A Novel Protein Diet for Your Pet: What You Need to Know

A novel protein is a protein source that your pet has not consumed before. The concept behind novel protein diets is to introduce a new protein that your pet's body hasn’t developed sensitivities to, thus helping alleviate certain health issues.

For pets that have been primarily fed processed diets, which often contain common protein sources like chicken, lamb, and beef, a novel (or new) protein might include options such as duck, venison, horse, kangaroo, or rabbit. Introducing these novel proteins can be particularly beneficial for pets with digestive issues or food allergies.

Many dogs and cats experience digestive problems or food intolerances that manifest as gastrointestinal disturbances (such as vomiting or diarrhea) or skin conditions like itchy rashes, hot spots, and even recurring ear infections. These issues often arise from the body’s immune response to allergens present in their regular diet.

By introducing a novel protein, we can potentially remove the allergens causing these problems, allowing the gut to heal and restoring its proper function. A species-appropriate raw diet is often recommended alongside this change, which supports the digestive system in ways that processed foods cannot. To fully understand why a novel protein diet might be beneficial, it’s essential to grasp how your pet’s digestive system works.

Understanding Your Pet's Digestive System

The gastrointestinal tract, comprising the stomach and gut, is designed to thoroughly absorb nutrients that have been completely digested while keeping out any partially digested nutrients. Essentially, the gut acts as a gatekeeper, allowing in beneficial nutrients and blocking anything undigested that could cause harm.

When partially digested nutrients, including proteins, pass through the gut wall, the body may recognize these as foreign invaders or allergens. This triggers an immune response, leading to the release of histamine and the onset of symptoms such as itchy rashes, hot spots, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Several factors can contribute to this issue. Many commercial pet foods contain biologically inappropriate ingredients, including additives, preservatives, excessive carbohydrates used as fillers, and low-quality proteins. Fillers such as potatoes, grains, starches like rice, and fibers like carrageenan gum reduce the volume of meat required, making the food cheaper to produce but harder for your pet to digest. Over time, this can lead to a condition known as 'dysbiosis' or 'leaky gut,' where the gut lining becomes compromised, allowing these partially digested nutrients to pass through and cause an immune reaction.

Our Approach to Healing and Diet

At Human & Pets, we take a comprehensive approach to addressing these issues by focusing on two key areas:

1. Healing the leaky gut: We aim to restore your pet’s ability to fully digest their food. This involves eliminating grains and starches from their diet, which are often contributors to gut inflammation and dysfunction.
2. Formulating a novel protein plan: We select protein sources that your pet has not eaten before. This helps to reduce the likelihood of allergic reactions and promotes quicker symptom relief.

We believe that cats and dogs are true carnivores based on their jaw structure and digestive physiology. Therefore, we recommend a diet that mirrors their natural dietary needs, focusing on high-quality, raw protein sources. Unlike conventional processed novel protein diets, our approach excludes biologically inappropriate ingredients and emphasizes natural, whole foods.

What Does a Novel Protein Plan Involve?

The goal of a novel protein plan is to "heal and seal" the gut, enabling your pet to digest a wide range of appropriate raw foods fully. Each pet requires an individualized plan, typically lasting 4-6 weeks. The novel proteins selected should be those your pet has not previously consumed. During this period, you can feed a variety of the following proteins (excluding any that your pet has eaten before) along with green tripe:

• Turkey
• Rabbit
• Venison
• Duck
• Goat
• Fish
• Horse
• Kangaroo

What to Avoid

It’s crucial to avoid feeding your pet any food that has not been included in your novel protein plan. Even small amounts of inappropriate food, like a piece of toast or a biscuit, can cause a significant setback in their progress.

Treats

Many commercial treats contain cereals, preservatives, and other ingredients that are not suitable for a novel protein plan. We offer a selection of treats that are compatible with this diet. If treats are an important part of your pet’s daily routine, please consult with us to find appropriate options.

Gut-Support Protocol

In addition to dietary changes, we may recommend a gut-support protocol. This could include supplements such as probiotics, fish oil, or other nutrients that help speed up the healing process. Typically, these supplements are temporary, and once your pet’s gut is healthy, the diet alone will maintain their well-being.

In summary, a novel protein plan can be an effective way to address food allergies and digestive issues in pets. By focusing on biologically appropriate foods and supporting the gut's natural healing processes, we can help your pet enjoy better health and vitality.