Elimination Diet

An elimination diet is the diagnostic protocol used to identify whether a dog has a food allergy and which ingredient is the trigger. The dog is fed a single novel protein and a single carbohydrate (or a hydrolyzed prescription diet) exclusively for 8 to 12 weeks, with no treats, flavored medications, table scraps, or contamination of any kind. If symptoms resolve during the trial, the dog is challenged with the suspected allergen to confirm. If symptoms return, the diagnosis is confirmed. The trial fails if owners cannot maintain strict feeding. This is a vet-supervised process, not a DIY bag swap.