Novel Protein

A novel protein is a protein source the specific dog has never eaten before, used in elimination diet trials to diagnose food allergies. The point is to give the immune system nothing to react to. Common novel proteins include rabbit, kangaroo, alligator, venison, duck, and ostrich. Lamb used to be a novel protein but has become mainstream enough that most dogs have prior exposure. A true elimination trial requires 8 to 12 weeks of strict feeding with zero contamination from other foods, treats, flavored medications, or table scraps. The diagnostic value comes from the strict adherence, not just the protein swap.