Have you noticed your dog having a different reaction to his food lately? Do you have a new dog that shows signs of digestive upset after eating? He may have food allergies, and a trip to the vet is definitely needed. If you think homemade meals would be a good option, ask your veterinarian about this recipe for homemade dog food for allergies.
Allergies are just your dog's immune system overreacting to an ingredient in his dog food. Virtually every type of commercial food has at least one ingredient that could cause an allergic reaction. Some of the most common food allergens include:
- wheat
- corn
- soy
- chicken
- beef
- eggs
Your veterinarian will exam your dog and listen to your concerns. If they also believe that food allergies may be the issue, they'll perform a blood test to determine what your dog is allergic to. It's best to do this testing when the allergy is in full swing in order to get the most accurate results possible.
Once your veterinarian determines what your dog is allergic to, they can help you create homemade dog food for allergies that excludes the allergen. You may also be able to use other recipes, but switch out the ingredient that your dog is allergic to. For example, if Fido is allergic to chicken, you could substitute a different protein source when following this recipe.
MORE: 7 Tips On How To Feed Dogs To Deal With and Prevent Allergies
Homemade Dog Food for Allergies Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked, shredded chicken meat
- 3 cups cooked brown rice
- 3 cups cream cheese
- 1.5 cups cooked acorn squash
- 1.5 cups cooked broccoli
Directions
You'll need to prepare all the ingredients separately for this homemade dog food for allergies recipe. Now, as I mention in my video guide, dog food for allergies is typically pretty bland. You don't want to add in any extra ingredients that may upset your dog's stomach or cause an allergic reaction.
However, between the protein source and the cream cheese, this is still very enticing for pets. Our dogs love it!
Once you've cooked the chicken, rice and vegetables, you can combine them in a medium size mixing bowl with the cream cheese. I put the cream cheese in a small bowl and microwave it to help soften it before mixing. If all of your ingredients are still very hot, you may not feel that this step is necessary.
The serving size for this recipe is about 1/2-3/4 cup of food per serving for every 20 pounds of body weight. You should feed it at least twice per day. For example, if you have a 40 pound dog, you would feed him 1-1.5 cups in the morning and 1-1.5 cups again in the evening.
Remember that less active dogs and dogs with a slower metabolism won't need to eat as much as active dogs. It's best to consult your veterinarian about the proper serving size for you pet and whether or not you should be adding any supplements to this homemade dog food for allergies recipe.
READ NEXT: Top 15 Best Hypoallergenic Dog Foods for Dogs with Allergies
