FORBIDDEN FOODS FOR YOUR PET
We have already told you that prepared pet foods are their best diet, both dry and canned. It is the way to ensure that our pet receives a perfectly balanced diet adapted to its age, weight, lifestyle, and state of health.
Sure you love to give treats or treats to your pet, but be careful with what kind of treats you give him and in what quantity because you can easily favor overweight.
Did you know that giving a small cookie is equivalent to a hamburger for one person? And what 30g of cheese is equivalent to a hamburger and a half?
Another issue that you have to take into account is the possible adverse reactions to food, which are sometimes more common than we would like.
WHY IS AN ADVERSE REACTION OCCURRING?
The first thing you should know is that an adverse reaction to a food can be an allergy or food intolerance and that it can occur when ingesting:
- Commercial foods
- Prizes and treats
- Supplements (vitamins, minerals ...)
- Human food
It is essential that as an owner you take into account all the elements mentioned above since in most cases your pet not only has access to its commercial food.
WHAT FOOD COMPONENTS CAN CAUSE AN ADVERSE REACTION?
In the case of food allergies, reactions that provoke an immune response on the part of the body, the cause is usually proteins, and they occur because the body recognizes the protein in the food as something foreign and the immune system is activated to fight against it. The protein that causes food allergy is usually present in the food that the animal usually eats, but sometimes it can be in the treats or treats, certain additives, etc ...
Food allergy-causing proteins are usually present in:
- Some preservatives and colorants
- Beef and poultry
- Egg
- Dairy Products
- Wheat, corn, and soy
Food allergies should be diagnosed by eliminating diets that do not contain the protein suspected to be responsible for the allergy, followed by a provocation test by re-feeding the suspected diet. If symptoms return, allergy to that protein is confirmed. Ask your veterinarian, he will propose the necessary tests to determine the type of allergy of your pet.
WHAT KIND OF REACTION CAN YOU SUBMIT?
DERMATOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS
Dermatological reactions produced by food allergies usually appear in most cases before the first year of age. The main dermatological symptom is itchy skin inflammation. It is most frequently seen on the ears, armpits, groin and perineal area, face, and legs.
GASTROINTESTINAL SYMPTOMS
Food allergies can also cause gastrointestinal symptoms, among the most frequent find vomiting and diarrhea. However, some animals may also have abdominal pain.
The treatment to follow in cases of food allergy is to use foods that do not include the protein to which the animal is allergic. Currently, there are commercial diets whose proteins are hydrolyzed, that is, they are subjected to a process of degradation or breakdown into very small peptides that no longer have the capacity to provoke the immune reaction on the part of the animal, and that therefore will help your pet not suffer from such allergies
But adverse reactions to food are not always due to food allergies, that is, the reaction is not always due to an immune response on the part of the animal, but maybe due to intolerances to certain components of the food such as lactose, gluten, poisonings, reactions to certain drugs, etc ...
On other occasions, we have to ta
ke into account that there are foods considered "forbidden" for pets, this is the case of chocolate in dogs. Chocolate contains a substance called theobromine, which is responsible for this toxicity. In any case, the severity of the symptoms produced by the ingestion of chocolate in the dog will depend on the amount ingested and the size of the pet, but in case of doubt, if your pet eats your chocolates or a box of chocolates, go quickly to your vet. Nor should you give them onion or garlic because in certain amounts they could cause anemia. Grapes, avocado, nuts, and coffee should not be part of the diet of pets either.
Always take into account the food your dog eats and if you detect any symptoms, always consult your veterinarian.
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