It can be difficult to feed dogs with allergies. There are a number of ingredients that could cause or irritate skin issues. Feeding a homemade diet is the best way to avoid allergens, but you need to be sure you're also providing balanced nutrition. This homemade dog food recipe for skin allergies may need additional supplements to be nutritionally balanced for your pet.
Canines allergies are becoming a very common problem. Whether it's the food you're feeding, an environmental stimulus, or genetics, hypoallergenic dog food may help soothe skin irritation.
Most experts recommend staying away from the following ingredients if your dog is showing signs of skin allergies:
- corn
- eggs
- wheat
- soy
- beef
- chicken
If you believe that your dog is suffering with allergies, food or otherwise, you need to seek assistance from your vet. Do not try to diagnose the condition yourself. While you're going through the trial-and-error process to determine what is causing the allergy, your dog will continue to suffer.
Your veterinarian will examine your dog and ask about the symptoms your dog is showing. If they believe that allergies are the culprit, they'll perform a blood test to determine what your dog is allergic to. Blood tests will be most accurate when the allergy is in full swing.
Once your vet figures out the allergen(s), they can help you create homemade dog food for skin allergies that excludes the culprit and meets all of your Fido's nutritional needs. Before switching to this recipe (or any other dog food for allergies), you need to discuss it with your vet. They will be able to tell you if the recipe meets the right nutritional requirements and/or recommend supplements to add to the food to make it balanced.
Homemade Dog Food for Skin Allergies
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. lean ground turkey
- 2 tbsp. turkey liver
- 2 medium carrots (chopped)
- 1 cup broccoli florets
- 1 cup cauliflower florets
- 1/2 cup zucchini (chopped)
- 2 tbsp. olive oil
Directions
Steam the carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and zucchini for 10 minutes. Puree the turkey liver in a food processor. Cook the ground turkey and turkey liver in a skillet over medium heat until brown.
Drain the fat from the turkey and liver. In a medium-sized bowl, combine the cooked meat with the steamed vegetables. Toss with the olive oil and serve once this homemade dog food recipe for skin allergies has cooled.
If you have a very small breed or your dog suffers from dental problems, you can mash this food to make it easier to eat. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
The recommended serving size for this homemade dog food recipe for skin allergies is about 1/2 cup for every 20 pounds of body weight. You should feed 2 servings per day.
READ NEXT: 9 Common Skin Problems in Dogs (How To Prevent and Treat Them)
