Does Your Pet Need an Elimination Diet? Here’s What You Should Know

Food sensitivities in pets can show up in surprising ways — from itchy skin and chronic ear infections to tummy troubles that just won’t go away. One of the best ways to figure out if food is the culprit is through an elimination diet.

If your vet has suggested this, or if you’re simply curious about how it works, here’s a simple breakdown of what elimination diets are, how to do them, and what to expect along the way. 

What is an Elimination Diet?

An elimination diet is a structured feeding plan designed to identify ingredients that may be causing adverse reactions in your pets, 

- It typically involves feeding a limited ingredient diet consisting of one novel (new) protein source and one vegetable
 

- The diet is maintained for a set period, usually 8 to 12 weeks, without introducing any other treats, food, supplements that may interfere with the process
 

- Once your pet’s symptoms improve, potential triggers are reintroduced gradually to determine what’s causing the reaction

How do I know if my pet needs and Elimination Diet? 

Pets may benefit from an elimination diet if they are showing:

- Chronic digestive issues such as diarrhea, soft stools, vomiting, or excessive gas.

- Persistent skin problems like itching, redness, hotspots, or recurrent ear infections.

- Symptoms that don’t resolve despite flea control, grooming, or general medical care.

If your vet suspects food sensitivities, an elimination diet is often the gold standard for diagnosis.

How do I execute an Elimination Diet?

- Choose a novel protein and vegetable: Examples include kangaroo with napa cabbage, or crocodile with baby greens—something your pet has not been exposed to before. Avoid starchy vegetables if your pet has a skin/ear related issue.

- Meal preparation: Start with a gently cooked diet. Opt for 80-90% doneness instead of overcooking meals.

- Stick to the plan strictly: No table scraps, supplements, treats, or fruits.

- Aim for a feeding duration of 8 weeks: This allows enough time for old allergens to leave your pet’s system and for improvements to be noticeable.

- Team effort: Brief anyone who may possibly be in a position to feed your pet to minimize the likelihood of accidental feedings during this period.

What do I need to look out for during an Elimination Diet? 

- Symptom monitoring: Keep a log of your pet’s skin condition, stool quality, and overall behavior. Suitability of the diet should be assessed within the first 7 days. Symptoms may not immediately get better but they should not be getting worse. If your pet does not seem to be tolerating the new diet well, work with your vet or food provider to find something more suitable

- Accidental exposures: Even a small amount of the wrong food can reset progress. Be hyper vigilant and cautious that your pet is not ingesting anything else other than the elimination diet

- Patience and consistency: It may take weeks before you see improvements, so discipline and consistency is critical.

What if there are no improvements?

Sometimes, even after following the diet carefully, your pet’s symptoms may not improve. Don’t be discouraged — this is valuable information too.

Here’s what to do next:

- Double-check compliance: Make sure there were no hidden exposures, such as supplements, anti-parasitics, chews, or treats.

- Reassess the protein/vegetable choice: Your pet may have already been exposed to them before, even in small amounts (for example, beef fat in kibble). Switching to a different combination might help.
 

- Consider non-food causes: Not all itchy skin or digestive issues are food-related. Environmental allergies (like dust mites or pollen), parasites, or other medical conditions could also be the real trigger. However, we recommend being thorough about eliminating potential food causes first as environmental allergies can only be managed and not eliminated.
 

Moving on from an Elimination Diet

If your pet does improve, the next step is gradual food reintroduction:

- Add one new ingredient at a time for 1–2 weeks.

- Watch for reactions. If symptoms flare, you’ve likely found a trigger.

- Remove that food and continue with safe options. 

Over time, this helps you build a list of “safe foods” for your pet. Remember that an elimination diet is often not nutritionally complete and is not intended for long term consumption. It is meant to be a tool which will ultimately allow you to gain enough information to build a long-term balanced diet tailored just for your pet. 

Final thoughts

An elimination diet requires commitment and patience, but it can dramatically improve your pet’s quality of life without the long term use of medication by pinpointing food sensitivities and guiding you toward a healthier, more tailored diet. As diet plays an integral role in your pet’s overall health, it should not be overlooked as a tool that can help manage your pet’s symptoms.