18/01/2026
๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ-๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐น๐ถ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐ด๐
Elimination diets are a cornerstone in diagnosing adverse food reactions in dogs, which require careful planning to ensure both efficacy and safety. Many home-prepared elimination diets, particularly those intended for adult dogs, are not nutritionally balanced. These diets are often limited to one or two protein and carbohydrate sources, which makes them adequate for short-term use (typically 4โ8 weeks) but unsuitable for long-term feeding (more than 8 weeks). Prolonged feeding of an unbalanced diet can lead to significant nutrient deficiencies, especially if owners attempt to extend the elimination trial beyond the diagnostic window.
๐พ๐ค๐ข๐ข๐ค๐ฃ ๐๐ช๐ฉ๐ง๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐๐ก ๐๐๐ฅ๐จ:
Homemade diets frequently lack calcium, essential fatty acids (EFAs), and certain vitamins and trace minerals, while simultaneously providing high levels of protein. High protein intake can paradoxically worsen allergic responses, as intact dietary proteins are more likely to act as antigens and trigger hypersensitivity. In addition, diets that are high in phosphorus but low in calcium, or with an inverted calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, can cause skeletal abnormalities in growing dogs. Deficiencies or inverse ratio of EPA and DHA and a lack of zinc, vitamins D3, E and A can further contribute to the atopic dermatitis symptoms the elimination diet is aiming to treat.
๐๐ช๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐๐จ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ฉ๐๐๐ช๐ก๐๐ง๐ก๐ฎ ๐๐ช๐ก๐ฃ๐๐ง๐๐๐ก๐
Dogs under 12 months of age are at highest risk of nutritional deficiencies due to rapid growth, high metabolic demand, and immature digestive and absorptive systems. Clinical signs of deficiencies can develop quickly:
- Thiamine (Vitamin B1) deficiency can cause anorexia and poor growth within 10โ20 days of feeding an inadequate diet.
- Imbalanced calcium-to-phosphorus ratios may lead to skeletal disease, including osteopenia or abnormal bone development, after only four weeks of feeding.
- Deficiencies in essential fatty acids can impair skin barrier function, leading to scaling, alopecia, and increased susceptibility to inflammation or secondary infections.
๐ฝ๐๐ก๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐๐ก๐๐ข๐๐ฃ๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐ฟ๐๐๐ฉ
If a home-prepared diet is required for longer than eight weeks, it is crucial that it be formulated to meet all nutrient requirements appropriate for the dogโs life stage. This includes:
๐ฆด Adequate levels of calcium and phosphorus in the correct ratio
๐ Essential fatty acids, particularly omega-3 and gamma-linolenic acid
๐ฅ Vitamins such as A, E, and B-complex
๐ฆช Trace minerals including zinc, copper, and selenium
Professional guidance is highly recommended when designing a long-term home-prepared diet for a dog with protein allergies or food intolerance. Depending on the server of the dog's allergies, a commercial nutrient supplements may be necessary to correct the inevitable gaps. Failure to appropriately balance the diet can compromise growth, coat and skin health, immune function, and overall well-being. However, with an understanding of what the dog can and cannot tolerate, a diet free from synthetic supplementation sometimes can be formulated.
