Food & Feeding

Allergy-Friendly Novel Protein Diets

Nicole Groshek  |  August 6, 2024  |  2 minute read

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Just like people, dogs and cats can be allergic to certain foods – and when our pets have a food allergy it’s often caused by a protein found in meat, dairy, eggs or grain. The good news is, novel proteins can help your dog or cat get the complete and balanced nutrition they need while avoiding the proteins they’re allergic to!

Common Protein Allergies in Dogs & Cats

Dogs and cats can have protein allergies early in life, or develop them later on – typically after eating the same diet for a long time.

Research published in BMC Veterinary Research identifies the most common protein allergies in dogs:

• Beef
• Dairy products
• Chicken
• Wheat
• Lamb

As well as the most common protein allergies in cats:

• Beef
• Fish
• Chicken

Less often, dogs and cats can also be allergic to proteins in soy, corn, eggs, pork and rice, among other ingredients.

Signs Your Pet Has a Protein Allergy

A food allergy triggers an immune response that causes inflammation. The most common symptom is itching – typically on the paws, face, ears, tummy, and below the tail.

Other symptoms of a food allergy in dogs and cats can include:

• Digestive problems (vomiting, diarrhea)
• Eye irritation & redness (including excessive tear staining)
• Ear or skin infections
• Hives
• Sneezing

If you suspect your dog or cat has an allergy, you should always take them to the vet for a diagnosis before you try changing their diet. Seasonal allergies and allergic reactions to ticks and fleas can have the same symptoms and are much more common than food allergies.

Benefits of Novel Proteins

Novel proteins are animal meats that are less common in dog and cat food. Including novel proteins in your pet’s diet has several benefits including:

• Less risk of allergic reaction – Because dogs and cats have had limited exposure to novel proteins like rabbit, duck, pork and venison, they’re less likely to cause an allergy, sensitivity or intolerance.
• Dietary diversity – Each animal protein has its own unique amino acid profile. A diet with unconventional proteins offers a greater variety in levels of essential amino acids.
• Mealtime enthusiasm – A novel protein diet can help prevent or address challenges like food boredom and picky eating.

Stella & Chewy’s is committed to using high-quality animal proteins from suppliers we know and trust who believe in the humane treatment of their animals. The novel proteins in our diets are always grass-fed, cage-free, wild-caught or farm-raised and free from added antibiotics or hormones.

What to Feed a Dog or Cat with Protein Allergies

We offer diets with many different novel and exotic proteins for dogs and cats, including:

• Duck
• Goose
• Lamb
• Pork
• Rabbit
• Salmon
• Turkey
• Venison
• Whitefish

No matter which recipe you choose, your dog or cat will always get complete and balanced nutrition! 
There’s more than one way to add novelty to your pet’s diet: keep reading to learn about the benefits of protein rotation for dogs and rotating the proteins in your cat’s diet.