Novel protein dog food for IBD
Is your dog struggling with itchiness or a chronically upset gut? Or has your vet recommended exploring novel protein diets to tackle food allergies? It’s never nice to see your dog chronically uncomfortable. But there’s good news. If your dog’s symptoms are related to food allergies, they could be easily fixed by a change in their diet.
The world of dog food is extensive and finding the right one for your dog can be overwhelming. In this article, we will tackle some of the most common questions about novel protein diets: Why might your dog need it? What is a food allergy? How do you perform a food trial? And most importantly, what proteins or wording on the packaging should you be on the lookout for?
Summary
- Your own dog’s list of novel proteins is unique to them, and dependant on what proteins they have consumed in the past.
- The most common novel proteins are turkey, duck, venison, rabbit, or ostrich.
- Your dog may need a novel protein diet if they have a food allergy or underlying immune disease such as inflammatory bowel disease.
- To diagnose a food allergy, a six-week food trial is needed, in which your dog can only eat the specific food used for the trial.
- If you’re concerned that your dog may have a food allergy or you want to feed your dog a novel protein diet, first talk to your vet for advice on what diet is best suited for them.
What is a novel protein?
Novel means new, and therefore, a novel protein is a protein which your dog has never consumed before. The terminology is often confused with “exotic” or “hypoallergenic” and these terms are often used interchangeably, however they don’t quite mean the same thing.
A novel protein will be unique to your dog and dependent upon the diet you have fed in the past. Whereas a hypoallergenic protein on the other hand, is a protein which is commonly novel to the average dog, and an exotic protein is a less commonly used protein in dog food, but not necessarily marketed to dogs who need novel proteins.
When does a dog need a novel protein diet?
Dogs only need a novel protein diet if they react to the protein in their current diet. This is most commonly because of a food allergy, but other health concerns may also require a novel protein diet, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
If your dog doesn’t have a health issue, there are no increased benefits for buying a novel protein diet. It’s a common misconception that feeding your dog a diet which is marketed as novel, exotic or hypoallergenic will prevent allergies. In fact, it might even reduce the list of potential foods you can feed if your dog does develop allergies.
What is a food allergy?
A food allergy is when the body’s immune system reacts to an allergen, which is a tiny part of the protein which the immune system recognises as either safe or a threat. An allergen most commonly an animal protein, but can also be an animal product protein, such as dairy, or plant-based food, such as wheat and soy.
When the body encounters an allergen which it deems a threat, it triggers mast cells to release histamine and other inflammatory messengers. Mast cells are common in the skin and the guts, which is why allergies can lead to symptoms such as itchy skin, inflamed ear canals and diarrhoea.
It’s important to note, a food allergy is an immune reaction and therefore different to a food intolerance, which is when the body struggles to digest an ingredient. The terminologies are often confused.
Pathogenesis
There is still much unknown about food allergies, but in dogs, there certainly seems to be breed predispositions. German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, French bulldogs, and West Highland White Terriers are overrepresented. As a result, a genetic cause is generally assumed.
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