Posts

The Role of Elimination Diets in Resolving Pet Food Sensitivities

/0 Comments/in , , /by

If your dog or cat is displaying symptoms such as persistent itching, diarrhoea, patches of hair loss and tiredness, they could have pet food sensitivities. But how do you find out for certain? With so many testing methods available, it can be difficult to know which option will give you the best (and fastest) results. To make the process easier, we’ve looked at the difference between pet food intolerance tests and a pet food elimination diet so you can decide which method you want to try.

What is a pet food intolerance test?

A pet food intolerance test is a simple way to determine whether your dog or cat is sensitive to any specific food items that could make them feel unwell. By sending in five individual strands of their fur to our lab, we can test their sensitivity against a number of foods, substances and materials. The results will be emailed to you within 72 hours of receiving your pet’s fur sample, with a full breakdown of which items they’re most reactive to. Once you know whether your dog or cat has any pet food sensitivities, you will have a clear idea of the ingredients they need to avoid. By eliminating these items from their diet moving forward, your pet’s symptoms should alleviate along with their health and wellbeing.

What is a pet food elimination diet?

A pet food elimination diet involves cutting out foods to try and identify an offending ingredient that your pet reacts to. You would typically start by feeding them a bland diet for a set period of time, then slowly reintroduce foods until you notice their symptoms flaring up again. Once you’ve found the ingredient that your pet is sensitive to, you can speak to your vet about issuing a new diet that’s more suited to their individual needs. It’s important that elimination diets are carried out under the guidance of a vet, who will be able to make sure your pet is getting enough nutrition to support their health during the process.

Which is the best testing method for my pet?

Elimination diets can be extremely effective in diagnosing pet food sensitivities. However, they are usually a long process, so it can take a while to identify an offending ingredient. It can also be quite difficult to spot a link between a food and your pet’s response because symptoms are known to kick in hours or even days later. This association is even more difficult to spot if your pet has eaten something while they’ve been out on a walk that could upset their digestive system. Unfortunately, we don’t always know what they’ve picked up when they’re sniffing in the garden or exploring off lead, which can make it harder to distinguish what makes them unwell. 

Try a pet food intolerance test for quick results

A food intolerance test is a fast way of finding out the cause of your pet’s symptoms. Once the submitted fur sample has been received at the Pet Food Intolerance lab, the results will be emailed to you within a matter of days, so you’ll know what ingredients your dog or cat needs to avoid. Unlike elimination diets, our pet food intolerance tests are very clear in their findings, and you will receive a report that details any items they are sensitive to. Because we investigate the fur’s response against 200 items, intolerance tests cover more food ingredients that you’d be able to include as part of an elimination diet. They also assess reactivity against environmental factors, so you’ll know whether you need to keep your pet away from certain plants or materials to sustain their health.

Contact us for more information about pet food intolerance tests

If you’re interested in ordering a food intolerance test or you’d like to find out more about pet food sensitivities, please look at the different options on our website. You can also email any questions you have to [email protected] or fill out our contact form. It’s important to remember that our advice should never replace that of a veterinary professional, so please get your pet booked in if you’re concerned about their health or if their symptoms persist.

Is there a difference between wet and dry food when feeding your dog?

/0 Comments/in , /by

When pets eat their food, they sometimes go off one food and do not eat it. Owners, therefore, switch it up to see what can happen. But are there benefits or differences between wet and dry food? Either option will keep your dog healthy if you keep track of what they’re eating; if you’re stuck on which option to go for, keep reading to see the advantages and disadvantages of each one. So, is there a difference between wet and dry pet food when feeding your dog? Keep reading below to see how we can help and what options to provide, and how a pet food intolerance test may help your pet live a happier and healthier life.

Advantages of Wet Pet food

Wet food comes in tins or pouches and has a strong odour. It has been shown that dogs prefer to eat wet food because the texture makes it easier to chew, and the food has much more moisture than dry food. Due to this moisture, your dog will be more hydrated if their diet consists of wet food, wet food has quite a high water content, so if your dog has forgotten to drink their water, it will still be hydrated!

Moisture also means that the dog will have more water retention, keeping them full for longer; the benefit of this is that your dog can be fed less frequently. Protein is another benefit of wet food; this is great if you have a highly active dog that needs to maintain its muscle mass. Lastly, wet food tends to have fewer chemical additives added to it, allowing your dog to have a more natural diet.

Advantages of Dry Pet Food

In contrast to this, giving your dog dry food also maintains a healthy diet for them. Dry food is easy to manage; many people use it for convenience. A considerable advantage of dry food is dental hygiene; dry food doesn’t get stuck on the teeth, which ultimately prevents a plaque build-up; the complex texture of dry food also helps to keep their teeth strong and healthy. Dry food is significantly cheaper and long-lasting; it has a longer shelf-life than many wet foods and can stay in date for a few weeks or even months.

Disadvantages of Wet Food

As previously mentioned, dental hygiene is essential for dogs; wet food may leave residue on your dog’s teeth, which will result in plaque and tartar buildup on their teeth. Wet food can also have a higher fat content than dry food, depending on which you buy, some dogs may have a stricter diet, so it could become difficult to measure your dog’s fat intake when feeding them dog food. Lastly, wet food is much more costly for the owner as you must constantly stock up on tins or pouches.

Disadvantages of Dry Food

Dry dog food usually has more chemicals in it; nutrients can be lost during the high-heat process when creating dry food; chemicals will then be added to replace lost nutrients. Dry food also has a significantly lower water content which can cause your dog to be dehydrated; dry food also may be harsher in their mouths and cause discomfort when eating.

The Difference Between Wet and Dry Pet Food

Whichever option you go for, you will still have a healthy dog if you keep track of what they’re eating and drinking. Both options provide your dog with nutrients and will ultimately keep your dog happy and healthy; there is no right or wrong, choose what works best for you and your dog’s lifestyle. Here’s how you can find the difference between wet and dry pet food and its impact on your dog’s health.

Shop now for your pet food intolerance test.