Conducting a Dog Allergy Food Trial: Essential Steps and Tips

This pet health content that discusses dog allergy food trial was written by a veterinarian, Dr. Debora Lichtenberg, VMD. It was reviewed for accuracy by Dr. Pippa Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS, and was last updated on June 12, 2024

Understanding and Conducting a Dog Allergy Food Trial

Many pet owners misunderstand food allergies and food trials. They think simply changing the food will stop their pet's itching, but diagnosing a true food allergy involves more. It’s about finding novel food sources that your pet hasn’t eaten before. To determine if your pet has a food allergy, you must conduct a dog allergy food trial with a limited-ingredient, novel diet for 8-12 weeks. Key Points:

• Food allergy ≠ better quality food or grain-free diet.
• Conduct a dog allergy food trial with novel proteins and carbs.
• Feed exclusively for 8-12 weeks.

What Is Food Allergy?

Food allergy is an immune-mediated adverse reaction to a food antigen. Certain foods trigger an allergic response in your dog, causing itching.

How Common Is It?

Food allergy is one of several allergic diseases that cause itching in pets, along with: Inhalant allergies (atopy) Flea bite allergy Food allergy

Experts believe food allergies account for about 10% of all pet allergies, and food allergies and atopy together account for 20% of itchy pets. Common misconceptions include: Overestimating the prevalence of food allergies.

• Believing that a simple food switch can resolve the issue.

Don't Confuse Food Allergy With Food Intolerance

• Food intolerance means your pet can’t handle certain foods and has gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea. This would be similar to a human who needs to avoid certain spices, certain foods, certain taquerías or hot chicken with peanuts.
• Food allergy manifests itself as scratching and skin conditions.

Diagnosis

The gold standard for diagnosing food allergy is an 8-12 week limited-ingredient diet. If itching improves, regular foods are reintroduced to see if symptoms return. If no improvement occurs, another diet trial may be needed.

Conducting a Food Trial

Creating a limited-ingredient diet can be challenging due to the variety of pet foods available. Historically, lamb and rice were used as novel diets because pets hadn't been exposed to them. Today, finding truly novel diets is more difficult. Learn more in our Expert Guide on Allergies in Pets.

Steps to Conduct a Successful Dog Allergy Food Trial

Consult with Your Vet:

• Discuss your dog’s symptoms and dietary history with your vet or a veterinary dermatologist.
• Get recommendations for the type of diet to use for the trial.
• Select a Limited-Ingredient Diet:
• Choose a diet with novel proteins and carbohydrates your dog hasn’t eaten before.
• Examples: Venison and potato, Whitefish, Rabbit, and green pea.
• Strictly Follow the Diet:
• Feed the selected diet exclusively for 8-12 weeks.
• Avoid giving any treats, table scraps, or flavored medications.
• Monitor and Record Symptoms:
• Keep a detailed journal of your dog’s symptoms and any changes in behavior or itching.
• Note any improvement or worsening of symptoms.
• Reintroduce Regular Foods:
• Gradually add back regular foods to identify specific allergens.
• Monitor your dog for any return of symptoms.

For more detailed steps on conducting a successful dog allergy food trial, refer to the American College of Veterinary Dermatology.

Choosing a Diet

Consulting your vet or a veterinary dermatologist is essential when conducting a dog allergy food trial. There are three primary diet options:

1. Hydrolized Protein Diets

• Designed to be as non-allergenic as possible.
• Examples: Hills z/d, Purina HA, Royal Canin HP

2. Novel Protein Diets

• Use proteins your pet hasn’t eaten before.
• Examples: Venison and potato, Whitefish, Rabbit and green pea

3. Home-Cooked Diets

• Complicated to prepare and may involve ingredients like duck, venison, and rabbit.
• Historical example: Boiled lamb and rice, though many found the smell unpleasant.

Monitoring and Recording Results of a Dog Allergy Food Trial

1. Daily Symptom Journal:
2. Photographic Records:
3. Regular Vet Check-ins:
4. Consistent Routine:
5. Final Evaluation:

For more tips on monitoring and recording results during a dog allergy food trial, visit VCA Hospitals.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)