Introduction
Some of the diseases common with French Bulldogs are dermatological problems, food sensitivities and intolerances. Some of these conditions occur as the person grows older making them more severe and affecting the quality of life of the patient. In a previous post, we sought to describe what food allergies and intolerances are, their symptoms, and ways of dealing with them in senior French Bulldogs.
Understanding Food Allergies and Intolerances
It’s important to differentiate between food allergies and intolerances: It’s important to differentiate between food allergies and intolerances:
- Food Allergies: A reaction with an individual’s immune system to a protein in food, this can cause symptoms such as: rashes resembling hives, vomiting, or choking.
- Food Intolerances: are not mediated through the immune system and yet they can manifest symptoms in the gastrointestinal tract such as diarrhea, flatulence or bloating.
Common food allergens and intolerances in French Bulldogs include: Common food allergens and intolerances in French Bulldogs include:
- Beef
- Dairy
- Chicken
- Wheat
- Corn
- Soy
- Eggs
Signs and Symptoms of Food Allergies and Intolerances
Diagnosing food allergy or intolerance in senior French Bulldogs can sometimes be rather difficult because the symptoms are more or less covert or mimicked by some other disease. Some common signs to watch for include: Some common signs to watch for include:
- Digestive Symptoms: Loss of appetite, vomiting, continuous or explosive diarrhea or excessive farting.
- Skin Symptoms: These include skin irritation, skin redness, hot spots or dermatitis.
- Ear Infections: Others concerns include food allergies, and children with one or more ear infections can danger of developing a chronic condition.
- Respiratory Issues: Breathing problem or wheezing.
- Behavioral Changes: New signs ←Violence, anxiety, or fatigue.
Identifying Food Allergies and Intolerances
To accurately diagnose a food allergy or intolerance, your veterinarian may recommend one or more of the following tests: To accurately diagnose a food allergy or intolerance, your veterinarian may recommend one or more of the following tests:
- Elimination Diet: This means that those potential allergens should be avoided in the diets of your Frenchie for a given amount of time before they are solved back into the diets of your Frenchie again to check on the reactions that your Frenchie has towards it.
- Blood Tests: Blood test is another process which shows certain allergens affecting your Frenchie through the evaluation of the immune response of proteins.
- Skin Prick Tests: Skin Prick tests and Patch tests are some of the tests that are conducted on the skin where preliminary allergens are applied on the skin and the reaction is observed.
Managing Food Allergies and Intolerances
Once a food allergy or intolerance has been identified, there are several strategies to manage it effectively: Once a food allergy or intolerance has been identified, there are several strategies to manage it effectively:
- Dietary Changes:
- Elimination Diet: Ensure you remove the identified allergen from the Frenchie’s system by changing his/her diet.
- Hypoallergenic Diets: Think about using commercial non-GMO and highly digestible hypoallergenic or limited-ingredient diets.
- Homemade Diets: You may even decide to cook hypoallergenic foods at home if you consult with your veterinarian.
- Avoiding Common Allergens: This comes with reading the food labels carefully in order to realize whenever the common allergens are present. *If you are a pet owner, then maybe it is time to switch the treats and supplements for hypoallergenic versions.
- Supplements and Medications:
- Depending on the condition, the doctor might advice the patient to take some specific supplements or medication to help in easing or to deal with the symptoms or other related medical conditions.
Preventing Food Allergies and Intolerances
While it may not always be possible to prevent food allergies and intolerances, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk: While it may not always be possible to prevent food allergies and intolerances, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk:
- Gradual Introduction of New Foods: You should also introduce new foods in your Frenchie’s diet slowly in order to be able to notice if your cat is showing any symptoms when ingesting a particular food.
- Avoid Unnecessary Additives: Select good food that has very little of added chemicals such as preservatives for your dog.
- Regular Veterinary Checkups: Take your Frenchie for checkups as recommend by the veterinarian in order to detect any problem that is likely to arise early enough.
Conclusion – Food Allergies and Intolerances
This problem can have a huge effect on the welfare of seniors French Bulldogs due to food allergic reactions as well as intolerance. When you know the symptoms, risk factors, and treatment or prevention measures, you and your Frenchie can live better lives. Frenchie may suffer from food allergies or intolerance and if you think your dog is one of them, then it is good to contact your Vet for diagnosis and advice.