Species Appropriate Diet: Elimination Diets

RFFDMSUK
Feb 11
3 min read

Updated: Apr 24

In recent years, more pet owners have attempted elimination diets for their dogs without professional guidance. While well-intentioned, poorly executed elimination diets can result in severe nutritional deficiencies, especially when they heavily restrict protein and variety.

This blog explores how elimination diets work, when they are necessary, and how to conduct them safely with expert support.

🍽️ What Is an Elimination Diet?

An elimination diet strips a dog’s diet down to the absolute basics, helping to:

✔️ Repair leaky gut

✔️ Soothe irritation in the digestive tract

✔️ Slowly introduce new proteins while monitoring for reactions

💡 This is a slow, highly controlled process, typically lasting 2-3 months, designed to pinpoint food sensitivities while supporting gut health.

🔹 The Process:

1️⃣ Start with a single, novel protein (one your dog has never had before—or at minimum, a known-safe protein).

2️⃣ Avoid all extras like fruits, vegetables, and treats—these may interfere with results.

3️⃣ Gradually introduce new proteins every couple of weeks, watching for symptoms.

4️⃣ Continue monitoring reactions carefully with professional guidance.

🚨 Elimination diets should only be used as a last resort and under professional supervision.

⚠️ Are Elimination Diets Safe?

While elimination diets can be beneficial, they come with risks if not conducted properly.

🚫 A lack of dietary variety over months can lead to nutritional deficiencies.

🚫 Many pet owners mistakenly blame a single protein for their dog’s symptoms when the true cause may be unrelated to diet.

💡 Before beginning an elimination diet, consider other potential causes of symptoms, including:

✔️ Pain (injuries or chronic conditions)

✔️ Illness (infections or gut imbalances)

✔️ Stress or anxiety (emotional triggers)

✔️ Environmental allergens (pollen, dust, household cleaners)

✔️ External factors (changes in routine, exposure to chemicals, etc.)

✔️ Ingredients from treats or processed foods

✨ Without ruling out non-food causes, an elimination diet may be unnecessarily restrictive—with no results and added frustration.

🔍 Who Can Give Elimination Diet Advice?

💡 If you plan to attempt an elimination diet, always seek professional support!

Recommended Experts:

✔️ Holistic or Pro-Raw Veterinarians (best option for clinical guidance)

✔️ Raw Pet Food Suppliers & Retailers (some may offer insights—but credentials vary)

✔️ Online Nutritionists (must be properly qualified—do your research!)

❌ Not All Experts Are Equal – Choose Wisely!

✔️ A Good Retailer Will:

✅ Assess your dog in person whenever possible.

✅ Have a long-standing reputation in the raw feeding industry.

✅ Conduct thorough assessments beyond just diet.

✔️ A Good Online Nutritionist Will:

✅ Require a vet consent form before conducting an assessment.

✅ Have OFQUAL-regulated qualifications or a degree in Canine Nutrition.

✅ Demonstrate continual learning (CPD).

✅ Have full business insurance, including Professional Indemnity Insurance.

✅ Be respected in the raw feeding community & recommended by suppliers.

🚨 Canine nutrition is unregulated—meaning ANYONE can call themselves a nutritionist! Always check credentials & experience before paying for advice.

📌 What Makes a Good Online Advice Group?

💡 A responsible online group will:

✔️ Encourage working with a holistic vet or professional nutritionist whenever possible.

✔️ Provide a pre-diet checklist to rule out non-protein causes.

✔️ Clarify that an elimination diet may not “fix” symptoms if proteins aren’t the issue.

✔️ Set fixed-term protocols using single-species proteins for accuracy.

💡 Looking for a pro-raw or holistic vet? Check the useful links in our menu bar!

👩‍⚕️ Recommended Independent Nutritionists

✔️ Caroline – Canine Holistic Science Academy🔗 canineholisticscienceacademy.com

✔️ Louise – Barnaby’s Happy Healthy Pets🔗 barnabyspets.co.uk

✔️ Katie – The Pet Diet🔗 thepetdiet.co.uk

✔️ Olivia – Batch Cook With Bailey (Raw & Cooked Diet Consultations)📧 olivia@batchcookwithbailey.co.uk

🐾 Final Thoughts – A Balanced Approach to Elimination Diets

✔️ Elimination diets should NEVER be done casually—they require expert guidance to prevent nutrient deficiencies.

✔️ Not all symptoms are diet-related—consider pain, stress, environmental allergens, or external factors before eliminating foods.

✔️ Choose nutritionists carefully—ensure they are properly trained & insured before seeking advice.

✔️ Work with holistic or pro-raw vets whenever possible—they provide the best support for elimination diets.

🐾 Raw feeding should be balanced, informed, and carefully executed for your dog's long-term health. By approaching elimination diets with knowledge and professional guidance, you can achieve safe, effective results while keeping your dog happy & healthy!