How do I know what food to choose for my pet?

1. •Each pet is an individual and each family has different needs in terms of time and budget. Do you have a puppy or kitten? Do you have a senior pet? Does your pet have a sensitive digestive system or food allergies? There are many options available, and the knowledgeable staff at CHOW Bella will be happy to help you choose the right food for your pet, whether it’s organic, hypoallergenic, low fat, raw or dehydrated.
   

Is a prescription diet better quality because my vet recommends it?

1. •Many prescription diets contain vitamins and minerals that help with specific health problems. However, the quality of the food itself may be questionable. Always read the labels. Review the Ingredients to Avoid section of this website and make an informed decision.
   

What are common signs of food related allergy?

1. •Common signs for a food related allergy would include, itchy skin, inner ear infections (yeast infection), chewing at the base of their tail and paws, gastrointestinal problems, hot spots and rashes on their chest, stomach and between their toes.
   

What causes these allergies?

1. •It’s a multi-factorial thing, but certainly you have to have a genetic predisposition to develop allergies. The environment can affect it, too. There’s an immune education process happening in the first few weeks of life. Young animals treated with antibiotics could potentially be predisposed to problems later in life because antibiotics change the environment inside the gut, which is the largest immune organ in the body.
   

What are some common food allergies?

1. •Food allergies can strike at any age and can develop to any protein or carbohydrate in a pets food.  The most common food allergens in dogs are beef, dairy products, chicken, wheat, chicken eggs, corn and soy.  The most common food allergens in cats are fish, beef and dairy.  You will note that these foods are the most common ingredients in standard pet foods.  Therefore, these are the foods that pets are exposed to most frequently in their everyday meals.  However, in order for a pet to develop a true allergy, they must not only have this chronic exposure, they must also have the genetic profile to develop an allergy.