If your vet suspects that your dog is allergic to meat protein or any other food, they will likely suggest an elimination diet to figure out the problem. This usually involves giving your dog food with an alternative and much less common protein. Some of these options include venison, duck, salmon, and kangaroo. As mentioned, lamb is another popular choice, but it is also a common allergen.Â
You will typically give your dog this hypoallergenic food for about eight to ten weeks to give him time to heal. Most dogs will improve within just four to six weeks, but some take the full ten weeks.Â
After the symptoms disappear, your vet will likely have you give your dog a small amount of the suspected allergen. Importantly, you will use single-source ingredients. So, instead of switching to a different type of dog food that contains chicken, you would check a chicken allergy by adding a few pieces of chicken to your dog’s food bowl. You will then check if the symptoms come back.