Food allergies in pets account for roughly 10% of diagnosed allergies, although some holistic vets suggest that food sensitivities are involved in about 30% of allergy cases. For food-allergic pets, the most common symptom observed is allergic reaction on the skin - itching, swelling, hot spots, flakiness, hair loss, etc. This is especially true for dogs, with cats often more likely to show allergies through bladder inflammation or digestive problems. Digestive symptoms will occur in dogs in at least 10-15% of food allergy cases.

Food allergies typically arise in pets over 2 years of age, but can appear in younger pets raised on a commercial diet from the beginning of their eating solid food. Food allergies often develop 1-3 years after exposure to the allergen, and if left untreated, may set stage for "leaky gut syndrome," colitis, and other irritable bowel conditions.

Understanding GI Symptoms
So what kind of digestive symptoms are observed in food-allergic pets? The most common is diarrhea, with some pets experiencing gas, bloating, gurgling, or possibly vomiting. It's important to remember that any of these symptoms can indicate life-threatening conditions like liver or kidney failure, so always check with your vet when unusual digestive symptoms are present.

Whenever it appears, diarrhea indicates that the colon is attempting to remove toxins or other irritants by flushing them out quickly. Remember that diarrhea is a symptom, not a disorder unto itself, so it's important to seek a cause for chronic diarrhea rather than exclusively focusing on treating the symptom.

Toxins can come from many sources, including actual toxins ingested by the animal, undigested food particles, intestinal bacterial metabolic waste, or simply metabolic waste from the animal's own body processes. Dr. Martin Goldstein, DVM, suggests in his book, The Nature of Animal Healing, that allergies are most likely to develop in pets that already have a toxic overload in their bodies. This serves as a reminder that eliminating an allergic response can take patience and time as various aspects of in out-of-balance GI tract are addressed.

Allergies are tough to resolve for many reasons. And food allergies can be made worse by the presence of other allergies like those to grasses, pollen, dust, mold, etc. Also, some cases with digestive problems that look like food "allergy" may be caused by improper digestion, imbalance of intestinal bacteria, or even stress. Some breeds may experience digestive issues due to a more high-strung temperament, emotional sensitivity, or hyperactivity that can cause too rapid or over-eating, which can cause digestive upset.

Food Allergy Help
A food elimination diet is the best thing to do for any pet suspected of having food allergies. See last week's email for more information on this topic. But some pets may have diarrhea for other reasons, or may have secondary gastrointestinal issues that arose after the food allergy. If this is the case, extra digestive support will likely be of benefit. Our featured formulas may help resolve diarrhea and other GI issues arising from food allergy or other causes.

Understanding the complexity of food allergies and their effect on the GI tract points toward several strategies for supporting your pet's digestion. We offer three formulas that may be of value for pets with suspected food allergies. If GI symptoms resolve with one of these formulas, it may be that the symptoms were not caused by food allergy. Again, the elimination diet is the best way to determine whether food ingredients are causing problems for your pet. As always, we strongly advise that you consult with your vet (find a holistic vet if possible) for any concerns you have for your pet's health, like serious GI symptoms that are new or more severe than usual for your pet.

Our Probiotic Blend offers probiotics and prebiotic FOS to help normalize the microbial balance in the intestines - overgrowth of "bad" microbes is a prime suspect in diarrhea, constipation and other GI symptoms. Consider Probiotic Blend as a first choice for pets with alternating diarrhea & constipation, a history of yeast or bacterial infections, or long-term and/or repeated antibiotic treatments. Save 10% through February 28th and see product details below.

Vital Digest may be the right choice if reduced enzyme production or weak digestion is triggering food sensitivities. It contains a complete array of enzymes to help your pet fully digest and assimilate food, which if left undigested, may irritate the GI tract and set the stage for allergic reactions and serious health problems like leaky gut syndrome. Vital Digest may be considered as a first choice for older pets (that may be producing fewer pancreatic enzymes), pets with chronic loose stool and/or with noticeable amounts of undigested material in their stool. Get 10% off through February 28th and learn more below.

GI Support provides comprehensive support for the GI tract with probiotics, enzymes, intestinal health-building amino acids and vitamins, as well as herbs with soothing, anti-inflammatory properties to help ease allergic response in irritated tissues. Choose GI Support first (and perhaps with Probiotic Blend and/or Vital Digest to follow) for pets that have been treated with steroid medications (Prednisone, etc.), have received past treatment for other allergies, or have been experiencing the GI symptoms for an extended period. Take a 10% discount through February 28th and find further information below.

Only Natural Pet Probiotic Blend This gentle formula helps restore balance of microbes in the intestines by providing a supply of "friendly" bacteria, which helps to reduce over-population of "bad bugs." It's often the "bad" bacteria or yeast that are producing toxins in the GI tract, which may be at the root of diarrhea, gassiness, etc.

Restoring the good bugs also strengthens the immune system overall, a large part of which is active in the lining of the intestines. When the immune system is healthy along the intestinal walls, it helps prevent over-reactive, inflammatory responses that can cause diarrhea and other GI distress symptoms. 90 capsules, which may be opened to mix the powdered content with your pet's food.

Get 10% off Only Natural Pet Probiotic Blend through February 28th!

Just what I was looking for
"Giving this product to my 14-year-old dog seems to have solved the problem of unexpected "bathroom problems," which resulted in my having to clean the carpet. I found through trial and error that the the best maintenance dosage for him is two capsules every night...." review posted by Paul's Mother from Austin, TX

Happy Cat  
"I have an 11-year-old female cat who has irritable bowel symptoms.... Started her on probiotic blend and it's amazing. I give her 1 whole capsule in the AM.... Within 1 week, her stools are normal and she has so much more energy. She would always lay around in the same spot, now she visits us upstairs in the morning to let us know it's time for breakfast. I will give this to her indefinitely. This avoided unnecessary expenses in scopes/x-rays at the vet and stressing her out with them." review posted by Nicole from Lansdale, PA

Find more reviews of Only Natural Pet Probiotic Blend here, or buy it now.

Only Natural Pet Vital Digest

Only Natural Pet Vital Digest This powder helps your pet digest food completely, which prevents undigested food from passing through the intestines. Large food particles may irritate the intestinal lining, and may be interpreted as allergens, provoking an inflammatory (swelling) response. This process can set the stage for "leaky gut syndrome," which can cause inflammation and allergic symptoms throughout the body.

Undigested food that makes it through to the colon often provides extra nourishment for bad bacteria and yeast, which can cause their overgrowth and an increase in their toxic metabolic waste, again contributing to the likelihood of diarrhea and other allergic symptoms elsewhere in the body. 100 gram bottle of easy-to-administer powder.
 

Get 10% off Only Natural Pet Vital Digest through February 28th.
 

I'm glad I ordered this product
"My 18 year old Cricket had grown terribly thin and was always begging for more food which seemed not to sustain her. She is much more content now, less demanding and has regained weight. She has had several physical problems in the past but seems happy. While I had anticipated she would not be with me much longer now I see a cat who still has vitality and love to give." review posted by Mary Mac from Washington, DC

Shadow digests her food properly  
"Shadow's pancreas doesn't create the enzymes necessary to digest fats and she had been given a prescription medication. I researched the Vital Digest and decided to try it. It provides the same results as the prescription medication but costs 1/10th the price. Shadow digests her food properly with no vomiting or diarrhea just like with the prescription medication. I recommend it to anyone whose baby has digestive issues!"
review posted by K9Mama from Martinsburg, WV

Find more reviews of Only Natural Pet Vital Digest here, or click to buy.

Only Natural Pet GI Support Although pets with many digestive disorders can benefit from GI Support, it is a particularly good choice for pets with suspected food allergies. It combines probiotics, digestive enzymes, vitamins and amino acids that support a healthy GI tract, plus herbs with soothing and anti-inflammatory properties to help sensitive tissues in the lining of the GI tract recover from a state of allergic reactivity. 120 capsules of a palatable powder that can be mixed with food.

GI Support can be used in conjunction with Vital Digest and Probiotic Blend - just be sure to add only one product at a time to your pet's regimen, and add each item slowly at about half the recommended amount, gradually working up to the full amount over a few days. This is true for all three products, but as always, we encourage you to work with a holistic vet for your pet's health issues.

Get 10% off Only Natural Pet GI Support through February 28th.

great product 
"We started giving GI Support to our 2-year-old cat, who had digestive problems all her life. She is doing much better now after one month! Just ordered 3 more bottles...." review posted by Cat 80 from Batavia, IL

Great results!
"My 4 year old Corgi has had GI problems since he was a puppy. I have spent hundreds of dollars at the vet and many trips outside in the middle of the night due to his upset bowels.(Not to mention cleaning up plenty of accidents). I have been using this product for about a month, and it is amazing! No GI upsets, no trips out in the middle of the night. His bowel issues have disappeared completely! This is the best stuff!" review posted by Corgi Lover from Gulfport, FL

Find more reviews of Only Natural Pet GI Support here, or buy it now.

Many conventional veterinarians may suggest that your pet be placed on a prescription diet for pets with allergies. A careful check of the labels of these diet formulas reveals that many contain substandard ingredients that can be both difficult to digest, and known to cause allergic responses in sensitive pets! See our article, "What You Need to Know About Your Pet's Food," for more information on the quality of ingredients in pet food.

We've heard from many customers who say that their pet did better on the prescription diet for a short while, and then either stopped eating the food, and/or developed skin and coat problems like shedding, flaking, and itchy skin! We always advocate a natural diet as the foundation of good health, and strongly encourage you to consider a holistic allergy food (including a raw diet - great for many allergic pets) before a veterinary prescription diet. Consult with your veterinarian, AND read the labels carefully before switching to any new food for an allergic pet.