Food allergies/intolerance usually have underlying issues that can be harder to figure out. Some vets may recommend a blood serum test, however of the vets I personally know they will tell you it is a waste of money. Pets, unlike people can eat 20+ ingredients in each piece of dry kibble in a meal.
Going back to the breakdown of the intestinal lining, this would make each of those ingredients an allergen. Since all of them entered the blood stream at the same time, the immune system tried to neutralize each part of the foreign matter.
I would highly recommend that you look into a hair/saliva test. There are a few out there that I have heard good things about. They not only look at foods, but also environment and vitamin/mineral deficiencies.For those making a homemade diet of either cooked or raw this can be a great tool in balancing your diet. The kit can be mailed to you, and than follow the instructions and send back. It is a great tool to use and a great starting point to a healthier pet. Yes this works for both dogs and cats.
Click Here for Test Ordering
They do recommend specific products they have, however the herbals I list in the "Shop Here" section of the blog cover about every one they suggest.
Once you have a starting point of what your pet is having an issue with you can design a diet at home for them. The following are guidelines of nutrients they need in their diets. Most foods have what your pets need, you just have to make sure they are getting a balance of specific nutrients to complete the diet. Balance overtime is no different than how we eat.
Homemade: A few things you need to balance
Calories: This is a starting point on how many calories you should feed. If you pet is overweight than you need to put in the weight they need to be. Never adjust more than 10% of body weight at a time, once they reach that target than adjust again until they are at proper weight. For homemade food to figure out the calories it would go by what you are putting in your recipes for them.
Calcium: would come from either raw bones or egg shells. Dogs need 119mg/kg per pound of body weight. Ground egg shells (Very easy to make for the pets and the family to use) have 800mg per teaspoon approx. Calcium and Phosphorus need to be at 1:1 ratio. Egg shells should be from pasture raised eggs. Check your local farmers markets for these. Make sure they are not raised on soy. Phosphorus is found in green tripe, meats, organs, and fish. So depending on the meat you are using this would make up the 1:1 ratio of Cal/Phosphorus.
Fats: Omega 6/Omega 3 should be at a 5:1 ratio. Organic Coconut oil (Omega 6) and Iceland Pure Sardine/Anchovy oil (Omega 3) Also Answers Raw goats milk or Kefir are good sources. Since most diets are higher in Omega 6 than Omega 3 adding the two supplements will help balance the intake of the amounts needed.
Protein to Fat: Ratio is 2:1 Protien has 4 calories per gram and fat has 9 calories per gram.
Bone broth is another great way to add in to any meal your pet is being served.
Use bones with lots of marrow in them-Fill a crockpot with water 2" above the bones
1/4 cup of Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar
Can add 2 garlic gloves to pot (No Garlic is not toxic!)
Put crock pot on high for a couple hours, than turn down and simmer for 24 hours.
Skim the fat off the top, strain to remove bones (Do not feed cooked bones to dog)
Remove any pieces of meat you want to put back in the broth.
Chill over night-it will turn to a jelly looking substance.
Feed with your pets meal-start off slow. My 40# dogs received 1/4 cup of broth per meal.
Freeze in containers as it will last 4 days in refrigerator.
More on Allergies this week.
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