Chicken Jerky Treats Harm Dogs

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Since 2007, dried chicken jerky treats from China have been sickening and killing dogs The dogs died of kidney failure. The reason jerky caused kidney failure has been elusive, but a new testing method used by NY State Division of Food Safety has found at least one cause: antibiotics.

The NY lab has been testing jerky one strip at a time, where the other state & federal labs had been using homogenized samples. The NY test lab identified 5 different antibiotics in the samples, 4 of which are not allowed in chicken in the US. The fifth antibiotic, sulfaquinoxaline, which is allowed in the US to treat coccidia, was found at concentration higher than acceptable in food products.

Some chicken jerky products involved include 
• Cadet brand Chicken Jerky Treats from IMS Trading Corp
• Chicken Chew and Oinkies Pig Skin Twists wrapped with chicken from Hartz
• Milo’s Kitchen Chicken Jerky and Kitchen Grillers, a DelMonte product
• Publix Chicken Tenders
• Waggin’ Train & Canyon Creek Ranch from Nestle-Purina

Because many pet families have heard about the recall, they’ve started buying products made in Canada and the US rather than imported from China. The difficulty is that it’s hard to tell where a product is actually from. Manufacturers are allowed to say that tenders are a product of the US or Canada if the jerky was packaged in the US or Canada. Thus, Nestle-Purina, Hartz, Publix and other brands can purchase Chinese chicken tenders in bulk and ship them to US and Canada where they are repackaged in small bags and labelled as US or Canadian products.

To avoid the possibility of harming your dog, don’t buy chicken strips unless they are organic and raised in the US. Unfortunately, sweet potato treats are also implicated in pet poisonings, so I recommend that families buy only organic and only when they are sure it is a product from the US or Canada.

Laser Therapy Helps Regenerate Nerves

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When we see dogs with disc disease and nerve damage, we treat with soft laser therapy (low level laser).  The sooner we see them after injury, the better the response. There’s a new study that explains why these dogs respond and why it’s important to start treatment as soon as possible.
 The study by the Physical Therapy Dept of Univ of Sao Carlos in Brazil measured cellular response in laser-treated sciatic nerves in rats. The researchers looked at pro-inflammatory factors and extracellular matrix remodelling, and axonal growth markers. Our canine patients don’t want to read research, they just want results, which means being able to walk normally, wag their tails, control bowel and bladder habits. But if you’re interested in research, check Effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on acute neural recovery and inflammation-related
gene expression after crush injury in rat sciatic nerve. Alcântara CC, Gigo-Benato D, Salvini
TF, Oliveira AL, Anders JJ, Russo TL. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. PMID: 23568823

Benefits of Laser for Dogs & Cats: Nerves Regenerate, Endocrine System Stimulated, Wounds Healed, Pain Controlled

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We use soft laser in our practice daily because it helps dogs and cats with pain and nerve regeneration. Research supports the clinical benefits dogs & cats experience.

Shimon Rochkind, neurosurgeon in Israel has shown lasers encourage axon growth in nerves.  He has shown nerve regrowth both in the lab (in vitro) and in clinic (in vivo).  In one of Rochkind’s studies, he showed 70% more intensive axon growth in laser treated group compared with non-treated group. Not only did the nerve axons grow, but 75% of  animals had increased sensation due to regrowth. In the lab, Dr. Rochkind and other researchers have done cell studies (in vitro research) confirming that  nerves in  spinal cords and brain tissue grow when stimulated by laser.Using rats with damaged spinal cords, researchers showed that laser-treated rats had nerve regeneration so complete that  after 3 months their damaged spinal cords were similar to rats that had no spinal cord damage. Researchers felt s  laser-treated rats experienced significant pain benefit. Because the rat spinal cord and peripheral nerves are similar to those of dogs & cats, we can hope for similar results with dogs & cats.

In addition to helping nerve regrowth, lasers affect endocrine system and neurotransmitters. A study done in Turkey almost 10 years ago showed that humans with myofascial pain had improved serotonin and increased tryptophan and  a 45% decrease in pain scores. These are large-scale systemic effects caused by laser therapy.

Even more significant are the multiple studies showing improvement in wound healing, decrease in musculo-skeletal pain, and enhanced quality of life following laser therapy.

Laser Therapy for Knee Problems, Helping Dogs with Cranial Cruciate Disease

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Increasing number of dogs are blowing out the ligament in their knee called the cruciate ligament. This is similar to what humans do when they run, plant a foot and twist. You know how debilitating that can be. Your knee becomes painful and swollen. Without therapy, it takes months to return to previous function, if it does so.Research in dogs has shown that laser therapy reduces inflammation and reduces edema. Laser therapy stops white blood cells from flooding the knee and releasing enzymes that damage the cartilage. Laser therapy stimulates cartilage cells within the knee to make new cartilage and stimulates new capillaries to come into the cartilage of the knee. The new cartilage, new blood capillaries, and blocking of enzymes all work together to improve the knee and reduce pain. Dogs that had been toe-tapping lame are gradually able to bear weight on both hind legs. Thus, laser therapy, along with other forms of integrative treatment, such as swimming, acupuncture, & physical therapy, are wise treatment choices for many lame dogs. This is true whether these dogs have surgical knee repair or are treated conservatively with rest but no surgery.We use laser and other forms of alternative medicine to treat many dogs with cruciate disease, helping them return to their playful, energetic selves.

Blood & Urine Tests Are Essential in Older Pets

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If you communicate telepathically with your pet, then you don't need blood and urine tests. But, if you can't ask your pet how it's liver, kidneys, heart and other organs are doing, get annual blood and urine tests. This is especially important as your pet ages.

A study done at the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham in England, showed that 80% of dogs had an unrecognized health problems that could be identified with blood &  tests. On average, each of these dogs had 7-8 significant laboratory findings—not just one simple problem.

These were ordinary geriatric dogs whose families hadn’t recognized specific health problems. Still, families noted that  about 1/3 of the dogs were sleeping more and 1/3 of the dogs didn’t hear well. Between 20-25% of the families noted increased vision problems, dental problems, stiffness & pain.  By having the pets tested, families were able to address medical causes of the dogs’ illness.
If you’d like to read the research, look for Geriatric screening in first opinion practice - results from 45 dogs published by the British Small Animal Vet Assoc in the Journal of Small Animal Practice Sept 2012.

Molds in Pet Food, Zearalenone

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You don’t need vampire movies, because there’s real life horror tales in food.  For the next few Caring for Pet blog entires, let’s discuss molds that may be present in food commercially available for dogs, cats, cattle, hogs and horses.

Tomorrow, I’m going to see 11-year-old Mina who has developed a swollen vulva. So, let’s start our series on molds in pet foods with Zearalenone.
Zearalenone is found in corn, wheat, rice, sorghum, maize--grains common in many pet foods. Zearalenone is also found in bread.  It causes estrogenism. Pigs are highly sensitive to zearalenone, and it causes infertility and abortion. Farmers suspect zearalenone mycotoxicosis when pigs develop early puberty, or swollen vulvas,  but are infertile. If the farmer's pregnant sows eat aearalenone-contaminated food, the piglets may be mummified, stillborn, or born with swollen vulvas and splay legs.
Dogs are also sensitive to Zearalenone, but are not as severely affected as pigs are. The following abstract from Polish Journal of Veterinary Science 2004;7(1):59-66. 74 Refs. discusses effect of oral Zearalenone on bitches.
 Zearalenone applied per os provides adverse effects in structure of chosen parts of bitch reproductive system
M Gajecka1; E Jakimiuk; M Polak; I Otrocka-Domagała; T Janowski; W Zwierzchowski; K Obremski; L Zielonka; J Apoznański; M Gajecki
1Division of Veterinary Prevention and Feed Hygiene, Department of Veterinary Health Protection, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland. gajecki@uwm.edu.pl
Article Abstract
Both earlier investigations and complete formulas of pet food for dogs show that professionally prepared pet food is based in 30% on the material of the plant origin. Our own investigations prove that animal feeding stuffs of the plant origin are very often vectors of many undesirable substances (including micotoxins) that are unfavourable for carnivores. Zearalenone is a micotoxin, which frequently occurs among them. It was revealed in pet food in quantities from 5.0-299.5 microg/kg. It is a very dangerous xenobiotic because of its quick and easy absorption in the organism after per os application in monogastric animals. It is also a sterid and despite its plant origin it binds estrogen receptors in the reproductive tract and causes its hypo- and dysfunction. It is clearly visible in young, growing organisms and those during the menopause. In bitches, dysfunctions of the reproduction system, such as: endometritis-pyometra syndrome, prolonged oestrus, ovarian cysts and others are often found. It is supposed that specific for this species hormonal regulation of the reproduction processes based on the long progesterone and prolactin cycles, and on high sensibility to estrogens plays an important role in the etiopathogenesis of these dysfunctions. The application of hormones in bitches in therapeutic and biotechnical (contraception) purposes are the other factors, which should be taken into account in this aspect. There are some suggestions that therapeutic management, unfortunately connected with mistakes in the medical art, is often a cause of pathological condition in a reproductive organ in bitches. However, another reason of these disorders may be that bitches take zearalenone with the commercial pet food. The long-lasting intake of the feed with a low dose of this micotoxin may be the factor, which complicates hormonal regulation of the reproduction processes and is the cause of many disorders. Our own pilotage investigations showed that application of zearalenone at a dose of 200 microg/kg b.w. for 7 days leads to apoptotic-like changes in granule cells in the bitch reproductive system, atresia of follicular cells and oedema and hyperplasia of the oviductal and uterine cells. They could also indicate a follicular phase of the oestrus cycle in bitch. However, it did not take place.
 When I see Mina the little Yorkie with a swollen vulva, tomorrow, I’ll be looking for possible  foreign body, bladder infections, urinary crystals, Cushing’s disease, and estrogen toxicity from zearalenone exposure. An exam, blood and urine tests will help eliminate the first four, but eliminating zearalenone exposure may be an impossible task.

Molds in Pet Foods, Fumoninsin

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We’re scaring ourselves by thinking about the molds that are found in pet food. We’ve discussed Zearalenone, which causes estrogenism, and now, let’s consider Fumoninsin. Fumoninsin is product of the mold Fusarium. Fumoninsin is found in moldy corn , wheat, and sorghum. It causes cancer, kidney and liver disease,  cardiac disease, central nervous system disease (especially in horses) and respiratory disease(especially in pigs). In humans, fumoninsin is associated with high rates of esophageal cancer. On a cellular level, fumonisin releases free radicals that cause oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. In the developing fetus, especially when the mother is folate deficient, fumoninsin causes neural tube defect so babies can be born without brains or with spina bifida. In horses, fumoninsin causes softening of the tissues in the brain (leukoencephalomalacia). It can also cause apathy, changes in temperament, inco-ordination, walking into objects, and paralysis of the lips and tongue.

 When I see Gator, the Airedale, who had a sudden onset of head pressing after eating a grain-based treat, we’re going to consider fumoninsin toxicity. Blood and urine tests will help evaluate Gator's liver and kidneys. As bright as Airedales are, it will be difficult to pick up damage to her beautiful brain.

CoQ 10, for Dogs & Cats, also called Coenzyme Q 10 or Ubiquinol

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CoQ 10,  also known as coenzyme Q 10 or ubiquinol, is as fantastic for pets as it is for people. Research has shown that CoQ 10 is especially beneficial for the brain & heart . Some humans with heart disease who were taking CoQ 10 also had improvement in gum health, so possibly dogs & cats with gum disease may benefit. 
  CoQ 10 Antioxidant & Anti-inflammatory
Because CoQ 10 functions as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, the diseases it may help are those where oxidation and inflammation play a role:
·         Back pain
·         Bladder disease
·         Brain damage
·         Cardiac disease caused by diabetes
·         Cardiac fibrosis
·         Cardiac mitral valve disease
·         Chronic kidney disease
·         Cognitive dysfunction and senility
·         Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
·         Kidney disease
·         Liver toxicity
·         Parkinson`s disease
·         Pulmonary disease
·         Seizures
 CoQ 10 Naturaly Present in FoodFortunately CoQ 10 is present in our diets, and whenever possible food is the best way to provide our dogs & cats with nutrient. CoQ 10 is present in meat, poultry, fish, nuts and in deeply pigmented fruit and vegetables. The problem is that if the food is processed, cooked or significantly heated, the CoQ 10 is destroyed. Thus, I recommend feeding a large portion of the diet that is raw, juiced, or lightly cooked. It is ok to warm the food to body temperature before feeding. In fact, it is ideal to serve most foods at body temperature.
CoQ 10 SupplementsMore If, in addition to eating properly, your pet needs a supplement, then give CoQ 10 along with an oil as it is absorbed best in the presence of oil. Nordic Naturals has a fish oil CoQ 10 combination that is good for pets. Unfortunately, CoQ 10 is moderately expensive. Do not opt for the cheap forms because they are chemically derived rather than naturally produced.
CoQ 10 Dose for Dogs & Cats Because lab studies have tried using enormous amounts of CoQ 10 (looking for cancer cures), we have research evidence that CoQ 10 is safe even at high doses. Humans have been given over 1000 mg without damage. A small dog or cat can safely take up to 100 mg and larger dogs, up to 400 mg. Do not think that if a small amount is good a large amount is better. Food is always best, and small amounts of a wide range of supplements is often safer than a large amount of any single supplement.

Evaluating Supplements for Dogs & Cats

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We spend a fortune on supplements for dogs & cats, but not all supplements are beneficial, or even safe.

Evaluating Supplements for Dogs & Cats Is Like Eating In a RestaurantIn a way, trusting a supplement company is like trusting a restaurant. When eating out, we trust the ingredients, the food storage, the cleanliness without having to go back and inspect the kitchen. When clients ask about supplements, I’m going to do my best to ensure they have all the information they need to decide whether or not to give the product to their pet. There are about 50,000 supplements for dogs & cats, so how do we know what’s good to give pets? It’s not easy. It requires research. That’s right, research.

I evaluate the following:

1. What problem does the dog or cat have, and would the supplement help with that problem?
2. What are the supplement’s active ingredients? The inactive ingredients?
3. What amount or percentage of the total is each ingredient?
4. Are all ingredients declared or does the manufacturer buy some ingredients from other companies who are not required to list everything the materials they are supplying contain?
5. From what countries do the ingredients originate?
6. How long has the product been used and how many pets have used it?
7. What is the company’s reputation?
8. Are there clinical trials demonstrating this exact product with its particular combination of ingredients is helpful?
9. Is there an independent third-party laboratory that has tested the supplement?
10. Is the supplement priced appropriately for the benefit?
11. Is the supplement stored by a distributor so that it doesn’t get over-heated?
12. Will this particular dog or cat accept the supplement in its current form?  

Supplement IngredientsSupplements list ingredients, but that is not the end of the story. Government regulations allow hundreds supplement labels to contain ingredients that are not listed. For example, a label can say hydrolyzed yeast extract and not say the extract contains MSG. A label can say “spices” and not say which spices. Many products that oxidize, like fish, are mixed with antioxidants like ethoxiquin but the supplement label  does not need to include ethoxiquin if the supplement company did not add it themselves. . If you think food & supplement labels tell the whole story, think of melamine.

What amount or percentage of the total is each ingredient? Percentages and ratios of ingredients to each other are significant. Think of how much milk or sugar you want in your tea. There is a point where it is just right. For many supplements, there is a range of ratios that will work, and the best supplements get the ratios of ingredients just right.

 Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) herbal formulas are examples of getting ingredients just right. They’ve spent hundreds of hundreds of years perfecting the ratios of herbs in the formulas. Compare a herbal formula that has been used for hundreds of hundreds of years to a supplement that has been on line for 20 years. Choose herbs and supplements with a history.
 Where are the ingredients sourced? Do the ingredients come, like melamine, from China? From the US? From Canada? While I like Chinese herbal formulas, I don’t recommend supplements made in China to my clients unless the supplement is manufactured in the US or Canada. For herbal formulas, I trust Kan Herbs from the US and Natural Path from Canada.

 Is the supplement priced appropriately for the benefit? Some supplements are expensive but dogs and cats really do well taking them: Nordic Natural’s Omega 3 Pet and Missing Link are great examples of products that are worth their weight in gold. Unfortunately, there are also supplements that are expensive but don’t provide significant benefit.

Supplement StorageMany supplements oxidize during storage, including fish oils, flax, & antioxidant vitamins. I expect that supplements warehoused in Florida have more oxidation during storage than do supplements warehoused in northern states. Thus, I don’t recommend supplements from 1800 Pet Meds who warehouses & distributes out of Florida.

 Choose wiselyUse supplements, just chose great products and make sure they’ll work for your dog and cat.

Allergy & Atopy in Dogs & Cats

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 Atopy is Latin for “strange,” but there is nothing strange about atopy.  Atopy, or the genetic tendency to have an immune reaction to something that is inhaled or touched, causes allergy symptoms. Food allergies are not atopy, but some pets will have atopy (allergies to what they inhale & contact) and also be allergic to foods.

 It is estimated 5-15% of dogs are atopic. Cats have atopy and allergies too, but we aren’t as clear how many or which breeds are affected as we’re clear about dogs. 

Dog Breeds Commonly Affected with Atopy and Allergies
·          Akitas
·          Beagles
·          Bichons
·          Boxers
·          Bulldogs
·          Chihuahuas
·          Dalmatians
·          French Bulldogs
·          German Shepherds
·          Herding breeds: Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, etc
·          Maltese
·          Newfoundlands
·          Poodles
·          Puggles
·          Retrievers: Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers
·          Rottweilers
·          Schnauzers
·          Setters
·          Shar peis
·          Shiba Inus
·          Shih Tzus
·          Terriers:  Scotties, Westies, Yorkies,  all of them at risk
 
Signs and Symptoms of Atopy & Allergies in Dogs
·          Itchy feet, itchy face, itchy bottom
·          Runny eyes
·          Secondary skin infection: yeast (Malassezia) & bacterial (Staph)
·          Symptoms obvious before middle age, usually obvious between 9 months and 3 years of age.
·          Young, say 3-month-old, puppies that have skin infections
·          Licking, especially feet and groin
·          Red, itchy ears with recurrent ear infections

One reason our allergic dogs & cats are so itchy is that the oils on the skin and the skin pH are abnormal.
 Helping Dogs & Cats with Atopy & Allergies
We have several ways to help pets with atopy & allergies, including
·          TCM herbal formulas
·          Omega 3 Fatty Acids
·          Antihistamines
·          Shampoos
·          Immune-modifying Medications
·          Homeopathy

Using Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to help Pets with Atopy & Allergies
TCM herbal formulas are ideal for dogs & cats with allergies. For example, the following help especially when itching is a strong component of your pet’s symptoms:
·          Bao Hu Jiang Jun Tang (Protect the General) for dry, itchy skin in a shy or anxious pet that also has liver disease, and possible liver enzyme elevation (ALP, ALT, AST). These pets may have tongues that are pale, or purple, or red; pulses that are thin, or wiry or choppy.
·          Bu Gan Tang (Nourish the Liver Decoction) for itchy, seborrhic skin in a pet that may also have any of the following: muscle spasm, Scotty cramp, wobblers, dry eye (KCS), liver inflammation and elevated liver enzymes, lymphoma, petit mal seizures, and behaviour problems (noise sensitivity, timidity, separation anxiety, thunder phobia, or fear aggression).
·          Dang Gui Shao Yao San (Angelica Nourish the Blood Decoction) for pets with powdery dander &  itchy skin. They may also have bladder crystals, elevated triglycerides (hyperlipidemia), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), constipation, and be over weight. These pets may also be irritable, depressed or timid. Their tongues are often pale and lavender colored.
·          Jia Wei Si Wu Tant (Augmented Four Materials) for pets with dry, itchy skin, or hives who may also have weak hind legs, anemia, constipation, blurred vision and a tendency to dizziness (vertigo). Their tongues are often pale and coated; pulses, thin & slippery.
·          Long Dan Xie Gan Tang (Quell Fire) is for the pet with severe itching and possibly bacterial or yeast (Malassezia) skin infection or mange (Demodex). These pets may also have tendency to ear infections, bladder infections (cystitis), incontinence, anal sac inflammation, Cushing’s disease, and obesity. They may have ravenous appetites and tend to eat things they shouldn’t. The tongues of dogs that benefit from Quell Fire often have red sides and a yellow coat; their pulses may be rapid, forceful, and wiry.
·          Qing Ying Tang (Clear the Nutritive Level Decoction) is for pets with intensely itchy skin and possibly bacterial or yeast (Malassezia) skin infection or mange (Demodex). These pets may also have tendency to autoimmune disease (IMHA), masticatory myositis, pneumonia, meningitis. They may develop vaccine reactions and be very ill after routine vaccination.
·          San Ren Tang (Three Seeds Decoction)is especially helpful for itchy cats. San Ren Tang is for pets with itchy skin that is usually oily. They may have a streak of slightly oily hair right down the center of the back, often with dander. Itchy cats that benefit from San Ren Tang may also have feline hyperesthesia syndrome or feline asthma. They may have anal sac inflammation, constipation and malodorous flatulence. Some have chronic vomiting. The ears are often greasy and there may be eye discharge. They may urinate outside the litter box due to agitation. Tongues are wet, pale or red; pulse, soft.
·          Si Miao San (Four Marvels) is a marvellous formula for the itchy dog or cat that is also hot. It helps dogs with itchy, infected feet (pododermatitis), itchy bottom (anal sacculitis), itchy ears (otitis externa due to yeast). These dogs may also have immune problems (IMHA), arthritis, back pain or stiffness, degenerative myelopathy, proprioceptive disorder or numbness. Some may have epilepsy or vestibular syndrome, pancreatitis, prostatic hypertrophy or vaginitis, Cushing’s disease, cystitis, bladder cancer (TCC or transitional cell carcinoma), or blood cancer (lymphoma). Tongues are pale or red; pulse, soft.
·          Si Wu Xiao Feng Yin (Four Materials Eliminate the Wind or Dry Derma Relief) is for itchy dogs with hot skin. They may have mange (Demodex) hot stops (pyodermatitis), rashes, seborrhea or bacteria infection (pyoderma). Some may have ear infections (otitis), dry eye (KCS), and behavorial problems including anxiety, noise sensitivity, timidity, separation anxiety and territoriality.
 
The beauty of using TCM herbal formula for allergic dogs or cats is that we can treat the skin along with other significant problems by choosing the correct formula.
More about allergies in the next few days.
 

Allergies in Dogs & Cats, Abnormal Skin, Dust Mites & Grain Mites Complicate Matters

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We’re discussing allergies and atopy in dogs & cats. We’ve covered TCM herbal formulas that help allergic pets, and later we’ll cover additional ways to help with Omega 3 fatty acids, shampoos, conventional meds. Now, though, let’s look at how complex this issue is by discussing

·       allergies that occur as materials travel right through our pet’s skin
·       allergies that occur because dust or grain mites are ingested along with foods.

Abnormal Skin in Dogs & Cats with Allergies
Dogs and cats with allergies often have several problems contributing to their symptoms. We used to think the redness and itching, runny eyes, and itchy ears were due to white blood cell (WBC) release of IgE. IgE binds mast cells circulating in the blood and tissues and sensitizes them to  foreign antigens. Upon meeting the antigen again, the mast cell releases histamine, leukotriene and this causes inflammation, itching and redness.
Well, it’s not that simple. There are allergic humans (and we think pets are similar) with T-helper cells that cause skin barrier malfunction. This allows antigens to penetrate right through the skin (percutaneous absorption). With this potential for exposure, pets can be allergic instantly to antigens in the environment.

The following are suspected of worsening pets’ allergies:
·          Environmental exposures
·          Infections (especially Staph)
·          Vaccinations
Well, at least one of these is entirely preventable.
 Dust Mites, Grain Mites, and Allergies
As though it isn’t enough to have antigens able to penetrate through the skin, there is also a problem when pets are exposed to foods and dust mites at the same time. North Carolina College of Vet Medicine has a study that showed dogs may become spontaneously allergic when dust mites are eaten along with foods. Unfortunately dust mites are ubiquitous. They live everywhere and thrive in moist environments such as carpets, pet beds, mattresses, basements. And the food storage mites (Tyrophagus putrescentiae and Lepidoglyphus destructor) found in kibble, dry food, cereal grains and cheese affect pets allergic to the dust mite. The house dust mite is Dermatophagoides farina and D pteronyssinus.
To protect your pet from grain mites, don’t feed kibble. This may be why so many allergic pets thrive on raw diets. Avoid any packaged foods or cereal grains and cheese.
To protect your pet from house dust mites, avoid carpets, fabrics and upholstery. Use microporous mattress covers. Air fabrics outside for 12 hours in either hot sun or cold, dry air. Wash bedding in hot soapy water or cold water with tea tree oil. Vacuum like it’s your new religion.  Don’t rely on air ionizers or chemical dust miticides as they’re ineffective. Use Benzyl benzoate (Acarosan spray), but use it at 4 x the manufacturer’s amount and leave it on the carpet for 12 hours to help decrease the number of dust mites.

 

Atopy and Allergies in Dogs & Cats, Combining Atopy & Food Allergies, the Summation Effect

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Pets that have allergies to food and to antigens that are inhaled and touched are said to have a summation effect or cross reactivity between inhalants and foods. For example, ragweed allergic dogs may experience heightened allergy symptoms when they eat cucumbers, zucchini or strawberries.  One dog that was allergic to cedar had increased symptoms after eating tomatoes. Take care, tomatoes are now in almost every commercial kibble available (tomato pumice).