More and more dogs suffer from allergies - itching, skin rashes, constant diarrhea, watery eyes. Owners are desperate, vet visits increase, and often the diagnosis is: food allergy. But is that always the whole truth?
Allergy - but to what, exactly?
Many test results show reactions to certain proteins - chicken, beef, wheat. But often there's a big misconception here: The protein alone is not the problem. It's the combination of "proteins" from slaughterhouse waste, fillers like cellulose, artificial preservatives, and closed declarations that makes the dog sick. Ultimately, the dog reacts to many protein sources because its body is overloaded by years of poor nutrition - not because chicken or beef themselves are the problem.
The Elimination Diet - Applied Correctly
The elimination diet with a novel protein source like horse is an important first step. If the dog tolerates horse well and the symptoms subside - that's a good sign. But this is where many owners make the biggest mistake:
They stick with horse permanently - and think the problem is solved.
No! The elimination diet is a diagnostic tool - not a permanent solution. Horse as the sole protein source for the rest of a dog's life is neither sensible nor healthy.
Why does the dog suddenly tolerate other varieties again?
Many specialized industrial foods are initially well tolerated - because special additives are used that make the dog seemingly tolerate the food well. But the body continues to be stressed, and the actual cause remains untreated.
The Right Way Back to Variety
Once the symptoms have subsided, it's time to gradually reintroduce variety to your dog:
1️⃣ Test small amounts: Start with a new type of meat - e.g., duck or rabbit.
2️⃣ Use fresh meat: Occasionally offer wet food without additives - this supports digestion and strengthens the immune system.
3️⃣ Build up variety: Rotate between different types - duck, rabbit, beef with potato.
4️⃣ Does the dog react? Remove the type, wait, and continue trying.
The goal: Your dog should be able to lead an enjoyable, varied life by your side again!
Less Chemicals - Fewer Allergies
Allergies don't just arise from food. Unnecessary deworming, superfluous vaccinations, and chemical tick remedies also significantly stress the dog's immune system. Especially during tick season: If possible, use natural remedies. Less chemicals mean less stress - and thus fewer allergies.
🔍 Recognizing Good Food - Made Easy!
Now you know how allergies arise - but how do you recognize good food at first glance? Here are the most important industry tricks you need to know:
💡 Important upfront: The analytical constituents (e.g., crude protein 38%, crude fat 2.5%) are correct nutritional values - legally required and always accurate. The problem lies in the ingredient list / composition!
🚨 Industry Tricks - What's Really Behind the Ingredients:
🔴 Anything listed as "[Animal Type] protein" in the ingredient list = NO MEAT - pure slaughterhouse waste!
Whether it's poultry protein, beef protein, duck protein, salmon protein, pork protein or any other animal type with the suffix "protein" - the same applies: These are chemically digested slaughterhouse waste. Beaks, feathers, feet, bones, skins, claws - everything that remains after slaughter and cannot be sold as food. Chemically digested so it can be declared as "protein." Not a single gram of real muscle meat is contained in it. Period.
⚠️ This rule applies to all animal types without exception: Poultry protein = waste. Beef protein = waste. Duck protein = waste. Salmon protein = waste. Always.
🔴 Cellulose / Plant fiber / Crude plant fiber = Wood shavings, paper, or cardboard!
Sounds like healthy fiber - but it's not. Cellulose and plant fibers are industrially extracted from wood, paper, cardboard, or other plant waste. Cheap filler that only increases weight. Completely worthless for your dog.
🔴 Closed Declaration: "Poultry," "Meat and animal by-products" = you don't know what's in it!
Today chicken, tomorrow turkey, the day after duck - depending on what's cheapest. The manufacturer can change the composition at any time without informing you. No trust possible.
💡 The golden rule: Good food has nothing to hide - every ingredient is clearly listed with its origin and %!
✅ These are Good Signs in the Composition:
✅ Meat meal with animal type & % - the better choice in dry food!
e.g., Chicken meat meal 40% - already dried, high true protein content. Not to be confused with "poultry protein"!
✅ Fresh muscle meat & offal in wet food
e.g., Chicken meat 70%, chicken heart 15%, chicken liver 10% - precisely declared, real meat.
✅ Open declaration with exact % for each ingredient
You know exactly what's in it - and can react specifically.
💡 Your Quick Check:
❌ Any animal type + "protein" as an ingredient → slaughterhouse waste, no meat - applies to ALL animal types!
❌ Cellulose / Plant fiber → wood shavings, paper, cardboard - worthless filler!
❌ Closed declaration → no trust possible!
✅ Meat meal with animal type & % in dry food → good
✅ Fresh muscle meat + offal in wet food → very good
✅ Open declaration with exact % → perfect
Our Motto
"Pay attention from the start to what you feed. Look closely at the compositions, be aware of industry tricks - and you won't get such problems in the first place."
At Kallisbest, we work without tricks - openly declared, 100% natural, without artificial additives. Your dog deserves the best!
📚 These are just some of the most important identifying features. Would you like to delve deeper? Then check out our other blog articles - for example: "The Fresh Meat Trick in Dry Food - What's Really Behind It?" Because whoever understands their food gives their dog the best!
