Does your doggo have itchy skin? How about sneezing and runny eyes? An upset stomach and indigestion? Your dog may have allergies or an intolerance. Canine allergies are a complicated business and can be caused by a multitude of factors.
Sometimes food may be the culprit in the cause of dog allergies. There may be certain ingredients or additives in your dog’s food that are making their immune system mad. Good news is that Kabo has you covered! We cook our meals with allergic dogs in mind and offer a variety of flavours so that you can find the best diet that works for them!
Allergies are the result of the body reacting to a foreign substance or allergen. Once a dog is exposed to an allergen, their immune system freaks out towards the otherwise harmless molecule and expresses an antibody-immune reaction. The result of this immune reaction is often observed as inflammatory allergy symptoms, whether that’s as skin dermatitis, digestive issues or anaphylaxis.
If you are unable to identify a specific allergen or suspect that there are multiple allergens, there is the option to try hypoallergenic food. This type of food is specially formulated for dogs who are allergic to the common food allergens, which can include:
Hypoallergenic diets contain limited ingredients, are usually grain free and utilize alternative protein sources like duck, fish, bison, hydrolyzed protein or venison. When exposed to these ingredients, an allergic dog’s immune system will not recognize the diet as a threat and is less likely to attack it.
At Kabo we have our own in house hypoallergenic diets in both kibble and fresh cooked forms. Designed for dogs with food sensitivities, Kabo’s Delicious Duck Kibble uses duck as a tasty novel protein, swaps lentils and chickpeas in place of grains and soy and contains only whole, fresh ingredients with no additives. Our pride and joy is our Hypoallergenic Salmon Recipe. The first of its kind, our salmon recipe is the only hypoallergenic fresh recipe available in Canada. It boasts premium salmon as the star of the recipe and is supported with an array of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant ingredients to help battle inflammation and redness. It is also grain, soy and dairy free!
Aside from alleviating dogs from those pesky allergies, hypoallergenic food can also have some extra beneficial effects!
Ever have an itch that you can’t quite reach or get rid of? That’s how your allergic dog feels all of the time. On a hypoallergenic diet, that itchiness goes away and with it, the irritated, red, and flaky patches, leaving behind soft, supple skin. We add flaxseed, chia seed, and fish oil to our meals. These ingredients have a healthy dose of omega 3 fatty acids, which have been proven to maintain healthy skin and make fur full, soft and shiny!
When the immune system isn’t always being triggered by allergens, it can focus more energy on general healing and health. On a hypoallergenic diet, you’ll notice that an allergic dog has less ear infections, faster wound healing and overall better general health. We include antioxidant ingredients like chicory root, turmeric, cinnamon, and green leafy vegetables to our meals to further reduce stress and inflammation!
Gut inflammation stemming from allergies often results in loose stool, bloating, profound flatulence and upset tummies. Switching to a Kabo hypoallergenic diet means that you will see more consistent, well-formed poops and a less farty, more hungry dog. This is because we keep stomach irritants like processed grains, soy and dairy out of our diets!
Nutritious ingredients and a diet your dog isn’t allergic to? That sounds like a recipe for success to us! When your dog is eating healthy, they are feeling good. You’ll notice that your dog has more spring in their step and a happier overall disposition. That’s why we use only fresh, whole ingredients in our food instead of over processed junk food or artificial preservatives and additives.
Even if you don’t have an allergic dog, hypoallergenic dog food is safe for any dog to eat. If you’ve noticed your dog is itchy or has a chronic indigestion and you suspect your dog may have an allergy, a hypoallergenic diet may be just the thing to get them feeling better. If you’re curious about trying Kabo, our Delicious Duck Kibble is fully hypoallergenic. If fresh food is more to your dog’s taste, give our Hypoallergenic Salmon fresh-cooked recipe a try!
