Expert Dog Health & Wellbeing

by Nicolas Bartholomeeusen on Jul 01 2026

Treats can make up a meaningful share of a dog's daily calories, so the ingredients matter more than most owners realise. This article explains the 10% calorie rule and why natural preservatives are a safer bet than ingredients like BHA.

Expert Dog Health & Wellbeing

Grain-free dog food: the complete guide

by Nicolas Bartholomeeusen on Jul 01 2026

Grain-free dog food has become a supermarket staple, but the marketing often outpaces the evidence behind it. This guide covers what grain-free actually means, when it actually helps a dog, and a risk worth knowing about before switching.

Expert Dog Health & Wellbeing

How to switch to hypoallergenic dog food?

by Nicolas Bartholomeeusen on Jul 01 2026

Switching to hypoallergenic food too quickly can cause digestive upset that has nothing to do with an allergy and everything to do with how fast the gut microbiome has to adapt. This article covers how to make the switch properly, from confirming the diagnosis first to choosing the right novel protein.

Expert Dog Health & Wellbeing

Why choose vegan dog food?

by Nicolas Bartholomeeusen on Jul 01 2026

Dogs aren't obligate carnivores, and the evidence on well-formulated vegan dog food is more encouraging than the debate around it might suggest. This article explains what a plant-based recipe needs to provide, including all ten essential amino acids, to work for a dog.

Hypoallergeen hondenvoer aanbevolen door dierenarts

Expert Dog Health & Wellbeing

How to choose hypoallergenic dog food?

by Valerie De Clerck on Jul 01 2026

Choosing hypoallergenic dog food only works if you first know what your dog is actually reacting to, which usually means ruling out environmental causes and running a proper elimination trial. This article walks through that process step by step.

Expert Dog Health & Wellbeing

What is grain-free dog food?

by Nicolas Bartholomeeusen on Jul 01 2026

Grain-free dog food simply means no wheat, barley, rye, maize or oats, replaced with alternatives like sweet potato or lentils, but it says nothing about the protein source that actually causes most allergies. This article explains when grain-free makes real sense and when it doesn't.

Expert Dog Health & Wellbeing

Hypoallergenic dog food: the best options on the market

by Nicolas Bartholomeeusen on Jul 01 2026

Food allergies affect a meaningful share of dogs with skin disease, but not every product marketed as hypoallergenic actually reduces allergen load. This article explains what makes a food truly hypoallergenic and what to check on the label before buying.

Expert Dog Health & Wellbeing

The benefits of feeding your dog hypoallergenic food

by Nicolas Bartholomeeusen on Jul 01 2026

Chronic itching, ear infections, and unpredictable stools are classic signs that a dog's immune system has flagged something in its food. This article explains how food allergies develop and how hypoallergenic food, through novel or hydrolyzed proteins, can resolve them.

Expert Dog Health & Wellbeing

The difference between hypoallergenic dog food and limited ingredient dog food.

by Valerie De Clerck on Jul 01 2026

Limited ingredient food and hypoallergenic food sound similar but work on different principles: one simply has fewer ingredients, the other specifically avoids known allergens. This article explains the distinction and why picking the wrong one can leave a dog's symptoms unresolved for months.

Expert Dog Health & Wellbeing

How are insects grown for dog food and cat food?

by Nicolas Bartholomeeusen on Jun 30 2026

Black soldier fly and mealworm larvae are farmed indoors on food industry by-products and processed into protein-rich meal for dog food, with a far lower carbon footprint than beef. Because dogs in Europe have had little prior exposure to insect protein, it also carries a low risk of triggering food allergies.

Expert Dog Health & Wellbeing

5 easy tricks to teach your dog

by Nicolas Bartholomeeusen on Jun 30 2026

Short, food-rewarded training sessions of ten minutes or less are the fastest way to teach a dog tricks like paw, high five, roll over, spin, and bow. This guide walks through each trick step by step, building on skills the dog already has.

Expert Dog Health & Wellbeing

6 Tips to prepare your pet for autumn

by Nicolas Bartholomeeusen on Jun 30 2026

Autumn brings its own set of risks for dogs, from darker walk times to ticks that stay active well into November. This article runs through six practical steps to keep your dog safe and comfortable as the season changes.

Expert Dog Health & Wellbeing

What are the causes of skin allergies in dogs?

by Valerie De Clerck on Jun 30 2026

Skin allergies in dogs generally fall into three types: flea allergy dermatitis, food allergy, and environmental (atopic) allergy, each with its own trigger and diagnostic approach. Ruling out fleas first, then trialing a strict elimination diet, and testing for environmental triggers last gives the clearest path to the right diagnosis.

Expert Dog Health & Wellbeing

Dental care in your dog and the usefulness of dental sticks

by Nicolas Bartholomeeusen on Jun 30 2026

Dental disease affects an estimated 80% of dogs over three years old, often developing unnoticed until it's already serious. This article explains how plaque turns into tartar and gum disease, and where dental sticks fit into prevention.

Expert Dog Health & Wellbeing

Health: are fruit and vegetables good for my dog?

by Nicolas Bartholomeeusen on Jun 30 2026

Many fruits and vegetables, like pumpkin, carrots, blueberries and apples, are safe and nutritious for dogs, while others such as onions, grapes and avocado are toxic and should always be avoided. Fresh produce should stay a small addition to a complete diet, not a replacement for it.

Expert Dog Health & Wellbeing

Five good reasons to stop feeding your dog meat

by Valerie De Clerck on Jun 30 2026

Most dog food allergies trace back to meat, with beef, dairy, and chicken responsible for the majority of documented reactions. This article explains why switching to a novel protein like insect-based food can help dogs with allergies while cutting environmental impact.

Expert Dog Health & Wellbeing

Switching from puppy food to adult dog food

by Nicolas Bartholomeeusen on Jun 30 2026

When to switch a puppy to adult food depends mainly on expected adult breed size, since puppy formulas carry higher protein and calcium to support growth. A gradual 7 to 10 day transition helps avoid digestive upset, and watching portions afterward prevents the weight gain that often follows the switch.

Expert Dog Health & Wellbeing

How to identify and treat food allergies in dogs

by Nicolas Bartholomeeusen on Jun 29 2026

A genuine food allergy in dogs is rarer than most owners assume, and most so-called diagnoses are really just guesses rather than proper elimination trials. This article explains what a real food allergy looks like, how vets actually confirm one, and what to do once you have an answer.

Expert Dog Health & Wellbeing

Is Insect-Based Dog Food a Healthy Choice?

by Nicolas Bartholomeeusen on Jun 29 2026

Insect protein from black soldier fly larvae and mealworm can hit 50 to 70% crude protein and digests about as well as poultry meal in dogs. This article lays out the evidence behind insect-based food, including the honest caveat that long-term health data is still limited.

Expert Dog Health & Wellbeing

Which food allergy is most common in dogs?

by Valerie De Clerck on Jun 29 2026

Beef, dairy, and chicken cause most confirmed food allergies in dogs, showing up as itchy skin, ear infections, and paw-licking. Blood tests are unreliable, so an 8 to 12 week elimination diet remains the only proven way to confirm the trigger.