Pet food isn't necessarily safe from food-borne illness, as the recent major recalls of dry dog food indicate. They're also not as pristine as we'd like to believe; they can contain hazardous chemicals as well as germs. When our pet suddenly begins to exhibit severe physical symptoms, such as excessive vomiting or canine seizures, we tend to think of severe illnesses. But the problem can be as close as the bag of pet food.
Seizures can happen at any magnitude, and often small seizures that we don't even notice are a harbinger of more severe problems down the road. When a severe seizure does happen, it can be downright frightening to see. It appears painful and is often violent. Watching a beloved family pet have a seizure is especially difficult, since they are powerless against threats of that kind. It's not unusual to have an extreme reaction.
While a strong reaction is natural, it's important to mitigate that reaction with some knowledge and common sense. Seizures can be caused by a canine wheat allergy, and allergies are becoming more common as major pet food brands use more and more grain as cheap filler in their products. You don't see a lot of wild dogs eating wheat; it isn't naturally part of your dog's diet either. But depending on the brand you use half or more of the volume your dog eats during a day could be wheat.
Consuming large quantities of a food that isn't naturally part of your diet is a good way to cause a food allergy, and as an allergy develops its symptoms worsen. A wheat allergy will generally begin with minor symptoms such as gas and itchy skin, so if you've noticed those symptoms before your dog has a major seizure, an allergy is likely the culprit. If you haven't noticed other symptoms, overreacting isn't a bad idea. Allergies rarely present severe symptoms immediately.
Sadly, once you get into a veterinary office it is unlikely that much attention will be given to your dog's diet. The unfortunate fact of veterinary medicine, just like other medical professions, is that prevention doesn't pay for anyone but the patient. Vets don't want pets to get sick any more than optometrists want people's eyes to get worse. But they do tend to focus on treating the symptoms they see rather than digging for underlying causes.
And even if the problem isn't a pet allergy it's still possible that the culprit is the pet food. Because the FDA has such a massive enforcement mission, the resources allocated to pet food are not sufficient to the task of monitoring every brand. Hazardous materials can be present, and they can poison pets, especially in food brands that are mass produced outside of the United States. It might be a good idea to do some research to see if problems have been reported with your brand.
Of course, there is the possibility that sudden, severe symptoms are an indication of a serious medical condition that needs immediate veterinary care. It's important to face that possibility while you investigate how dietary factors might be responsible and what you can do about them.
Whenever symptoms like canine seizures or prolonged vomiting strike, it is important to get help for your pet right away. Most severe illnesses are easier to treat the easier they are caught, and because the symptoms are very uncomfortable, the sooner you handle a trivial cause (such as an allergy) the better.
Seizures can happen at any magnitude, and often small seizures that we don't even notice are a harbinger of more severe problems down the road. When a severe seizure does happen, it can be downright frightening to see. It appears painful and is often violent. Watching a beloved family pet have a seizure is especially difficult, since they are powerless against threats of that kind. It's not unusual to have an extreme reaction.
While a strong reaction is natural, it's important to mitigate that reaction with some knowledge and common sense. Seizures can be caused by a canine wheat allergy, and allergies are becoming more common as major pet food brands use more and more grain as cheap filler in their products. You don't see a lot of wild dogs eating wheat; it isn't naturally part of your dog's diet either. But depending on the brand you use half or more of the volume your dog eats during a day could be wheat.
Consuming large quantities of a food that isn't naturally part of your diet is a good way to cause a food allergy, and as an allergy develops its symptoms worsen. A wheat allergy will generally begin with minor symptoms such as gas and itchy skin, so if you've noticed those symptoms before your dog has a major seizure, an allergy is likely the culprit. If you haven't noticed other symptoms, overreacting isn't a bad idea. Allergies rarely present severe symptoms immediately.
Sadly, once you get into a veterinary office it is unlikely that much attention will be given to your dog's diet. The unfortunate fact of veterinary medicine, just like other medical professions, is that prevention doesn't pay for anyone but the patient. Vets don't want pets to get sick any more than optometrists want people's eyes to get worse. But they do tend to focus on treating the symptoms they see rather than digging for underlying causes.
And even if the problem isn't a pet allergy it's still possible that the culprit is the pet food. Because the FDA has such a massive enforcement mission, the resources allocated to pet food are not sufficient to the task of monitoring every brand. Hazardous materials can be present, and they can poison pets, especially in food brands that are mass produced outside of the United States. It might be a good idea to do some research to see if problems have been reported with your brand.
Of course, there is the possibility that sudden, severe symptoms are an indication of a serious medical condition that needs immediate veterinary care. It's important to face that possibility while you investigate how dietary factors might be responsible and what you can do about them.
Whenever symptoms like canine seizures or prolonged vomiting strike, it is important to get help for your pet right away. Most severe illnesses are easier to treat the easier they are caught, and because the symptoms are very uncomfortable, the sooner you handle a trivial cause (such as an allergy) the better.
About the Author:
I enjoy writing about dogs and their health. For more information, I recommend http://www.corysstory.com.
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