Let’s get your dog back to feeling great.
Explore our science-backed Hypoallergenic Recipes featuring novel proteins like camel and turkey — crafted to soothe sensitivities and restore vitality.
Has your dog suddenly started scratching non-stop? Or perhaps they've begun turning away from meals they once devoured eagerly? These unexpected changes might signal something more than just a passing phase. Food allergies aren't always obvious – one day your dog seems perfectly fine; the next, they're uncomfortable, irritable, and struggling. For many dogs suffering these symptoms, the culprit isn't in their environment – it's right in their food bowl.
Recognising the Signs of Food Sensitivities
You know your dog better than anyone. When something's off, you notice – even before they've developed full-blown symptoms. Food sensitivities manifest through distinct physical symptoms that persist regardless of season or environment. Recognising these early warning signs empowers you to intervene before your dog's discomfort escalates.
Common Symptoms and Behaviours to Monitor
Think about your dog's recent behaviour. Have you noticed constant scratching that won't stop no matter how much attention you give them? When dogs experience food sensitivities, they display a consistent pattern of symptoms you can identify. That persistent itching - particularly around the paws, face, and ears – isn't just annoying for both of you; it's your dog's body telling you that something's wrong.
Watch closely, and you might notice this scratching accompanied by visible skin inflammation, redness, or even secondary infections as your dog's natural scratching damages their skin barrier. Have you also observed digestive distress? Many dogs with food sensitivities exhibit concurrent gastrointestinal symptoms—vomiting after meals, loose stools, or excessive gas that can clear a room.
Chronic ear infections provide another telling indicator of potential food sensitivities. When infections like these recur despite appropriate treatment, they're often signalling an underlying issue rather than just a simple bacterial or yeast infection. You might also notice your once-lustrous dog's coat becoming dull, or perhaps they're even losing weight despite regular meals—signs that nutritional absorption has become compromised by ongoing inflammation.
Pay attention to your dog's mood and energy levels too. Beyond physical symptoms, your dog may show behavioural changes that signal they're not feeling their best. Has your normally playful companion become irritable? Are they restless when they should be relaxed, or showing less interest in their favourite activities? These changes often indicate your dog is experiencing chronic discomfort they can't communicate directly.
Connect the dots between symptoms and mealtimes. Do you notice these issues appearing within hours after your dog eats—or perhaps developing over a couple of days as sensitivity to an ingredient builds? This timing isn't coincidental.
This is why your careful observation matters tremendously. Don't dismiss these symptoms as random or minor inconveniences—they're your dog's way of communicating distress. Left unchecked, these immune responses can escalate to chronic inflammation, significant gut disruption, or even widespread secondary skin infections that dramatically affect your dog's quality of life.
Understanding Food Sensitivities: Allergies vs. Intolerance
When your dog is uncomfortable, getting to the root cause quickly becomes your top priority. Food sensitivities represent one of the more challenging health issues you'll face as a committed dog owner. They manifest through uncomfortable skin conditions, persistent digestive upset, or concerning behavioural changes that affect your daily life together. Understanding the crucial distinction between true food allergies and food intolerances will help guide your approach to treatment. Though the symptoms may look remarkably similar to you, these conditions operate through entirely different biological mechanisms.
Food allergies
Food allergies involve your dog's immune system directly. When your dog consumes a particular protein you've likely been feeding them for years, their immune system suddenly misidentifies it as harmful and produces antibodies that trigger inflammation throughout their body. These reactions typically develop after repeated exposure over time and present most commonly as relentless itching, visible skin inflammation, and those frustrating recurring ear infections you can't seem to resolve. This also explains why some dogs may suddenly react to foods they've consumed without issue for years.
TIP: True allergic reactions typically produce consistent symptoms each time your dog encounters the problematic ingredient.
Food intolerances
Unlike allergies, food intolerances don't involve the immune system directly. Instead, they typically result from your dog's inability to properly digest certain ingredients. Your dog may simply lack the necessary enzymes to properly digest certain ingredients or react poorly to specific additives in their food. You'll typically notice symptoms like excessive gas, bloating, or loose stools that disrupt both your dog's comfort and potentially your household routine. These symptoms may take up to 72 hours to appear after eating, making them particularly challenging for you to trace back to a specific meal or ingredient.
Food sensitivities represent one of the more challenging health issues dog owners may face and, because both conditions can look deceptively similar on the surface, your veterinarian may recommend an elimination diet to help you pinpoint the exact root cause of your dog's discomfort.
Common Dietary Triggers in Dogs
You've likely seen the ingredients list on your dog's food: chicken, beef, lamb, and dairy dominate commercial dog food formulations. And therein lies the problem you're now facing. This constant, repeated exposure significantly increases your dog's chance of developing sensitisation over time. So even if your loyal companion has happily eaten these same ingredients for years without issue, their immune system can eventually—and quite suddenly—identify these familiar proteins as threats to be attacked.
Ever notice how lamb was once marketed as the hypoallergenic solution for sensitive dogs? Now it's become a common trigger precisely because of its widespread adoption in mainstream diets. Your dog's daily dairy treat could be another top culprit behind their symptoms—whether from lactose intolerance or more complex reactions to whey or casein proteins.
Your home environment can complicate matters further. Microscopic mites in improperly stored dry food, or the highly processed proteins with altered molecular structures in many commercial kibbles, can significantly increase your dog's risk of developing allergic responses that disrupt their wellbeing and your peaceful household.
TIP: Beef ranks among the most common allergens for dogs, followed by chicken and lamb
When Familiar Proteins Stop Working
For dogs with established food sensitivities, novel protein sources offer a promising alternative. These proteins have specific characteristics that make them suitable for sensitive dogs.
What Makes a Protein "Novel"
Novel proteins are simply protein sources your dog hasn't previously consumed. Their benefit stems from this lack of prior exposure - your dog's immune system hasn't had the opportunity to develop sensitivity to these proteins. Common novel protein sources include venison, rabbit, duck, turkey, and increasingly, camel.
These alternative proteins provide complete nutrition while reducing the risk of allergic responses. Research indicates that single-source novel proteins can significantly reduce symptoms in dogs with food sensitivities. The molecular structure of these proteins differs from traditional sources, further reducing the likelihood of immune recognition and reaction.
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Why Camel and Turkey Make a Difference
At Wunderdog, we see the frustration in your eyes when nothing seems to help your dog feel better. We understand that overexposure to those common proteins has disrupted your dog's health and your household peace. That's precisely why we've developed recipes featuring novel proteins like camel and turkey. These proteins are less common and therefore less likely to trigger reactions—offering meaningful support for your dog who desperately needs relief. These aren't just exotic-sounding alternatives we've selected for marketing appeal. They're purposeful, science-backed choices specifically designed to help restore your dog's nutritional balance and comfort.
When you choose these novel proteins, you're giving your dog's immune system a fresh start. Camel and turkey are both lean, exceptionally nutrient-dense, and highly digestible for your dog's system. Their unique amino acid profiles help maintain your dog's muscle mass and energy without overstimulating already sensitive immune responses. And because they're rarely used in mass-market pet foods, they provide a truly clean slate for dogs with a history of frustrating dietary reactions.
We've ensured these proteins are single-source and nutritionally complete, meaning they offer all the essential amino acids your dog needs without relying on the protein blends that risk cross-contamination and continued symptoms.
Transitioning to a Novel Protein Diet
Switching your dog to a novel protein recipe – such as camel or turkey – can be a powerful step toward managing food sensitivities and allergies. To ensure your dog’s digestive system adapts comfortably and to minimise any digestive upset, a thoughtful, gradual transition is key. Any abrupt dietary change will disrupt the gut microbiome, potentially causing diarrhoea or vomiting that masks true food sensitivities.
Consider a Short Fast Before Starting
For many adult dogs in good health, veterinarians sometimes recommend a short fasting period of 24 hours before beginning the transition. This “reset” gives your dog’s digestive system a break, allowing the gut to clear out previous food residues and potentially making it easier to adapt to new ingredients. Always ensure your dog has access to fresh water during this time, and consult your veterinarian before fasting puppies, senior dogs, or those with medical conditions.
Step-by-Step Transition Plan
After the fasting period (if used), start by mixing 25% of the new recipe with 75% of your dog’s current food for the first 2–3 days. Gradually increase the proportion of the new recipe over the next 7–10 days, while decreasing the original diet. This slow approach helps your dog’s gut adjust to the new proteins like camel, which are structurally distinct from common allergens like beef or chicken. This slow approach also reduces the risk of digestive symptoms such as loose stools or decreased appetite.
What to Watch For
Monitor your dog closely for any changes in appetite, stool quality, skin condition, or energy levels during the transition. Keeping a daily journal-tracking symptoms, energy, and stool consistency-can help you and your veterinarian objectively assess progress and make informed decisions about your dog’s nutrition.
When to Expect Results
Most dogs begin to improve within 4 to 6 weeks after fully transitioning to a well-formulated novel protein diet. Early signs of positive change often include less scratching, improved digestion, and more stable energy. Skin-related symptoms may take longer to resolve, as the skin barrier needs time to heal after chronic inflammation.
If You Notice Any Problems
If your dog experiences vomiting, diarrhoea, or a drop in appetite at any stage, slow down the transition or pause to allow their system to adjust. For persistent symptoms or concerns, consult your veterinarian promptly.
Implementing an Effective Elimination Diet
For dogs with severe allergies, veterinarians may recommend pairing this transition with an elimination diet to identify specific triggers while providing immediate relief from symptoms.
This typically involves feeding your dog a limited-ingredient diet containing novel protein and carbohydrate sources they haven’t previously consumed. It also means avoiding all common proteins, dairy, additives, and treats—including table scraps and flavoured medications. Commercial hydrolysed diets or carefully prepared recipes using novel proteins, such as camel or turkey, are often effective starting points.
The key to success lies in strict adherence to the elimination diet for a sufficient duration. Most dogs show noticeable improvement within 8 weeks, but every bite matters and even the smallest amount of an allergenic ingredient – as little as one teaspoon of a problematic food – can restart the cycle.
Once your dog’s symptoms improve, ingredients can be slowly reintroduced one at a time—typically over 1 to 2 weeks, while closely monitoring your dog’s reactions and behaviour. If a symptom returns, you’ve likely found a trigger.
This methodical approach helps build a long-term plan tailored to your dog’s sensitivities, reducing flare-ups and supporting overall wellbeing.
Long-term Management Strategies
Managing food sensitivities is about more than just what your dog eats today—it’s about building a stable, responsive plan for the long run.
Maintaining Nutritional Balance
While novel protein diets address sensitivity issues, they must also provide complete and balanced nutrition. That’s why it’s critical to choose recipes formulated by veterinary nutritionists to support your dog’s nutritional needs throughout all life stages.
Your vet may also recommend targeted supplements. Omega-3 fatty acids support skin barrier repair and reduce inflammation, while probiotics may enhance gut and immune health. As always, the key is working with your vet to choose products with proven benefit.
Preventing New Sensitivities
Once your dog stabilises, some vets may suggest carefully rotating compatible protein sources to reduce the risk of new sensitivities. This should only be done under veterinary guidance, and each new ingredient should be introduced just as methodically as during the initial elimination process.
Taking Back Control of Your Dog's Health
Food sensitivities may have disrupted your dog's health and your daily routine—but this condition doesn't have to define your future together. With the right approach, we've seen countless dogs experience dramatic, lasting improvements that transform both their wellbeing and their owners' peace of mind. Novel proteins like camel and turkey offer you a practical, science-backed solution to what has likely been a deeply frustrating problem affecting your beloved companion.
Your dog is unique—their personality, their preferences, and yes, their nutritional needs. No two dogs are exactly alike, which is why a tailored, patient, well-supported nutritional plan—rooted in careful observation, veterinary collaboration, and exceptional nutrition—is your best path forward.
At Wunderdog, we’re here to support that journey every step of the way. Our Novel Protein ranges are built on the principle that less is more—fewer ingredients, fewer potential allergens, and greater clarity for you as you navigate your dog's recovery.
We don’t simply substitute one protein for another in our formulations. We design recipes that work with your dog’s system, not against it. That means:
- A single, carefully-sourced novel animal protein (camel or turkey) that minimizes reaction risks
- Lean meat that is highly digestible and rich in the amino acids your dog needs for muscle, immune function, and skin repair.
- Optimised digestive balance from functional ingredients like pumpkin, quinoa, or sweet potato
- Absolutely no fillers, unnecessary additives, or common allergens that could trigger symptoms
- Targeted anti-inflammatory support from natural omega-3s to help heal irritated tissues
Every ingredient in our recipes earns its place for a specific nutritional purpose. No unnecessary components. No confusing ingredient lists. No more guesswork for you.
