treats for dog on hydrolyzed protein diet
What Treats Can I Give My Dog on a Hydrolyzed Protein Diet ?
Just like humans, dogs suffer from allergies. Not all pets but a good majority of them do. When your pet suffers from an allergy, it can be put on a hydrolyzed protein diet by your vet.
Hydrolyzed protein diets are formulated to be high in protein and low in fat, so youll want to make sure your pup isnt missing out on all his favorite foods. Try healthy additions such as fruits, veggies, and whole grains. Here are some great options: dried or fresh liver shaped into bones, beef or chicken jerky, beef or fish bones, green beans, liver pate truffles (you can find these at your local pet store) or hot dog sticks.
Scattered throughout the house or yard are always fun and easy-to-find treats for dogs on a hydrolyzed protein diet: raw grated sweet potatoes mixed with raw grated carrots, and raw ground flaxseed mixed with water.
These diets will restrict the amount of other food you can feed your hungry dog. Knowing what to feed your dog will help ease the suffering from allergic reactions and still provide your pet with a healthy menu.
To learn what to feed your dog when on a hydrolyzed protein diet, just continue to read our article. It has the information you need to know.
Should you make Homemade Hydrolyzed Protein Dog Treats ? Click here to find out.
How Long Can a Dog Be On Hydrolyzed Protein?
The first thing that needs to be mentioned here is that the hydrolyzed diet is very safe for pets. There are some side effects to this diet plan but if you keep your eye out for those negative issues, you can prevent anything bad from happening.
Depending on your pet and what is wrong with them, your dog can start to come off their hydrolyzed diet in about 2 to 3 weeks. This is the time frame where your dogs problems should have been resolved.
Make sure to wean your pet off this diet so as to not cause them any discomfort. This process may take several days to complete due to the nature of a dogs stomach. If you are not sure how to do this weaning, talk to your dogs vet for advice and guidance.
Also, you may start seeing positive results after only 2 to 3 days of their being on this diet. However, you need to wait until about 3 weeks before your pet is 100% better.
Hydrolyzed Protein Vs Hypoallergenic Diet
There are some similarities between these two dietary plans, but they are not the same. The main difference between them is that the hypoallergenic diet may have some novel proteins added to the ingredients to help stop allergic reactions.
This is done even though the hypoallergenic food is corn, soy, and grain free. The hydrolyzed diet plan uses one main protein like beef, lamb, and so on as well as grains and vegetables.
However, those food items are broken down into smaller bits making them easier for your dog to digest and go unnoticed in your dogs digestion system. Your pet still gets the nutrition it needs just in a different form.
Both are good for your pet and help them fight their allergies.
Want to make your dog some special frozen treats? Make them some of these Homemade Frozen Dog Treats with Yogurt.
Are There Any Negative Side Effects?
This topic is still under study at the moment as currently, not many long-term side effects are known. While your dog will get increased energy, it may also get increased flatulence due to the change in its food.
That side effect is temporary and will go away in a couple of weeks or so. Then, your pet may need to go to the bathroom more often and their stool size may increase while on this diet. These two effects are also temporary and only last until your dogs stomach gets used to the change in food.
If these side effects last longer than normal, then talk to your vet and see what can be done about them. The hydrolyzed diet is not dangerous for your pet in almost all cases. There may be an odd exception, but those exceptions do not spoil the positive work this diet performs.
Tips to Help You Start and End This Diet
- Gradually add the new food to your dogs current menu. You start with small amounts and slowly increase those amounts over time. This gives your dogs stomach time to adjust to the new food.
- If your dog doesnt like the taste of the new food, cover it up with the old food until they get used to the taste.
- It takes time for your dog to adjust so be patient. It can take a few days or a week or more for your dog to adjust to the new food
- If there is a digestion issue, talk to your vet and see what they say. They may change their diet.
Some Final Words
When you put your dog on this diet alternative, do not expect to see immediate results. It will take time for the dog to adjust to the new food. Plus, it will take time for the new diet to help resolve the problem.
For the most part, 2 to 3 weeks is all that is needed to help your dog get better. In the meantime, you may put up with some foul-smelling side effects, but it is worth it. Talk to your vet to get all the details on how to administer this diet plan.
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What to Know About Hydrolyzed Protein Dog Food
Veterinary prescription dog food is used to manage a variety of health conditions in dogs, but the concept behind it isnt always clear. If your veterinarian recommends a hydrolyzed protein dog food, youre probably wondering what, exactly, hydrolyzed means.
What Is Hydrolyzed Protein Dog Food?
Hydrolyzed protein dog food is a food in which the proteins are chemically broken down into tiny pieces through a water-based process called hydrolysis. This essentially makes proteins invisible to a dogs immune system.
Protein is a vital component to any diet. Your dogs muscles, hormones and disease-fighting antibodies are all proteins. To make what their bodies need, dogs take proteins from food, break them down into building blocks called amino acids, and combine those amino acids into new proteins.
In some animals, dietary proteins can trigger an abnormal immune response. Hydrolysis uses water to chemically break proteins into pieces that are so small that the immune system no longer reacts to them.
Why Your Pet Might Need Dog Food With Hydrolyzed Protein
Veterinarians typically prescribe hydrolyzed protein dog foods to treat two conditions:food allergiesandinflammatory bowel disease.
Dog Food Allergies
A dogs gastrointestinal tract serves as a gatekeeper: It allows nutrients in while fighting off disease-causing microorganisms and keeping out anything else that is potentially harmful. But sometimes the body gets confused. Dog food allergies develop when the gut incorrectly starts identifying benign dietary proteins as a potential health risk and mounts an immune response against them.
Food-allergic dogs can develop a variety of symptoms, including:
Itchiness, which may involve the whole body or be limited to the feet, ears, and/or face
Hair loss
Skin lesions
Recurrent skin or ear infections
Digestive problems likevomiting,diarrhea, andexcessive gassinessmay or may not be present as well.
Food allergy symptoms often begin when dogs are young (less than 1 year old) but can become evident at any age. Dog food allergies may develop soon after starting a new dog foodor after years of eating the same diet. Food allergies are diagnosed in all types of dogs, but some breeds appear to be genetically predisposed, including:
To diagnose dog food allergies, veterinarians typically recommend a food trial (usually lasting at least two months) during which dogs must eat only a hydrolyzed protein dog food or a diet made from a single-protein source that they have never been exposed to before. If the dogs symptoms improve over this time and then reappear when they are fed their old food, a dog food allergy diagnosis can be made.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
The line between food allergies and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is sometimes blurry. Its thought that, in some cases, food allergies can develop as a result of IBD or vice versa.
In any case, dogs with IBD have abnormal inflammation of their gastrointestinal tract. The inflammation may be widespread or localized, severe or mild, and these characteristics can change over time. This explains why dogs with IBD can have different symptoms that vary in their intensities. Signs of IBD can include:
Inflammatory bowel disease can develop at any age, but its usually diagnosed in middle-aged to older dogs. Some breeds, includingBoxersand German Shepherds, appear to be at a higher genetic risk for IBD. Inflammatory bowel disease can only be definitively diagnosed with a biopsy of the affected tissues.
Hydrolyzed Protein Dog Food Recommendations
Treatment for dog food allergies and inflammatory bowel disease centers on finding a diet that does not trigger symptoms. Immunosuppressive medications and other treatments may also be necessary in severe cases of IBD. Once a dog has been diagnosed, they will likely need to eat a special diet for the rest of their life.
Veterinary prescription hydrolyzed protein dog foods are an excellent choice for both food allergies and IBD. These diets are manufactured under the strictest quality control measures, which ensures that they arent contaminated by ingredients that are not included in the label. Eating triggering foods is a major reason that diagnostic food trials and treatment for food allergies and IBD fail.
Hills Hydrolyzed Protein Dog Food
Both of the following hydrolyzed protein dog foods also contain high levels of essential fatty acids to promote skin health:
Royal Canin Hydrolyzed Protein Dog Food
Royal Canin Veterinary Diets come in several hydrolyzed varieties, including:
Purina Hydrolyzed Protein Dog Food
Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets come in:
Your veterinarian can help you find the best hydrolyzed protein dog food that will keep your dogs symptoms under control while still providing the balanced nutrition thats essential to good health.
Featured Image: iStock/nensuria
WRITTEN BY
Jennifer Coates, DVMVeterinarian
Dr. Jennifer Coates is an accomplished veterinarian, writer, editor, and consultant with years of experience in the fields of veterinary...
Homemade Hydrolyzed Protein Dog Treats
It is on the market.You will be able to find commercial hydrolyzed protein dog treats in your supermarket or pet food store. They can be quite expensive, and it is tempting to try to make your own.
However, it may be difficult to duplicate the special process dog food proteins must go through to become hydrolyzed proteins. It may not be a smart idea to copy this formula as those changed proteins do not taste that good or do much in the way of helping your dogs health.
Keep reading to find out more.
Pros & Cons of Hydrolyzed Dog Treats
Pros:
- Helps fight allergies and still get the nutrition to your pet
- Highly digestible
- Cuts inflammatory bowel symptoms
- Stops new allergies from rising
Cons:
- These treats are more expensive due to the specialized process to make them
- They do not heal any health issues
- Can taste bitter and contribute to diarrhea
There have been no significant scientific studies done on the negative effects of hydrolyzed dog food or treats. However, there are some noticeable benefits that come with feeding your dog these types of treats.
What Treats Can I Give My Dog on a Hydrolyzed Protein Diet? Click here to learn more.
The Benefits of Hydrolyzed Dog Treats
1. The body does not detect these hydrolyzed proteins which means your dog gets the nutrition without triggering any of their allergies.
2. They are easier for dogs with sensitive stomachs to digest. That way more nutrients get to where they need to be, and your dog remains healthy.
3. Helps dogs suffering from exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. This condition is where the pancreas does not produce enough or the proper enzymes to break down food. The hydrolyzed proteins are already broken down and are easy to digest.
4. Helps you manage your dogs irritable bowel syndrome illness and severe enteritis.
The cost may be worth the expense as the results help your treasured pet be healthier and not suffer from different ailments as much.
Want to make your dog some special frozen treats? Make them some of these Homemade Frozen Dog Treats with Yogurt.
What to Look for When Buying Hydrolyzed Dog Treats
The title says when buying instead of making and there is a reason for this. There were no recipes for homemade hydrolyzed dog treats nor any websites saying this process can be done at home.
You can make your own hypoallergenic dog treats which may produce the same results but those dog treats are not exactly the same as hydrolyzed ones. Here is what you should look for when buying these treats:
1. Read the ingredients list to make sure the treats are well-balanced and meet AAFCOs recommendations.
2. Has a limited amount of proteins and no fillers.
3. Contains zero artificial flavors, dyes, preservatives, and so on. You want 100% natural dog food ingredients.
4. Has carbohydrates from sweet potato, brown rice, white potatoes, or millet as these ingredients do not usually cause allergies.
5. Is high in protein and amino acids to promote healthy skin and fur.
Does your dog love crunchy treats? Make them some of these Homemade Crunchy Dog Treats.
How Do You Know Your Dog Is Suffering from Allergies?
Here are some of the signs that indicate they have food allergies:
- They Have Skin Issues- Those issues include lesions, irritated skin, and recurring ear infections. Also, you may see these signs in other parts of the body.
- Your Dog Scratches A Lot- Itchiness is one sign as is constant licking of specific parts of their body or incessant scratching off specific areas of their body.
- Stomach Issues- Your dog frequently has diarrhea, vomiting, gas, and so on.
- A Lack of Growth- Your dog may be undersized for its age. Plus, you see wheezing, sneezing, and similar health problems.
Are Homemade Probiotic Dog Treats good for dogs? Click here to find out.
Hydrolyzed Dog Treat Side Effects
It would be nice if everything you fed to your pet was perfect. But this is not going to be the case any time soon. Even specialized dog treats will give some dogs problems, especially if they eat too much of them.
While this dog treat style is basically healthy for dogs to eat, some dogs may have trouble when their stomachs make the wrong identification of the proteins.
When this happens, the stomach triggers an immune reaction to fight off the misidentified proteins. This could cause some problems for your dog. If you do try to make your own hydrolyzed dog treats, this reaction may be more frequent than if you bought the commercial version.
Some Final Words
Hydrolyzed dog treats are supposed to be healthier to feed your pet. But it does not always work out that way. Unfortunately, to make this type of treat a special process is required.
You may not be able to use that process at home. Making your own is generally out of the question.
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