From the Research
For German Shorthaired Pointers (GSPs) with suspected food allergies or sensitivities, I recommend starting with a veterinarian-supervised elimination diet trial as the most reliable testing method, which involves feeding your GSP a novel protein source or hydrolyzed protein diet for 8-12 weeks, eliminating all other foods and treats, as supported by the most recent study 1. This approach is based on the fact that blood tests for food allergies and hair/saliva tests marketed for food sensitivities have poor reliability in dogs and aren't recommended by veterinary dermatologists 2, 3. The elimination diet trial should be done under the supervision of a veterinarian to ensure the dog's nutritional needs are met and to monitor for any potential adverse effects. Common elimination diet options include prescription foods like Hill's z/d, Royal Canin Hypoallergenic, or home-prepared diets with single novel protein sources like duck, rabbit, or venison paired with a single carbohydrate source. After the elimination diet period, if symptoms improve, you can perform food challenges by reintroducing original food ingredients one at a time to identify specific triggers. Some key points to consider when implementing an elimination diet include:
- The importance of a multidisciplinary approach to ensure the diet is nutritionally balanced and meets the dog's needs 4
- The potential for novel food allergens to emerge due to changes in dietary trends and the introduction of new protein sources 1
- The need for close collaboration between veterinarians, owners, and other stakeholders to monitor for emerging food allergies and ensure the best possible outcomes for dogs with food allergies or sensitivities. It's also important to note that GSPs, like other breeds, can develop environmental allergies as well, so if food trials don't resolve symptoms, consider testing for environmental allergens through intradermal skin testing or serum allergy testing performed by a veterinary dermatologist. Recent studies have also explored the use of short-course prednisolone during the initial phase of an elimination diet trial to reduce the total time period for diagnosis, which may be a useful approach in some cases 3.