Food Allergy
The following protocol will help determine if your pet is allergic to certain food items. In order to be successful, enlist help from the entire family. Everyone's cooperation will be needed. For the next 10 weeks, only the following items are to be fed:
Dogs 50-50 mixture of home-cooked lamb, venison, rabbit and rice or potatoes Do not use instant rice or potatoes. Boil the meat. Drain the cooking water before feeding. Do not add salt or spices to the cooking water. Cook large quantities and freeze the excess. Cats Cooked rabbit Boil the meat. Drain the water before feeding. Do not add salt or spices to the cooking water. Cook large quantities and freeze the excess.
In certain cases we will use a commercial diet instead of a home-cooked diet.
Feed nothing but the hypoallergenic diet and water for the next 10 weeks.
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No Milkbones |
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No Rawhides |
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No Pet Tabs |
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No Vitamins |
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No Catnip |
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No Pet Treats |
If your pet is accustomed to receiving treats, cook the meat, cut some in small cubes and place them in an air tight container marked "treats." Keep the meat refrigerated. If your pet develops diarrhea while on the hypoallergenic diet, call the office.
Most pets will respond within the first month, however some will not show response until the last week. Therefore, it is very important to comply during the entire 10 weeks.
After the food trial is over, 1 of 3 approaches may be taken:
| 1. Feed the diet that was fed prior to the trial to see if the problem returns. |
| 2. Begin adding 1 food item each week to detect the offending food. |
| 3. With the assistance of your veterinarian select an appropriate hypoallergenic diet for long term maintenance. |
If after 10 weeks your pet is improved but not 100% better, there is probably another underlying problem such as allergies to fleas or pollens. Multiple allergies are very common in the dog and cat and therefore may require further investigation.
Please feel free to call the office if you have questions or experience problems.
