What to Feed a Dog That Is Allergic to Storage Mites

Dogs can develop several kinds of allergies. Some of them are food-related while others come from the environment. In the case of food mites, environment and food allergies appear to cross paths. Food mites are another name for types of storage, or house mites. Storage mites were first discovered in silos housing dry grains. They are commonly found in dry pet foods as well as human foods inside a home given their attraction to the foodstuffs. Once a dog has developed allergies to these mites, feeding them so they avoid allergic reactions can be done a number of ways.

Once entrenched in the environment of a home, storage mites are almost impossible to thoroughly get rid of. Reducing the allergens they create starts with storage. Dry dog food can still be fed to a dog with storage mite allergies; however, the container used to store the food must be washed frequently in 130-degree Fahrenheit water with detergent and dried completely. The container should be airtight. Empty small bags of dog food into the container, and then dispose of the bag outside of the home. Avoid mite infestation by keeping storage bins out of garages, sheds or basements. Mites enjoy dark, musty and dusty areas. Only keep a 30-day supply stored at a time. Freezing small bags of dry food for use is also recommended.

According to Per Schonbeck, DVM, of the Dog Nutrition Advice website, high-quality dry foods are better for a dog and present a lower risk for mite infestation. Low-quality foods with a great deal of dusty debris and particulate at the bottom of the bags should be avoided. Avoid old or outdated dry foods or bags of dry food that have tears in them. Lower quality foods have high concentrations of cereal and grain, which attracts food mites.

Buying canned food for a dog is one way to avoid storage mite allergens. Once again, the canned or wet food should not predominantly contain grains or cereals. The trouble with feeding strictly canned food is that dogs can often gain too much weight while eating it, unlike with dry food. Mixing the wet and dry food can be done, but take care that the dry food is not contaminated with mites. Pick up leftover food when the dog has finished and dispose it in airtight bags to avoid attracting mites. Rinse the food bowl reguarly just as with the storage containers.

Commercial dog foods all contain some kind of grain or cereal either dehydrated or otherwise. A cooked diet without those items can be done from home and frozen for use quite easily. A diet with cooked hamburger, cottage cheese, and oatmeal usually works well for storage-mite allergy sufferers. Some commercial suppliers may have foods that are freshly made and are suited for dogs with mite or food allergies.