Hypoallergenic, what does it mean?

Hypoallergenic – What do you mean? 

You may be surprised to learn that food intolerances are a common problem amongst pets. Lower quality pet food, packed with artificial additives, chemicals and known hyper sensitisation ingredients can often cause disturbances. Feeding higher quality hypoallergenic Bone Idol food can help to reduce symptoms.

Our Bone Idol recipes are formulated to be hypoallergenic in the sense that they help to reduce symptoms of intolerance and sensitivity, promoting everyday health and wellbeing as recommended by the Pet Food Manufacturers Association (PFMA).

Our dog food recipes are often formulated to exclude ingredients which may cause intolerance including grains (i.e wheat and maize), beef, chicken, soya, or dairy.

However, it is important to note that although we are able to help manage symptoms of intolerance, the Bone Idol recipes we formulate are more accurately created to assist with food intolerances/sensitivities as opposed to allergic reactions and are not classed an antiallergenic pet food.

The Bone Idol definition of hypoallergenic in line with the PFMA recommendations is: “Formulated without Wheat, Wheat Gluten, Soya, Dairy, Beef or Pork.

What symptoms could my pet have?

Like humans, pets health can go out of control when exposed to certain food or chemicals. Food sensitivities are whereby the animal is intolerant (sensitive) to one or more of these materials. The body reacts to this unwanted material and there is the belief that this causes upset to the animal by including the following gastrointestinal signs: flatulence, diarrhoea, regurgitation or even vomiting, and unwanted variation with wet or voluminous stool quality. Itching and poor skin may also be associated with adverse food reactions.

It is often a protein which is sometimes associated with a carbohydrate (i.e. wheat gluten) that is implicated with causing an intolerance or sensitivity. Therefore, by formulating these recipes and declaring the individual ingredients we have a minimal number of known protein sources to reduce the risk of intolerance’s or sensitivities occurring.

If you have noticed the clinical signs which are disrupting their pets normal happy self and think that the diet is probably to blame – we recommended switching to Bone Idol hypoallergenic food! Hypoallergenic food from Bone Idol is formulated to work alongside the digestive system and in turn, is made up of ingredients which are less likely to cause adverse reactions – for pets with sensitive skin or digestion.

Remember to slowly change new food over!

We advise when looking to change your dog's food it is essential to introduce the new food gradually over a period of time (usually 2-3 weeks). It takes time for the digestive enzymes and microflora to adjust. Too much disruption through changing too quickly could be counter-productive, or, at worst, cause an adverse reaction.

You can do this by gradually reducing the amount of old food and slowly introducing the new food to the diet. Do not anticipate the effects to be instantaneous – the effect of this diet is gradual!

Must a pet have sensitivity in order to eat Bone Idol food? 

Most certainly not! Any pet can consume hypoallergenic food. Some owners may already choose to always feed this type of food because it contains reliable good quality ingredients which are highly digestible and nutritious. Alongside this, they may already choose hypoallergenic food as a preventative measure to ensure their companions have a reduced risk of digestive upset (and less potential for having to clear up some poor ‘back end’ performance!).

Hypoallergenic foods are really about reducing the risk of adverse reactions to particular ingredients or components of those ingredients. By feeding your dog Hypoallergenic foods such as Bone Idol Grain Free with particular and limited ingredients, you and your dog have a reduced risk of food-related illness and all the potential to lead a happy healthy life!

You can find out more about Bone Idol Dog Food HERE

Summary

All the above information has been taken from the below sources

The European Pet Food Industry Federation (2017). Nutritional Guidelines for Complete and Complementary Pet Food for Cats and Dogs. 1st edition. Bruxelles. FEDIAF: 77-79.

Reedy LLM, Miller Jr. WH, Willemse T (1997) Food Hypersensitivity. In: Allergic Diseases of Dogs and Cats 2nd edition WB Saunders Company Ltd. London; 1997: 173 – 188.

Scott DW, Miller WH, Griffin CE. (2001) Skin immune system and allergic skin diseases In: Muller & Kirk’s Small Animal Dermatology. 6th edition WB Saunders Company Philadelphia, PA: 543-666.