What To Do About Food Allergies in Your Mini Labradoodle

Mini Labradoodles are smaller versions of the Labradoodle – a cross between the Labrador Retriever and Miniature Poodle. Many of their traits are largely similar, in that they are small, mobile, fluffy, and lively companions. A Mini Labradoodle is also a hypoallergenic dog, so many dog lovers who suffer from allergies around dogs would love to have these active dogs in their corner. As with just about every dog and human, food sensitivities and allergies are bound to pop up now and then. This is why it is essential to not only understand the causes of food sensitivities in your miniature Labradoodle, but also how these food sensitivities can affect them. You must also learn how to spot and treat allergic reactions.

Mini Labradoodle Food Sensitivities Explained

In general, food sensitivities in Mini Labradoodles can be likened to food allergies. They are, however, different. While food allergies can be linked to certain proteins in the body that trigger immune responses, food sensitivity usually implies that the dog cannot digest certain foods. Food sensitivity shows typical symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and increased flatulence. Food allergies have a prominent sign of itching. Over the long term, the dog may experience more allergy symptoms such as gurgling stomach, upset stomach, and runny stools. While food sensitivities may not be a severe issue, it is a common one that can cause discomfort.

Causes Of Food Sensitivity In Mini Labradoodles

Food sensitivity in Mini Labradoodles can be triggered by a host of factors that include food poisoning, food additives, allergic reaction, and drug-like reaction, to mention a few. In the case of food allergies, a Miniature Labradoodle can be affected by adverse reactions from excess consumption of specific vitamins such as Vitamin A or Vitamin D. Other foods that dogs are commonly sensitive to are allergens, preservatives, oils, spices, and a host of other human foods, such as various proteins. Allergies can also be the case when switching from puppy food to adult dog food. So you might see a Mini Labradoodle puppy reacting to a chicken meal that they would normally enjoy. Even amongst adult Mini Labradoodles, changing diets could trigger food allergies because the dog may be allergic to one of the ingredients present in the previous diet. It is also possible that a Mini Labradoodle may suddenly be allergic to food that it has eaten for a long time without any issues. This is because for the allergies to develop, sensitization must have set in over extended periods of consumption. Sometimes, the pet would have to be exposed for a long time before the allergies or intolerance to certain foods starts to show allergy symptoms. There is no traditional food that is known to cause insensitivity in dogs. However, it has been shown that it is primarily proteins that can cause this. However, other additives and substances can also be responsible. It is important to note that allergies are not caused by the foods mentioned. Instead, they are caused by genetic traits and are commonly triggered by these substances. The immune systems for all pups differ and may affect their response to provoking foods.

How Food Sensitivities Can Affect Your Mini Labradoodle

The manners in which food sensitivities can affect the Mini Labradoodle differ across allergies and intolerance. Food allergies are one of the five allergies or hypersensitivity issues that can affect dogs, and about 10% of dog allergies are attributed to food allergies. In the case of allergies, the dog’s immune system reacts negatively to the intake of the food. As a result, chemicals like histamine can be released into the body. In turn, this will lead to bodily responses that harm or hurt the dog. Food intolerance in your pet can irritate the dog’s digestive system, causing an unpleasant reaction to the said food. A primary difference between the two conditions is that allergies are more severe, while intolerance may have milder effects. A critical approach is to know the difference between the two of them. The differences in the symptoms are explained below.

Signs That Your Mini Labradoodle Might Have Food Sensitivities

Mini Labradoodles do not necessarily have sensitive stomachs. However, they are prone to a host of dietary issues that are best shown in the form of symptoms. Symptoms in your pet are the best indicators of food sensitivities before further diagnosis. For food sensitivity in Mini Labradoodles, examples of symptoms include belly pain, itching, gas, cramps, diarrhea, irritability, headaches, inflamed skin, chronic ear problems, stunted growth, and coughing/wheezing. For allergies, symptoms include vomiting, difficulty breathing, tightness in the throat, hoarseness, coughing, and blood pressure reduction. Another difference is that allergies have almost immediate symptoms, usually much quicker than food sensitivities. Signs for food allergies occur almost immediately after the trigger food has been consumed and manifest in itching around the ears, face, and a handful of other itchy hotspots. Yeast infections in the ear are also an indicator of allergies. While there is no established linkage between food allergies and other allergies, food allergies or sensitivity can affect other parts of the Mini Labradoodle’s body, such as the skin, ear, etc. On the other hand, food sensitivities or intolerance take a long time to show symptoms. They may take days, months, or even years before the dog starts showing signs. This can make them less traceable and the diagnosis process more complex. A significant number of the symptoms in both cases of sensitivities and allergies are similar, although food sensitivities will more likely show symptoms associated with digestion, such as weight loss, vomiting, lack of appetite, and diarrhea. Food sensitivities in Mini Labradoodles can often be confused with reactions from feeding them with the wrong ingredients. A lot of dogs, regardless of breed, are lactose intolerant. If a pet reacts negatively to lactose, it could be inaccurate to classify it as a general food sensitivity case.

How To Care For And Treat Your Mini Labradoodles For Food Sensitivities

Many practices can be adopted when it comes to treating your Mini Labradoodle for food sensitivities. These treatments vary in terms of medication and adjustive diets. One of the most accurate ways to reduce food allergies in Labradoodles is the elimination diet and challenge. This method is most accurate to determine if the dog is sensitive to the food being fed or simply reacting to an environmental or any other factor. To properly diagnose the food sensitivities or allergies in your dog, provide it with a limited-ingredient diet. Under this practice, you would introduce incrementally, one at a time. Through this process, the Mini Labradoodle would have to be watched and observed thoroughly. There is no standard period to monitor your dog; it can take 1-12 weeks to diagnose your dog correctly and discover the source of the intolerance or allergy. The elimination diet and challenge involves the complete adjustment of the Mini Labradoodles diet regarding food and dietary supplements. Doing this would mean that the labradoodle would be fed entirely new foods and observed for some time, usually around a few weeks. If the pet shows no reactions or stops showing the food allergy/intolerance symptoms, it could suggest that food sensitivity was the issue. After observation, put the Mini Labradoodle back on the same diet as before, suspected of causing the problems. If the Labradoodle starts to display allergy symptoms, then the Mini Labradoodle may have food sensitivities. Allergy testing would also help you resolve allergies in your dog. This test could be in a blood test or a skin test, or even the elimination diet. That way, you’ll find out what kind of allergy your dog has, perhaps a chicken allergy or something else.

How To Help Your Mini Labradoodle Live a Fulfilling Life With Food Sensitivities

Despite being prone to food sensitivities, your Mini Labradoodle can still live a happy and fulfilled life, and it all boils down to certain practices such as feeding and nutrient regulation. One approach is to switch from raw food to cooked diets for your dog. A significant benefit of this is that you will know exactly where the supplements and nutrients are, and your pet’s nutrient intake can better be observed and regulated. There might be a downside to this method in the sense that cooked food might not always have the nutrient composition that a Mini Labradoodle owner might think it to have. Unfortunately, raw food can be unhelpful, even harmful, to most dogs. When cooking human foods for your pet, it is essential to note that the dog’s ability to eat said foods does not necessarily indicate good health. It is also important to note that immune systems and environment are essential factors in how a Mini Labradoodle, or any other dog, receives these human foods. However, it is highly inadvisable to put your dog on a fully human food diet for a host of reasons. First of all, a human food diet may lack the essential vitamins and nutrients needed for the Mini Labradoodle to be healthy. Feeding your dog human food would also mean that you would be feeding it with both foods that are safe and unhealthy. Second, a Mini Labradoodle owner may have the best intentions but cannot adequately cook such foods for their pet. In a case like that, it would be best to leave the nutrient compositions to experts who have afforded for it in the form of diet-specific dog foods. The basis for this approach would be to observe progress and seek specialist help when necessary. In addition, cooking your Mini Labradoodle’s meals may be stressful in terms of charting out a good diet plan and going through the effort itself. The benefits are wide-ranging, and this could be a good fit for your Mini Labradoodle. Third, on the occasion that pet food is bought, discretion is advised. It is essential to look for the original protein source to know if it is a food source that affects your Mini Labradoodle. This is essential so that none of the foods that your dog is intolerant to can cause further problems. You should use discretion when looking at the additives that may have been used in the product. You can also always contact the company to inquire about any further nutritional information that you may need. It can be helpful to put a rotation in your pet’s diet so that they can get a natural variety of nutrients. Include lots of animal protein in their diets, like wet food, chicken meal, and fish rich in omega fatty acids, though you should always check with your veterinarian before implementing a diet. Dry dog food like kibble is another meal you should incorporate in your doodle’s meals. Also, ensure that you always feed your dog fresh food. An overall healthy lifestyle for your Mini Labradoodle would be beneficial. Your dog should drink more water and exercise regularly as these actions help weight regulation, general health, and cancel out behavioral patterns such as itching, etc. Finally, a host of products have unique formulations for specific diets in pets. This option would practically be the easiest path to take as it would pay direct attention to your dog’s intolerance and dietary specifications.

Special Diets And Nutritional Considerations For Your Mini Labradoodle

The Mini Labradoodle can be prone to health and dietary issues that go beyond just sensitivity. These complications include skin sensitivities, cruciate ligament issues, Addison’s disease, ear infections, and eye diseases. While these complications may not necessarily affect the dog’s digestive process, their dietary build-up is essential. It should be reviewed to keep a healthy Mini Labradoodle. There are a host of foods and supplements that you can either add to improve the health of your Mini Labradoodle or remove to avoid any detriment to your dog’s health. An example is in the case of Hip Dysplasia, an inflammatory condition that is common among Labradoodles. Balanced, all-natural diets help reduce inflammation. You can achieve this diet by feeding your Mini Labradoodle with ground bone, organ meats, and other animal sources of protein, anti-inflammatory omega fats, and supplements of botanical extracts. On the other hand, a condition known as leaky gut (intestinal permeability) allows bacteria into the bloodstream, which can then cause inflammation. Foods that are likely to increase this occurrence include grains, cereals, sugars, and complex carbohydrates. So it would be best to remove altogether or regulate the intake of these food substances. Several other complications associated with Mini Labradoodles can be linked with these foods as well, so a revamp of your Mini Labradoodle’s health would be as essential. You can add in any earlier mentioned foods and vegetables, actual fibers, and fruits. You should be careful to avoid foods that have hidden dairy products such as bread, processed meat, canned fish, and chips.

Frequency and Amount for Feeding Your Mini Labradoodle

The nutritional content for your Mini Labradoodle is as vital as the food quantity and frequency of feeding. To reduce the chances of your dog experiencing gastric tensions, it is advisable to feed your Mini Labradoodle twice a day instead of one large meal a day. Your Mini Labradoodle should be given 1 to 2.5 cups of dry food a day. You can divide this across two well-spaced meals.

Dry or Canned Foods

Your Mini Labradoodle can be fed with either canned or dry foods. Both kinds of foods have their respective benefits that are essential to a dog’s health. The proper selection of dry and canned foods is helpful in preventing food sensitivity in Mini Labradoodles. In regards to canned foods, more moisture is involved, which means the pup is more hydrated. This is a benefit for Mini Labradoodles that hardly like to drink water or that exercise excessively. Mini Labradoodles are likely to get picky with their food and will choose to go with canned foods, given that they have a more meaty flavor and thicker aromas. Given the size, your Mini Labradoodle will likely consume less food and may not be inclined to eat in some cases. Canned food would be better in this case. Dry food is also beneficial to counter food insensitivity in your Mini Labradoodle. Dogs are likelier to chew in the case of dry foods, and hence, digestion is easier and faster. Dry food also helps with dental health because its texture causes more chewing, which improves hygiene in your Mini Labradoodle’s mouth. Further developments in foods for dogs have shown the presence of sodium hexametaphosphate coating on dry food. This helps bind calcium to the teeth of the dog and improves dental health. Dry food is also more convenient to feed your Mini Labradoodle with in terms of tidiness and ease.

Conclusion

On that note, we can say that there are several ways to handle food sensitivities in your Mini Labradoodle. They can all be mixed and implemented as long as they provide your dog’s necessary nutritional and health benefits.