TREATING ALLERGIES WITH FOOD THERAPY

     In ancient China, doctors relied upon their sense of sight, smell, hearing and touch to diagnose and treat illness.  The practice of, Traditional Chinese Medicine offers a unique insight toward the treatment of allergies in our dogs and cats.

   Addressing the allergy conditions of our pets can be frustrating and may leave some owners feeling at a loss for how decrease their companion's discomfort.   Owners may have been presented with an onslaught of information and their pets prescribed medications that are laden with serious side effects.  Traditional Chinese Medicine offers some solutions.

   An allergy is defined as a hypersensitivity or abnormal reaction to a particular allergen.  When the allergen is ingested, inhaled, or comes in contact with skin an allergic response manifests itself as hot itchy skin, weepy eyes or ears, hot spots, and irritability. 

   The traditional western veterinary treatment approach would most likely involve the prescription of steroids.  Steroids help to curb allergy symptoms in the short term but are well known to have negative side effects on the liver.  Long term use causes more heat within the pet's body and results in excessive panting and drinking, seeking cool places, and a greasy, foul smelling coat.

   Traditional Chinese Medicine would address allergies using food therapy, herbs and acupuncture.  Food therapy for a pet with allergies would include low grain diets that contain meats as well as foods that have a cooling or neutral affect on the body.  Cooling proteins, that are relatively easy to obtain, include rabbit, duck and whitefish.  Salmon, beef and pork and considered neutral protein sources.  Foods that have a warming effect on the body should be avoided, these include chicken and turkey.  Avoid feeding lamb and venison to  allergy suffering pets as these are the hottest foods and would exasperate their condition.