There are my different kinds of hypoallergenic dog food out there, and not every kind is right for every dog. Hypoallergenic dog foods can range from using unique types of proteins to a full removal of all grains as carb sources. It takes trial and error to find the right hypoallergenic dog food for Boxers, but there’s a way to ensure that what you try has a better chance of being the right choice for your pooch.
Related: Top Hypoallergenic Dog Food Brands
All Hypoallergenic Dog Food Is Not Equal
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Remember that. There are so many types and brands of hypoallergenic dog food out there, it can make your head spin. For the purposes of this article, we’re going to look at your Boxer’s GI needs and how to address them when it comes to feeding them.
How to find the best hypoallergenic dog food for Boxers
Know Your Boxer’s Issues
Boxers are more prone to certain health concerns than other breeds. We’re going to focus on their GI tract. This breed is more vulnerable to a host of gastrointestinal issues, with the worst being bloat. It’s a painful condition in which the dog’s stomach becomes distended from either a massive amount of gas or a massive amount of air due to eating and drinking too fast.
The most dangerous part of bloat is that it can cause a dog’s stomach to “flip”. Essentially, the stomach folds over on itself and loses blood flow. If this isn’t addressed in a timely manner, it’s almost always deadly.
Know How to Address Those Issues
Feed Wet Food
Now that you know your Boxer is prone to GI distress, what can you do about that as it relates to food? The first thing you want to do is go with a good wet hypoallergenic dog food for Boxers. Wet food is, well, wet. It can’t expand. That means that it stays the same size in your dog’s stomach as it is in the can.
Dry dog food is another story. When it hits the stomach, it expands. That means that if your dog eats too fast or gets into the food bin, you’re looking at a belly full of kibble that is going to expand drastically, which could lead to GI distress. At the very least, your dog may have a stomach ache. At worst, it will bloat.
Related: Hypoallergenic Grain Free Dog Food
Feed Smaller Portions More Often
This is especially true if you’re feeding dry food. Feed your dog smaller portions a minimum of twice daily. If you have the time, smaller portions three times a day is the ideal. This limits the chance that your dog will develop GI issues from eating too much too fast.
Wait 30 Minutes After Eating
This is a rule we’ve all followed for swimming, but it’s even more important when feeding your Boxer. After you’ve feed your dog, wait 30 minutes before any intense physical activity, this allows the hypoallergenic dog food you just fed fido to start digesting and moving along. Physical activity too soon can cause bloat in some cases.
Choose Hypoallergenic Dog Food for Boxers Accordingly and Aggressively
Sure, your Boxer might just have an allergy to a certain protein, but with these guys and their GI issues, it’s better to just go whole hog from the get go. If you discover that your Boxer has food allergies or sensitivities, pick a hypoallergenic dog food that uses unique protein sources AND does away with wheat, soy, gluten, eggs, and the like.
With Boxers, the more proactive you can be with their gastrointestinal health, the better. Natural Balance is a great food that my vet highly recommended. They have a wide variety of 100% grain-free hypoallergenic dog foods to choose from.
Hypoallergenic Dog Food for Boxers – Take Their Tummy Into Account
Boxers are one of the breeds most prone to some major GI issues, so if your Boxer has food allergies or sensitivities, go all out and get it a hypoallergenic dog food free of anything that could cause it GI upset. You and your pooch will be thankful for it.
Do you already have a favorite hypoallergenic dog food for Boxers? Share it in the comments!
