In order to establish the potential allergen in pet food, a dog suffering from food allergies needs to undergo a food trial. This procedure is made under the supervision of a veterinarian. There are 2 types of diets that are used in food trials-- novel protein diets and hypoallergenic diets.
Novel protein diets contain a type of protein source that the dog has never eaten before. The usual meat sources that are used in these diets include venison, duck, and rabbit.
Hypoallergenic diets use proteins of smaller molecular size to reduce or altogether prevent an immune reaction from occurring. However, these diets are generally expensive and there have been reports of dogs still reacting even with these special proteins.
If your pet is prone to flare-ups as a result of a food allergy, work with your veterinarian New Orleans, LA in identifying the allergen and alleviating symptoms.
