A food elimination trial places a dog on a novel diet that consists of one protein and one carbohydrate to which the dog has had no or limited exposure. Several problems exist with this test protocol. Primarily, most commercial kibbles are not single source proteins or carbohydrates but have several proteins and carbohydrates. For instance, chicken may be the primary protein, but fish may be a secondary one.

If you decide to give the eight to twelve week food elimination trial, it is usually recommended to start with lamb and potatoes. The question becomes your dog could also be sensitive to lamb or potatoes. You may be causing more harm than good. If his symptoms do not subside, you can persevere and try another novel protein and carbohydrate combination.

If the lamb and potatoes verified that your dog is sensitive to a particular pet food, you now must move on to the provocation stage in which you reintroduce one protein and one carbohydrate each week. Accordingly, when the itchy skin symptoms return, you should know which food is the offender. However, clinical signs of delayed sensitivities can take up to five weeks to be noticeable. For instance, you introduce beef in week five and chicken in week six. At the end of week six, itchy skin starts again but you would not know if it was the beef, the chicken or another protein.

Confused? You should be. At the end of the day, food elimination trials create too much anxiety, confusion and huge variables for any dog lover.

Comparatively, NutriScan identifies the exact food causing your dog’s intolerance in less than two weeks.