Exclusion Diet & Food Intolerance
An exclusion diet helps separate protein allergies from gut sensitivity, with a novel protein and strict feeding for 8 to 12 weeks.
What is it?
An exclusion (elimination) diet means your dog eats only one novel protein and one carbohydrate source for 8 to 12 weeks, plus water. No snacks, table scraps or other food. The goal: find out whether symptoms come from a specific protein or from general gut sensitivity.
Why does it matter?
Itching, ear inflammation, diarrhoea and flatulence have different causes. A protein allergy is an immune reaction to a specific animal protein. Gastrointestinal sensitivity is often a digestion issue without a classic allergy. Treatment and food choice differ, which is why a structured exclusion diet matters.
How does it work?
When protein allergy is suspected, choose a protein your dog has never eaten, lamb, venison or hydrolyzed protein. Lamb & Potato and Venison & Potato are grain-free options with a single meat as the main protein. Balloxx Sensitive uses hydrolyzed protein: proteins split into small pieces that the immune system is less likely to recognise.
Benefits
- Helps separate protein allergy from gut sensitivity
- Novel protein (lamb, venison) for strict elimination
- Hydrolyzed alternative when novel protein is not suitable
Misconceptions
An exclusion diet is not a one-week quick test. Symptoms may only improve after several weeks, and return within 48 hours if you reintroduce the old protein. Always discuss the plan with your vet, especially for puppies or dogs with other conditions.
