol in raw food sensitivity programme.'
You will then receive a series of emails over the following weeks / months advising on the steps to take, and adjustments to make to ensure your pet receives the best possible diet, taking into account their sensitivities and health issues.
HOME-COOKED
The second best option to a raw diet, is home-cooked.
If this is preferred:
1. Add Health Promote Max Small to your basket.
2. In the 'Any Additional Comments?' section at checkout type 'Enrol in home cooked food sensitivity programme.'
You will then receive a series of emails over the following weeks / months advising on the steps to take, and adjustments to make to ensure your pet receives the best possible diet, taking into account their sensitivities and health issues.
Articles To Look Out For
Purely Single Protein - Avoid These Traps
The Only Multivitamin Your Pet Will Ever Need