What is a novel protein diet for dogs and cats? 

What do you do when the meat your pet loves doesn’t love them back anymore? For a growing number of pet parents, the answer is a novel protein diet. When pets experience itchy skin, digestive issues, and other signs of food allergies, they may have developed an allergy to the protein they eat regularly. This approach is similar to an elimination diet a human might try to address their food allergies or sensitivities.¹ It all comes down to feeding your pet a new protein they haven’t eaten before as a means of treating or preventing dietary allergies. As always, if you suspect your pet has a food allergy or other health issue, be sure to consult your veterinarian.

When it comes to treating allergies, “novel” is a relative term. A familiar favourite for one pet could be a first-time treat to another. If you primarily feed a dog beef and chicken, a novel protein could be as simple as switching to fish. Some pet parents look further afield to more exotic options like boar, kangaroo, or even beaver! Whatever novel protein you start feeding, remember that you should switch things up a few times each year to minimize the risk of your pet developing another protein intolerance. 

 

My pet did fine with their food for years — why is it a problem now? 

Dietary protein intolerances can arise when a pet is fed the same food for extended periods, often many years, and their body starts struggling to break down a specific protein.² This leads to their immune system treating the protein as a threat, triggering an immune response that causes issues like excessive itching, digestive problems, and picky eating.³  Proteins are the most common dietary allergens for pets, but it’s important to remember that other foods, like complex carbohydrates, can cause reactions as well.⁴

What’s the difference between an allergy and a sensitivity? Does that change how I should approach this issue? 

You’ll often see allergy and sensitivity used interchangeably, but there’s a key difference to keep in mind. An allergy triggers an immediate reaction, caused by the immune system identifying an ingredient as a threat. Proteins are typically the cause, but other substances can trigger an allergic reaction. A sensitivity does not involve the immune system. Instead, a dietary sensitivity means a pet lacks the enzymes needed to properly digest a certain food. As a result, eating this food can lead to digestive issues like gas, bloating, or diarrhea. These are most often caused by grains, artificial additives, and other ingredients that are not biologically appropriate for pets. 

While these are two different issues, they have a similar solution in eliminating the problematic ingredient from your furry friend’s diet. Where your approach may change is in how you have to change your pet’s diet to remove the problem ingredient. Luckily, Smack makes it easy. Each recipe is made with a short list of superfood ingredients, so you know exactly what’s going into your pet’s bowl. Smack is also made without synthetics or fillers like legumes, lentils, peas, soy, corn, wheat, gluten, or grain — the most common triggers of dietary sensitivities in pets. Introduce Smack to eliminate problematic fillers and additives! 

While these are two distinct problems, a novel protein diet or an elimination diet can work in both cases, as long as you eliminate the problem food from your pet’s bowl. 

Can I keep feeding my pet the same food if they don’t have any issues with it? 

It’s best to switch things up at least a few times a year. This can help prevent allergies from developing, since they often require prolonged exposure to the allergen. It also adds a greater variety of amino acids to your pet’s diet and supports a healthy gut biome for improved nutrient absorption and better immune function. It can also help reduce inflammation, the underlying cause of many other health conditions. For picky eaters, it makes meals much more stimulating with new aromas and flavours. 

I want to try feeding my pet a novel protein diet — how can I get started? 

If you’re looking for a novel protein option for your furry friend, our all-new lamb recipes, Lip-Smacking Lamb for dogs and Lamb Royale for cats are the perfect picks. Both recipes are packed with grass-fed lamb, a go-to novel protein often recommended by vets for pets with a protein allergy. These recipes also include marine microalgae oil for plenty of omega-3s, helping reduce itching and heal the raw, inflamed skin that many pets with allergies suffer from. 

1. Ishida, R., Masuda, K., Kurata, K., Ohno, K. and Tsujimoto, H. (2004), Lymphocyte Blastogenic Responses to Inciting Food Allergens in Dogs with Food Hypersensitivity. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 18: 25–30. 
2. Bhagat, R., & Sheikh, A. A. (2017). Food Allergy In Canines: A Review. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies, 5(6), 1522–1525. 
3. Tiffany, S., Parr, J. M., Templeman, J., Shoveller, A. K., Manjos, R., Yu, A., & Verbrugghe, A. (2019). Assessment of Dog Owners' Knowledge Relating to the Diagnosis and Treatment of Canine Food Allergies. The Canadian Veterinary Journal, 60(3), 268–274.
4. Wills J, Harvey R. Diagnosis and Management of Food Allergy and Intolerance In Dogs and Cats. Aust Vet J. 1994 Oct;71(10), 322–6.