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Questions about the dog's health
1. What are the symptoms of food allergy?
2. How are food allergies treated?
3. Can immunity be influenced by the daily diet?
4. My black dog's coat is taking on a reddish brown sheen in places. Why is that?
5. Can joint problems be prevented/remedied with an improved diet?
6. My dog is often flatulent. Has this to do with the food he is on?
7. My dog has foul-smelling breath. Is this due to the food he is on?
1. What are the symptoms of food allergy?
Food allergy is a non-frequent illness in dogs and cats which usually presents as an itchy skin disorder, caused by a hypersensitivity reaction of the animal's body against one or several specific food ingredients. Moreover, ten percent of dogs suffering from food allergy also have digestive disorders. Barely 10 % of allergic skin afflictions is caused by food allergies. Which is why it is imperative that other causes of itchy skin disease or allergy are duly excluded as a potential cause when making the final diagnosis.
2. How are food allergies treated?
Dogs suffering from food allergy are given a purpose-composed diet to which the animal does not respond allergically. Animal proteins are the most likely substance to elicit allergies. Which explains why it is important to give the dog types of meat to which the animal is not allergic. The simplest way to move forward is to offer the dog a type of meat which it has not had before. As lamb is rarely used in traditional dog foods, the Bento Kronen Nutritional Balance Lamb & Rice products contain strictly lamb (no chicken, beef or pork) as a source of animal protein for land animals. In cereals, it is the gluten that elicit an allergic response. In such cases, the animal's diet is to be composed strictly of non-gluten cereal varieties. Rice is a high-quality, very easily digestible cereal which contains no gluten and which is the only type of cereal to be used in the Bento Kronen Nutritional Balance Lamb & Rice range of products. The omega-3-fatty acids in fish oils have an inflammation-inhibiting effect and serve to reduce allergy symptoms. This explains why all products as part of the range of Bento Kronen Nutritional Balance Lamb & Rice products contain high levels of a variety of fish oils.
3. Can immunity be influenced by the daily diet?
Over the past few years, a huge amount of scientific research results has been made available demonstrating that the resistance to illness is significantly affected by diet. Cartenoids in particular, a group of natural pigments from the world of plants, have been shown to have a highly beneficial impact on the immunity system. Lutein and beta-carotene for example have been demonstrated to foster the build-up of anti-bodies against illness, next to stimulating the operation of white bloodcells in dogs. Which is why all Bento Kronen Nutritional Balance products contain Pro Immune, a unique combination of lutein and beta-carotene, offering optimal immunity against disease and illness.
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4. My black dog's coat is taking on a reddish brown sheen in places. Why is that?
The reddish colouring of your dog's coat can have several causes. If it is dead hair, during moulting season for example, this is perfectly normal, as this type of hair is always lighter in colour and there is nothing to be done about it. Moulting season can however be retrenched by brushing the dog's hair on a daily basis over a two week or so period. Another cause of the reddening of the skin could be exposure to sun or the excess use of cosmetics such as shampoo or dog grooming products. As some dogs (as shown by recent scientific research) require a higher level of tyrosine, Bento Kronen has made sure that a number of its Nutritional Balance products contain extra tyrosine. The Opti Coat icon shown on the products listed below, guarantees that fish, biotin and tyrosine offer a healthy skin, a glossy coat and optimum pigmentation. Bento Kronen products containing Opti Coat are: Nutritional Balance All Breeds Growth Lamb & Rice, Mini & Medium Lamb & Rice, Maxi Lamb & Rice.
5. Can joint problems be prevented/remedied with an improved diet?
Although joint problems are not to be attributed to the dog's diet as a rule but much rather tend to be the upshot of hereditary factors and wear, the right diet can make a huge difference in terms of the prevention of and recovery from cartilage injuries. First and foremost it is the amount of energy intake that plays an overriding part. Young pups which develop too quickly are more likely to face cartilage problems. Which is why, especially with pups of larger dog breeds, it is advisable to ration the amount of food that is served to prevent unduly fast growth. In adult dogs, obesity is a major cause of undue strain on the joints. Reducing weight by restricting the amount of food intake will serve to alleviate the strain load on the joints.
The principal components of the joint cartilage are glucosamine and chondroitin. Administering these elements through the food slows down the break-down of cartilage as well promoting the build-up of fresh cartilage. Clinical studies amongst humans and animals alike have shown that glucosamine and chondroitin supplements have a favourable impact on the cartilage function. The Bento Kronen Nutritional Balance dog foods for larger dog breeds (Maxi Regular, Mega Regular, Maxi Growth, Mega Growth) and older dogs (All Breeds Senior) contain Mobility Care, a unique combination of glucosamine and chondroitin aimed at preventing and treating joint problems.
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6. My dog is often flatulent. Has this to do with the food he is on?
The dog's feeding habits may effectively cause flatulence. For example, this may occur when the animal wolfs down its food, getting too much air in in the process or when the chunks are insufficiently masticated, thereby ending up in the stomach irreduced. Preventive steps include: serving larger-sized chunks forcing the dog to chew its food to better effect; offering several meals a day to counteract scoffing and to put less of a strain on the stomach; making sure the dog is able to eat its food peacefully, i.e. avoid having other dogs or cats around to rule out the element of competition; allowing the dog to rest after the meal as stress and agitation only serve to slow down the emptying of the stomach; serving premium food as this allows your dog to eat less of rations which are more digestible. In addition, fresh meat and inferior quality meat are also often at the root of flatulence which, at worst, may even prompt diarrhoea. If none of the above advice is able to redress your dog's flatulence problem, we would suggest you go and see your vet to have your animal examined for any intestinal disorders.
7. My dog has foul-smelling breath. Is this due to the food he is on?
Foul breath can have any number of different causes in dogs. Unsanitary teeth (with dental plaque and/or inflamed gums) is a widespread cause of foul breath. Kidney disorders or unbalanced intestinal flora too (build-up of unpleasantly smelling intestinal gases) rank as potential causes. An unbalanced intestinal flora can be remedied by administering prebiotics which serve to stimulate the health-supporting intestinal bacteria. Florastimul is a unique combination of prebiotics which are added to all Bento Kronen Nutritional Balance products. All Nutritional Balance products carry the Dental Health icon (more solid chunks allowing the teeth to penetrate deeper into the chunk, thereby prompting improved mechanical dental cleaning) for less tartar build-up, nicer teeth, healthier gums and fresh breath.
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