There is a lot of information and guidance out there about how to best approach the elimination diet. 
Firstly, be aware that there are many other causes of allergy symptoms besides food intolerances. Many dogs can react in various ways to environment toxins, flea and worm products and vaccinations, causing itching or yeast overgrowth.

Non natural home products such as air fresheners, detergents and cleaning products also can be the cause of allergy-like symptoms.

So, although itching, vomiting, gas, and loose stools can be the result of food intolerances, it can also be due to other causes which need to be ruled out. 

It can be a hard task to identify the exact cause of your pets symptoms and many allergy tests are known to produce false positives, making it difficult to find the specific trigger.

However, when feeding a raw diet, it’s far easier to find the root cause than the near impossible task of ruling out the many additives/chemicals which go into kibble. 

To identify the cause, many pet owners eliminate what they think is the suspected cause/protein from the pets diet and therefore leave many other possible foods and causes behind.

A more strategic approach is needed and this involves removing commonly problematic ingredients (wheat, dairy, chicken, beef) and starting from the beginning, gradually introducing proteins, one at a time, in order to identify which foods are safe and which ones are potential triggers. This tailored method of feeding your pets will help alleviate symptoms and manage your pets gut health.

Also, by feeding a raw diet and removing over-processed dry food (kibble) it will allow for better control over the ingredients which are given to your pets. Raw food provides them with a nutritious, biologically appropriate diet which in itself minimises the risk of hidden allergens like fillers, addictives and grains, often found in over-processed foods. 

Feeding a fresh, raw diet is the perfect foundation for an elimination diet and provides a wide range of essential nutrients and vitamins needed to support your pets overall health, strengthening their immune system and alleviating symptoms caused by allergens. 

If you have not already transitioned your pet over to raw, check out our guide on ‘Switching to raw’ or to learn more about allergies and how best to approach an elimination diet, go to https://www.dogsfirst.ie/allergies-in-dogs/ ..There is a lot of information about additional probiotics and other gut healing supplements that you can give to help support your pets gut health.

For more in depth learning, Dr Conor Brady also has a ‘Canine Allergy’ course which pet owners can take. 
Along with removing kibble and switching to raw, it’s suggested that you cut out any root vegetables, fruits and fish oils (which are not in the form of small raw oily fish) as there is a risk of them being pro inflammatory. 
Stop using non natural household products, air fresheners, detergents etc and switch to more natural products to support your pet’s health. 

Also make sure any supplements being used are 100% natural or holistic vet approved and any treats given are 100% meat.

The elimination diet is not forever and is used as a tool to get you started. Understanding and knowing what your pets tolerate and what they don’t can take time. Every dog is different but it’s important to stick to foods your dog tolerates, during this healing time. 

There’s no specific timeline however the hard work will pay off in the end and the aim is to eventually introduce more and more proteins over time. Dogs need variety and there are many protein options available in which your pets can gain different levels of nutrients from. 
Sometimes there are foods which your dogs will never tolerate when introducing them back, even after the gut is healed, and this is fine. In this case, stick with the ones you know they will tolerate.