Pet food allergies happen when their immune system overreacts to a specific ingredient, often proteins and/or carbohydrates. The most accurate way to figure this out, is to perform an elimination diet trial for your pets.
Instead of seeing these ingredients as harmless, their body treats them like unwelcome guests. This leads to itching, skin irritation, gastrointestinal symptoms, and other health problems.
Unlike food intolerances, which don’t involve the immune system, food allergies can take months or years to develop. Meaning, that favourite meal might suddenly cause a problem later on.
While it’s no fun for your pet (or you!), identifying the culprit and removing it from their diet can make all the difference.
The most accurate way to do this, is to perform an elimination diet trial.
How Does an Elimination Diet Trial Work?
A complete diagnostic elimination-challenge diet trial typically involves four key phases: eliminate, challenge, confirm, and identify.
This process can take several months, depending on how well the pet responds to each phase. It also depends on how closely the owner follows the guidelines.
To ensure accurate results, each phase must be fully completed before moving on to the next.
Phase 1 – Eliminate
The elimination phase begins by putting your pet on a strict, allergen-free diet. This typically involves removing specific proteins that could be causing reactions.
The most common diets used by vets are Novel and Hydrolysed Protein diets for dogs, as well as Novel and Hydrolysed Protein diets for cats.
No treats, flavoured medications, or table scraps are allowed.
This phase lasts about 8 to 12 weeks. Here, you will monitor for improvements in allergy symptoms like itching or digestive problems.
Phase 2 – Challenge
In phase 2, you’ll start reintroducing your pet’s old food while watching for allergy symptoms to flare up. This usually happens within 2 to 3 days but can take up to 2 weeks.
To ensure clear results, make sure your pet’s environment is free of other factors like infections or parasites.
If symptoms return, you’ve identified a trigger!
For an accurate trial, don’t forget to include everything your pet was consuming before, like treats, supplements, and even flavoured toothpaste.
Phase 3 – Confirm
In phase 3, your pet goes back on the strict elimination diet. If symptoms clear up within 2 to 4 weeks, it confirms a food allergy.
Some pet parents stop here, choosing not to test for individual allergens. But if symptoms flare after reintroducing a certain food, you’ve found the culprit! From here, the focus is on avoiding the specific allergens moving forward.
Phase 4 – Identify
In the final phase of the trial, the goal is to pinpoint the specific ingredients that trigger allergic reactions.
Your pet will continue on the strict elimination diet while gradually introducing previously fed ingredients. Usually proteins—as treats or meal toppers.
Offer one ingredient at a time in small amounts (less than 10% of their calories) for up to two weeks. Be sure to keep an eye out for any signs of a flare-up.
If everything goes smoothly, you can keep that ingredient in the diet. If symptoms return, it’s time to say goodbye to that ingredient.
TOP TIP: Base your tests on your pet’s diet history and any ingredients that seemed problematic in phase 2. If you’re unsure what to start with, common allergens are a good bet!
Completing this phase will help you identify foods to avoid, improving your pet’s quality of life. Plus, knowing what to steer clear of can lead to more affordable over-the-counter diets down the road.
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In conclusion, embarking on an elimination food trial can be a game-changer for pets suffering from food allergies or sensitivities.
While the process may take some time and patience, the potential rewards are immense. A happier, healthier pet free from the discomfort of allergic reactions
Remember, this journey is a team effort between you and your vet. Open communication and careful monitoring during each phase are crucial for success.
With the right care, your precious pet can live their best life, free of food troubles.
