The Natural Way To Relieve Allergies In Dogs And Cats

Is your pet’s misery making you miserable too? Your dog won’t stop scratching. She whines and wiggles when you’re trying to relax on the couch. Or maybe it’s your cat . . . he paws at his ears, looking irritated. And you find telltale signs of digestive upset around the house. If you’re dealing with this pet parent problem, you’re not alone. The number one reason pet owners take their dog to the vet is for skin problems. And here’s the other unexpected twist to this story . . . It may not be fleas – but allergies. Allergies in dogs and cats are the second major cause of itchy skin. Dogs and cats tend to show allergic reactions through their skin. It doesn’t matter if it’s a reaction to food they ate . . . pollen or dust mite dander they breathed in . . . or something they rolled around in . . . when pets react to an allergen, they usually show this in the form of hives, inflammation and itchiness. So if your pet is acting like his skin is on fire, he may be having an allergic reaction. However, before you rush and spend several hundred dollars to take him to a vet and purchase some anti-inflammatory meds, consider this. You may be able to help his body calm down simply with some shifts in diet . . . Pet Allergies Nutrient #1: Good Food First, start with the basics. Don’t skimp when it comes to pet food since – just like us – good pet nutrition forms the foundation for good pet health and a balanced immune response. Look for pet foods that have a good source of healthy protein – not just leftover skin and fats. And while many animal byproducts in the form of organ meats and cartilage provide important nutrition for pets, pet food companies don’t distinguish between the good and bad. Everything goes in. So more often than not, animal byproducts are a less desirable ingredient. But good protein isn’t enough . . . You need to make sure the food contains all the amino acids. Without all 18, dogs cannot digest protein. In addition, your pet food should contain the full complement of vitamins and minerals pets need to thrive. And a good dose of fiber. A pet food that incorporates vegetables as well as meats and grains will offer your pet this kind of wholesome nutrition. And finally, some carbohydrates are good. But look for non-GMO grains. Some research on GMO grains indicates they may cause allergic reactions and inflammation in animals. But if simply shifting your pet’s diet to a more wholesome pet food doesn’t alleviate the problem, there are some additional nutritional boosts you can offer your pet . . . Pet Allergies Nutrient #2: Probiotics Just like us, pets need a thriving culture of healthy bacteria in their guts to help their immune and digestive systems work at their best. As with humans, probiotic bacteria can help your pet’s immune system calm down. A study published in the journal, Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology, showed how effectively probiotics can do this when given to dogs early in life. In this study, one litter of puppies was exposed to probiotics. The other litter wasn’t. The puppies exposed to the probiotic bacteria, L. rhamnosus had less allergic reactions to timothy, ragweed pollen and dust mites than the puppies who didn’t have probiotics. [1] As pets’ diets have changed to more canned, cooked and processed foods, their exposure to these helpful microbes has dwindled down to nothing. Fortunately, an increasing number of pet manufacturers include probiotic cultures in their formulations. Check on the label and look for live, active probiotic cultures. And to get the most out of your pet’s probiotic supplementation, you should consider adding this last nutrient to your pet’s diet . . . Pet Allergies Nutrient #3: Chlorella Chlorella nourishes probiotic growth exceptionally well. According to research, chlorella can triple the rate of growth for probiotic bacteria.[2] While this link between chlorella as a prebiotic and probiotic growth is exciting, it’s not the only evidence behind why chlorella can keep your pet relaxed and itch-free . . . Researchers wanted to know for sure if chlorella’s special nutrition could help bring relief to pets who are suffering from skin allergies. So in 2008, they designed a small-scale study to verify this . . . Researchers fed chlorella to a group of 5 beagles suffering from atopic dermatitis for four weeks. Another group of beagles with the same problems did not receive any supplementation. At the end of the four weeks the veterinarians overseeing the dogs’ health were thoroughly impressed. Over 85% of the chlorella group had noticeable improvements in both the itchy skin on their backs and reduced inflammation in their ears.[3] In fact for one dog, the symptoms completely disappeared! Help Your Pet Get Allergy Relief Naturally It’s miserable to see your pet whining and unable to sit still because of the rashes plaguing their skin. Anti-inflammatory medications can offer temporary relief. But they don’t get to the heart of the problem – your pet’s allergic reaction. But if you take a different approach – using nutrition strategically to help your pet regain immune and digestive balance – you’re giving them a long-term solution. You’re helping them fix the problem from the inside out. Allergies in dogs and cats are no fun. While they may be the itchy ones, the whole household feels their misery. So help free your pet from this problem – the natural and holistic way. By doing so, both you and your pet can relax again. Sources: [1] Marsella R. Early exposure to probiotics in a canine model of atopic dermatitis has long-term clinical and immunological effects. Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 2012 Apr 15;146(2):185-9. doi: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2012.02.013. Epub 2012 Mar 1. [2] The diverse effects of chlorella, Management, Menu for Mass Feeding, June 1966, reprinted by Scientific Reports on Chlorella in Japan, Silpaque Pulbishing. [3] Maeda M et al. The anti-inflammatory activity of Chlorella in beagles with skin disorders. Presented at The Annual Meeting of the Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology and Agrochemistry 2008