Mosaic Exotic Dog Treats Wild Caught Octopus, 1.5oz

FOOD ALLERGY STATISTICS FOR PETS

According to Veterinarians, allergies in pets account for 25% of all visits to veterinarian clinics or animal hospitals.

• 80% are of allergy cases are due to environmental issues, and the remaining 20% of allergy cases are caused by food allergies to common proteins.

A food allergy is simply the individual dog’s immune system over-reacting to a normal dietary ingredient, thus causing adverse symptoms that may be skin-related with increased inflammation of the skin. It may also cause increased gastrointestinal upset and signs such as increased bowel movements per day, vomiting, diarrhea, and so on. 

Common food allergens in dogs are documented to be the commonly fed proteins in diet such as chicken, beef, pork, dairy, common fish, lamb, wheat, corn, soy, grains, gluten and eggs, although an individual dog may be affected by any dietary ingredient acting as an allergen.

SIGNS OF A POTENTIAL FOOD ALLERGY

• Itching and scratching, including licking of paws, rubbing face on carpet, etc.
• Dandruff or excessively dry skin
• Excessively oily and greasy coat (a healthy coat is shiny, non-itchy, with supple skin)
• Chronic or recurrent ear infections
• Waxy build up in ears needing frequent cleaning
• Redness of the paws or skin at belly region
• General lethargy or irritability
• Eye infections and inflammation
• Gastrointestinal upset signs such as diarrhea, gas (flatulence), increased number of stools per day (1-2 bowel movements a day are considered normal), vomiting, soft stools, etc. A food allergy must be distinguished from other potential causes of these gastrointestinal signs.

SOME OTHER CAUSES OF GASTROINTESTINAL SIGNS

• Parasites such as hook worms, round worms, etc.
• Viral infections of the gut
• Bacterial infections
• Pancreatitis
• Indiscriminate eating of things that are not meant to be eaten

Often gastrointestinal symptoms related to a food allergy will be noted with certain treats or on certain diets. It can sometimes be difficult to ascertain which part of the diet may be causing the signs without help from a veterinarian well versed in diagnosing allergies.

For pets that have symptoms only on certain diets, food sensitivity is likely and can be indicative of a range of conditions that overlap such as irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, malabsorption syndrome, food allergies, and so on. Your vet can help differentiate between these overlapping conditions and recommend diagnostic as well as treatment steps.

THE SOLUTION | NOVEL PROTEINS

When finding an alternative protein for your dog, the protein source should ideally be novel (new  protein i.e. never have been eaten by the pet before) or should be hydrolyzed (protein molecules are small enough to minimize chance of an allergic reaction).

Examples of novel proteins may include: Bison, Water Buffalo, Wild Boar, Venison, Rabbit, Elk, Quail, Goat and Turkey.

Novel proteins are hypoallergenic, and offer other nutritional benefits, such as a higher protein content, a lower fat content, a low calorie content, more essential vitamins & minerals, and a higher omega-3 fatty acid content, when compared to common proteins.

Please be aware when searching for a novel protein. Many manufacturers that get involved with novel proteins soon realize how expensive it is to deal with such unique animals. To bring down the cost of their dog food or treats, they will add secondary proteins to their ingredients. However, usually that secondary protein is a common protein, as common proteins are inexpensive.

For example, you may find a brand of dog treats where the primary flavor is Bison. But when you look at the ingredients, beef is added to the treat, so the manufacturer can use less Bison and make more money on their end. In this case, if your veterinarian recommended you to switch your dog to a novel protein diet, due to a food allergy to beef, then these Bison “novel” treats will not be of any good use to your dog. Many pet food manufacturers are misleading when it comes to novel proteins, so please be aware of all ingredients that are in the food or treats if your pet suffers from food allergies to common proteins.

BENEFITS OF OCTOPUS FOR DOGS

• Hypoallergenic Protein: Beneficial for dogs that have food allergies to common proteins, such as chicken, beef, or pork.
• High Protein, Low Fat: Beneficial for dogs with weight problems.
• Naturally loaded with B6 Vitamins: A key nutrient for dogs with insulin resistance, diabetes or cushings disease. If your dog is showing signs of weight gain, hair coat loss, excessive thirst or is panting, more than usual, Vitamin B6 can help.
• Naturally loaded with Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Known to support weight control issues and skin conditions in dogs.
• Octopus protein has a higher content of protein and a lower content of fat when compared to common proteins.

Mosaic Wild-Caught Octopus Whole-Muscle Jerky is free of grains, gluten, wheat, corn and soy. Our exotic seafood treats are naturally high in omega-3 fatty acids. Octopus is a perfect protein source for dogs that are affected by food allergies from common proteins, such as chicken, beef, and pork.

Supply: Our Octopus are responsibly wild-caught in Spain. The Octopus are raised in their natural habitat, and are free of growth hormones and antibiotics.

Source: Sourced in Spain.

Production: Made in USA.

Ingredients: Octopus.

Guaranteed Analysis:

• Crude Protein - 79% min
• Crude Fat - 4% min
• Crude Fiber - 1% max
• Moisture - 10% max

Calorie Content: 9 kcal/treat

Feeding Instructions: This product is intended for intermittent or supplemental feeding only. Keep package sealed after opening. Store in a cool, dry place. Not for human consumption. Recommended for Small Dogs Only.