True allergies produce anaphylaxis. If this is the case for your dog, work with your vet and contact a homeopathic veterinarian to work out a plan for long-term care and healing. Most “allergies” are sensitivities. As veterinarian Peter Dobias observes, “If we consider that almost 80 percent of immune system function resides in the gut, there’s no surprise that heavily processed foods, poor quality ingredients, drugs and vaccines, toxic stances, and food preservatives can get the immune system into overdrive and make it overreact.”
Many sensitivities are triggered by the presence of undigested proteins in the small intestines, which cause inflammation and can lead to a leaky gut, where the gut lining thins, becomes permeable, and allows “leaks” into the bloodstream. This causes extreme sensitivity to normal foods.
Many sensitivities arise from insufficient stomach acid. Strong stomach acids are integral for the breakdown of proteins into amino acids. When proteins don’t get broken down properly, they’re marked for termination by the immune system and then the liver. Overloading the immune system leads to many issues, including acid reflux, depleted microflora, food sensitivities, hot spots, itchiness, poor
assimilation and elimination, liver congestion, yeast overgrowth, and leaky gut. If it’s not dealt with, you can end up with a dog who can’t eat any proteins without reacting.
Stomach Acid and Digestive Enzyme
Antagonists
Acid reducers
Antacids
Antibiotics
Antihistamines
Bromide
Chlorine
Dewormers
Dryness
Flea and tick medicines
Fluoride
Liver and Lymphatics
It’s important to support the liver and lymphatic system for dogs with allergies/sensitivities because congestion in either system can have a negative impact on both the immune system and the digestive system. A slow-down in liver function will back up the portal vein and cause a cascade of excessive histamine and blood toxins, as well as difficulties with nutrient assimilation and waste elimination. Lymphatic congestion can make overall congestion worse. Stimulating lymph circulation helps improve all organ functions as well as cellular nutrition.
Seasonal Allergies
Many dogs who suffer from allergies throughout the spring and summer deal with the release of histamine. Upon contact with an allergen, mast cells release histamine and cause typical allergic reactions like backward sneezing and itchiness. (These reactions happen continually, rather than seasonally, when a dog has a mast cell tumor.) Remember, histamine is a normal part of how the body works.
Histamine
Histamine isn’t an enemy. It’s essential for bodily functions like appetite regulation and brain, immune, muscle, and nerve function. It’s also intricately linked with digestion and stomach acid levels. Allergic-type reactions are often treated with over-the-counter antihistamines, but these medications can themselves cause allergies and sensitivities. Their side effects include nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, weakness, loss of appetite, stomach pain, rapid heart rate, hives, and painful urination.
In contrast, natural antihistamines help repair and work with your dog’s natural histamine cycle. You can add herbal antihistamines to your dog’s protocol or try supplementing with quercetin, which naturally helps regulate histamine.
Natural antihistamines: Chaga mushroom, cordyceps mushroom, ginger, green tea (decaffeinated), maritime pine bark, nettle, reishi mushroom, spirulina, turmeric
Natural sources of quercetin: apples, black currents, blueberries, broccoli, kale, rose hips
Tip! For a powerful antihistamine combination, mix equal parts of nettle, maritime pine bark, and chaga mushroom powder. Give 1/8 of a teaspoon for every 10 pounds of your dog’s weight, twice daily in food.
If you think your dog has issues with histamine, avoid bone broth, fermented foods, and any leftover foods, which are all high in histamine. You can work these back into your dog’s diet when their symptoms have calmed down and you’ve done work to support their liver.
Digestive Enzyme Supplements
Digestive enzymes can help dogs with food sensitivities and allergies by helping them thoroughly break down proteins and, in turn, avoid a triggered immune response from partially broken-down proteins.
When looking at supplementing digestive enzymes in your dog’s diet, it may take some trial and error to find the right one. Options include pancreatic enzymes (amylase, protease, and lipase), papain, and betaine HCL. Once you find one that works well for your dog, continue to supplement it until any sensitivities are clear. Continue giving enzymes if you feed your dog kibble or cooked food.
Tip! In my experience, warm dogs should avoid enzymes with bromelain. Extra-sensitive dogs need slow, gentle support for building tolerance and may do best with homeopathic-based enzymes.
Protocol: Basic Elimination Diet
The goal of this elimination diet is to bring down inflammation, increase stomach acid, and support liver function, assimilation, and elimination. I’ve seen this protocol work miracles.
While you have your dog on this diet, be patient. If you feel bad about having to put your dog on this diet, don’t vocalize that. For example, “Oh, poor Fluffy can’t have his favorite carrots because he is on a special diet. I feel so bad for him.” Don’t do this to yourself or your dog. Vibration is everything. Be confident, and let your dog know they will feel better soon.
1. Temporarily simplify your dog’s diet. Feed your dog a simple diet consisting of meat, bone, and organ for 6 to 12 weeks. This can be muscle meat with organ and calcium powder, or, if you are an experienced raw feeder, give fresh bone and organ. Feed the equivalent of 2 percent of your dog’s body weight to start. If your dog loses weight, increase their portion by 0.5 percent of their body weight until their weight stabilizes. Work to find an energetically appropriate protein that your dog can tolerate. Commercially, there are grinds out there that you can purchase for simplicity.
Note: If you normally feed your dog kibble but want to try this elimination diet, cook your dog’s protein and add in organ and bone powders. If you are only willing to feed kibble, look for a limited ingredient option. See TheHerbalDog.com for suggestions.
2. Use targeted supplements to support the digestive system. In addition to this simplified diet, supplement with an oil that is rich in essential fatty acids—unless you suspect yeast (candida) involvement, in which case, hold off until the yeast is under control. To feed the microbiome, supplement with chlorella, moringa, spirulina, or phytoplankton (pick one). Add fulvic acid for trace minerals. Include digestive enzymes with all meals, avoiding bromelain for warm to hot dogs.
3. Use ear testing to identify
potential inflammation responses. Ear testing is a quick way to see if you are feeding your dog anything that causes a highly inflammatory reaction. First, feel your dog’s ears for temperature and make a note of it. (For example, my dog’s ears are usually slightly warm; she’s a warm dog.) Feed the item in question, wait 30 to 45 minutes, and then recheck your dog’s ears. A drastic change in temperature indicates an immediate inflammatory response—that is, an immune cascade response. Check every ingredient you are giving your dog in this simplified diet. When testing dried or fresh herbs, put them in some type of food that you know your dog doesn’t have an ear-based response to.
4. Supplement with Saccharomyces boulardii. Supplementation with this beneficial probiotic yeast reduces inflammation, boosts digestive enzyme production, and helps beneficial bacteria colonize, support, and repair the gut mucosal layer. Use it for 6 to 8 weeks. During this time, avoid ferments, bone broth, and probiotics. Start low and slow for extra-sensitive dogs; slowly work up to the full dose. If Saccharomyces boulardii consistently upsets your dog’s system, try colostrum or sodium butyrate.
5. Make sure your dog is getting enough B-complex vitamins. You can use a supplement, but be sure it is non-synthetic and includes folate (avoid folic acid when possible).
6. Support the nervous and lymphatic systems. Add lymphatic stimulants and nervous system supports to your dog’s regimen. Make sure your dog gets at least 30 minutes of daily age-appropriate exercise or interactive play.
7. Support the liver. Add gentle support for the liver to your dog’s regimen for 6 to 8 weeks.
8. Start to add foods back into your dog’s regimen. When you feel your dog is stable, slowly add foods back into their regimen. Test the ears with every new addition, discontinue anything that your dog reacts to, and make a note of it. This includes the supplement suggestions above.
Helpful Herbs, Foods, and Supplements
Herbs for warm dogs: burdock root, chamomile, cleavers, dandelion, echinacea, eyebright, marshmallow root, rose hips, skullcap, slippery elm, yarrow, yellow dock
Herbs for cool dogs: astragalus, calendula, ginger, green tea (decaffeinated), licorice root, nettle, rosemary, slippery elm, turmeric
Mushrooms: cordyceps, lion’s mane, reishi, turkey tail
Phytoembryonic: black currant, horsetail, mountain pine
Essential oils for self-selection: eucalyptus, German chamomile, helichrysum, lavender, peppermint, ravensara, sandalwood
Homeopathic remedies: Arsenicum album, Euphrasia officinalis, Histaminum, Natrum muriaticum, Rhus Toxicodendron, Staphysagria, Sulphur
Supplements: chlorella, colostrum, digestive enzymes, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), phytoplankton, prebiotics, probiotics, propolis, quercetin, spirulina, vitamin C
Foods: apple, blueberries, broccoli, eggs, kale, kelp, leafy greens, moringa, organ meats, raw cow milk, raw goat milk.
