Elimination diets, lets get it right
The Raw Elimination Diet: How to Do It Right
If your dog or cat struggles with itchy skin, ear flare-ups, or tummy troubles, a properly run elimination diet (EDT) is the gold-standard way to work out if food is the culprit. Here’s a practical guide for doing it the raw way—what to feed, what to avoid, and how to set your pet up for success.
Why an elimination diet matters
Food sensitivities and intolerances are often confused with environmental allergies, and the only reliable way to diagnose a food issue is with an elimination diet. It’s not a “quick fix”—it’s a careful test. Done correctly, it can give you lifelong clarity about what foods your pet thrives on, and which ones cause problems.
The gut–immune connection
Around 70–80% of your pet’s immune system sits in the gut. That means what you feed, how consistent you are, and even outside factors like stress or environmental allergens all influence the results of an elimination diet. A calm, stable diet gives the gut a chance to reset, reducing immune flare-ups that show on the skin, ears, or digestion.
Step 1: Choose one single protein
Pick a novel protein (something your pet hasn’t eaten before—rabbit, goat, venison, duck, etc.).
Stick with a 80:10:10 raw diet that is truly single-sourced 80:10:10 (muscle meat, bone, offal from that one animal only).
Consistency is key—no mixing proteins during the trial.
At Stefs Pet Pantry, we stock a wide range of single-protein 80:10:10 perfect for elimination diets, making it easy to stick to the plan.
Step 2: Treats are allowed (but only the right ones)
Unlike some guides that suggest cutting treats altogether, you can give them from day one—as long as they are 100% single-sourced and match the trial protein.
✅ Examples:
Rabbit 80:10:10 diet + 100% rabbit ears, rabbit fillets, rabbit jerky.
Venison 80:10:10 + 100% venison lung or venison slices.
❌ Avoid:
Anything mixed (chicken & rice chews, “meaty flavour” biscuits).
Anything with coatings, herbs, or flavour enhancers.
We carry a large selection of single-protein dried treats to perfectly match your chosen trial protein, so you don’t have to compromise training or enrichment while running the diet.
Step 3: Stick with it for 8–12 weeks
8 weeks minimum is needed for gut and skin signs to calm; some pets need the full 12.
Improvements in stool often show within 2–4 weeks, but skin takes longer to reflect changes.
Don’t switch proteins halfway through. We woudl usually recommend being able to mix the brands, although some dogs need to remain on the same brand throughout.
Step 4: Reintroduce foods slowly
Once your pet is stable:
Add one new protein at a time (e.g., chicken, lamb) for 3–7 days.
Log any changes in stools, itch, or behaviour.
If symptoms return, stop that food and go back to your safe protein until stable, then move on to the next.
This step is vital—it’s how you identify exactly which proteins are safe and which trigger issues.
Do’s & Don’ts
✅ Do
Use single-protein 80:10:10 raw for the base diet.
Match treats exactly—same protein, nothing else.
Keep bowls, knives, chopping boards separate to avoid cross-contamination.
Log everything (poo, skin, ears, energy levels).
Control external stressors where possible—stress, infections, and environmental allergens can muddy results.
❌ Don’t
Give “just one” biscuit, stick, or flavoured supplement—it resets the clock.
Mix proteins or rotate flavours during the elimination period.
Cut the trial short because it “looks better” after 3 weeks—skin needs time to heal.
Forget environmental factors—dust mites, pollen, or stress can still affect results even on a perfect diet.
The challenge phase: where the answers lie
The elimination phase rules foods out. The challenge phase rules foods in. Without reintroducing proteins one by one, you won’t know which proteins are safe long term. So once your dog is stable, don’t skip this stage—this is where you gain the knowledge to build a diet they can thrive on for life.
Final thoughts
An elimination diet is a commitment, but the rewards are huge: a happier, healthier pet, and clear answers you can rely on. By using single-protein raw and carefully matched single-protein dried treats—like the wide range available at Stefs Pet Pantry—you can run a gold-standard trial without compromise.
