If like so many others you have an interest in alternative treatments for dog food allergy, then you need to know that there are several options available to you. Naturopathy, homeopathy and Chinese medicine are somewhat similar in the way they treat the problem with naturally occurring elements like herbs and organic compounds.

Homeopathy is an excellent way of treating acute problems as well as chronic conditions in dogs. Interestingly enough, homeopathic medicines and Chinese medicines are often very similar, in that they both aim to treat problems in much the same way.

Even if you're unable to find a homeopathic vet, you can have your dog diagnosed by your local veterinarian and then you can order the appropriate medicine from one of the many online homeopathic drug stores. The interesting thing about homeopathic medicine is that it's very similar to Chinese medicine, in that they both attempt to treat problems in much the same way.

Something else which dog owners need to bear in mind, is that substances which come into contact with a dog's skin, such as hard water for example, can also result in itchiness. In that case, it is advisable to have your water tested, and if the problem persists, you can consider using some Aloe Vera gel or Calendula cream.

When you give your dog a bath, use a gentle shampoo specially designed for dogs. If you're simply unable to use a shampoo designed specifically for dogs, then you can of course use a regular shampoo, providing it's a gentle kind such as baby shampoo.

Keeping your dog on a diet which contains only natural dog food can also help to reduce itchiness. You can also help your dog by adding natural yogurt and multi vitamins to its diet, particularly Vitamin E and B-complex. If you decide to put your dog on the BARF diet then you need to bear in mind that even though it's a natural diet, your dog could still end up with a food allergy, depending of course on what type of food your dog is allergic to.

Of course, if you intend trying one or more of the alternative remedies for dog food allergy, there are certain points which you need to take into consideration. For example, you need to bear in mind that just as with people, each dog is different from the next, and this means that you may have to try various different remedies in order to find one which is effective.

Also, don't try everything together. Try one or two remedies at a time so that you can determine whether something works or not. In the interests of economy, buy a small pack when using any remedy for the first time.

Visit this author's site to learn more about hypoallergenic dog food and dog food allergies.

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Written by Seram Marquis using tags: alternative treatments dog, dog dry skin, dog food allergy, hypoallergenic dog food, natural dog food, natural puppy food, organic dog food, Pets

What you don't know could be bad for your dog, causing illness and even death. Most of us don't pay a lot of attention to what we feed our pets, trusting manufacturer labeling to be accurate and regulations to be followed. The truth is that there really aren't very many rules about what can and can't go into dog food.

Unfit For Consumption

Did you know that many different brands of dog food could contain unpleasant substances like hair, ligaments, organs, skin, nervous tissue, and meat from diseased animals? Or that spoiled meat and the bodies of euthanized zoo animals and pets could be used?

Most of even the good meat that ends up in dog and cat food is heavily processed, removing any nutritive value it once had. Ingredients like poultry broth, animal meal, and other nonspecific foods are unappealing and bad for our pets.

Animal meal, for instance, is what's left after fat and meat have been processed out of a carcass. What's left is dried and ground, resulting in a meal similar in texture to cornmeal. Broths are made up of processed carcasses from many different animal types, in just about any condition.

It's Legal!

Unfortunately, none of this is against the law. We're used to fairly good rules about what can and can't go into human food, and we're used to those laws being reasonably well enforced. The regulations about what can be put into pet food are much looser, and may not be enforced at all.

This means that just about anything might turn up in your dog's food, with labeling meaning little. Even the words "healthy and balanced" mean only that there's a particular ratio of protein and fat, as well as some added vitamins and minerals.

Preservatives and Additives

All of us have probably heard about the recent recalls due to melamine contamination. What you might not know is that this isn't the only additive in pet food that might cause illness or death. There are a number of preservatives used in pet food that cause real problems in humans who work with them, and could cause liver and kidney failure or cancer in your dog over time.

Not Just Cheap Foods

This is happening in cheap dog foods, but there's no way to tell if the expensive ones are affected, too. these pet foods are often higher in quality, but sometimes they're not. That means that even if your vet recommends it, you have to do your research.

Your Options

You have a number of choices when it comes to improving your pet's food. First is to learn how to read the labels. Ingredients that come first are there in bigger percentages, so look for named meats far up on the list instead of generic terms.

You can also learn about the additives and preservatives that can hurt your pets, and look for the foods with the lowest percentage of grains. There are also a number of excellent recipes out there that can help dedicated pet owners make their own foods. Just be sure to do something, since most foods are actually dangerous.

Click Here to discover what dog foods have been proven to be harmful to a dog's health. Find out what the best dog food is to make sure your pooch is in perfect health.

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Written by Greg McNaughton using tags: animals, dog food, Dogs, healthy dog food, Home, natural dog food, Pets

There has been a lot of concern over different kinds of dog food. Various recalls and consumer complaints have shown that not all commercially sold dog food are good for dogs. This has led a lot of people to consider giving their pets natural dog food. There are, however, a couple of things to keep in mind when choosing natural food for your dog.

* Understand Your Dog and His Food Needs

The first thing to keep in mind is that there are different forms of natural dog food. Raw and cooked meat and vegetables are usually understood as being natural, but commercially sold natural food is also in this category. Your job is to find out which type most fits the needs of your dog.

Not all dogs are same. Their nutritional requirements vary dependent on their different breeds and specific health conditions. You should always observe your dog's behavior and health condition, especially after changes in food. Consult your veterinarian with your observation and ask for his advice.

* Get Food Prepared for Your Dog

Many dog owners feel that they should be the ones preparing natural dog food for their pets. Again, this is only a good idea if you are fully aware of what exactly your dog needs and in what quantity. Some may serve raw meat while others feel that cooking meat and vegetables is a better idea. Heating and cooking can help destroy harmful bacteria that may have found their way into food.

You should also note that many human foods can be dangerous or even toxic to your dogs. Examples of such foods include chocolates, raisins, mushrooms and onions. You can make the list complete with your own research and observation. To play it safe, commercial brands of natural dog food are probably better choices over self-prepared natural dog food.

* Read What the Labels Say

Just like what you do with human food, you should always check what is on the lable when you purchase dog food. As a general rule, natural dog food should not have such ingredients as wheat and corn fillers, artificial coloring and flavoring, animal and plant by-products, as well as artificial preservatives. Many of dog's behavioral changes and health problems, such as gastrointestinal problem and malnutrion, can be attributed to these synthetic ingredients.

* Find Proteins and Nutrients for Your Dog

Dogs were built to be carnivorous so the bulk of their diet should remain protein-rich. The protein sources however should never be low-grade meat by-products. Your dog should be fed high quality lean meat and poultry.

Apart from protein, vitamins and minerals are also essential nutrients that should be found in natural dog food. You may choose to buy foods with fortified nutrients, or may feed your dog with vitamin-rich foods, such as squash, beans and peas.

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Written by Kim Flemming using tags: animals, dog, dog food, healthy dog food, Home, natural dog food, Pets

The answer on how to serve your dog food may be a glaringly obvious one but if you are feeding all or part of your dogs food in a bowl, only small or medium dogs should eat with their bowl directly on the floor. Dogs of Labrador height or larger should be fed with their bowl at shoulder height and on a stand. This can aid the movement of the food to the dogs stomach and prevent gastric dilation.

Human beings have to chew thier food to get the digestive juices going while the dogs digestive juices do not start to flow until the food reaches the stomach. This is why dogs seem to gulp their food down and this in turn can leads to air entering the digestive system and causing dilation

With a large dog eating from a bowl in the floor the food has to travel upwards and so more air is taken in. This is probably the main reason why it is always better to feed your adult dog twice a day rather than give him one huge meal. Puppies of course are differant and need to be fed between 4 and 6 times a day to begin with. When the dog is living on a natural diet then he will eat this outside and also will usually lie down

With regard to giving your dog Tit bits,which of course they love just remember that dogs cannot digest refined sugar. Do not give them those nice little biscuits, or snack food made for human consumption. They love them too. Tit bits can be used for training exercises where they should be the branded type or small pieces of apple or cheese. A big nono is chocolate that is designed for humans and that goes for dark chocolate especially. It contains a substance called Theo bromine which is a bitter white crystalline alkaloid related to caffeine and Cocoa. Theobromine is a heart stimulant and depending on how much the dog has eaten and his size this could cause your dog serious problems. Theo bromine is also found in cocoa shell mulch, the type of mulch that is used for many pot plants so be aware that any potted plants that you buy may also present a real danger to your dog.

Lets look at how much we feed our dog

As a rough guide he should be having about 20 percent of his total target body weight in food over one week. To begin with use your common sense and either decrease or increase the amount depending on hos the puppy is growing or the dogs weight. Once a dog is fully grown you will have to level out the amounts and may have to reduce them.

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Written by Kathy Davison using tags: alternative medicine for dogs, canine cancer, dog cancer, dog food, dog vomiting, dogs and pets, healthcare for dogs, holistic dog food, natural dog food, Pets, small dogs, therapy dogs, wellness dog food