I'm not sure how to proceed. Now that it has been 8 months (is that the longest elimination diet on record? ) I have about a weeks worth of food and would like to begin feeding Thor raw again.

I'm confused, because his diet was so varied, and I know I can only reintroduce one protein source at a time. What I am planning to do is start with Cornish hens. The size is perfect for his requirements and I would imagine the meat, muscle, bone and organ amounts are balanced. Is my thinking right? If so how long should I feed the Cornish hens before introducing another protein?

All tips and suggestions are welcomed.

What was the finding? Did all the symptoms subside? Did he end up with inhalant/environmental allergies identified by intradermal testing? Are you at the point where allergy symptoms have disappeared and you are going to challenge the system with one addition at a time?

According to Merck, the time between feeding the challenge food and return of skin pruritus varies from 15 min to 10 days. So 10 days would be the guide.

Cornish hens would be a good choice. I'd hold off on the organs because I think (I'll double-check) that the organ meat from a certain animal can be an allergen to the dog even when the muscle meat isn't.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

What was the finding? Did all the symptoms subside?

Yes. All the symptoms subsided but there was never a diagnosis other than a cancer which had properties of a mast tumor but was found to be a hermangiosarcoma. It was quite bizarre and the lesions which were oozing had no signs of bacteria. It was so odd my vet figured he messed up in the lab and sent samples to an outside lab who came back with the same findings.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

Did he end up with inhalant/environmental allergies identified by intradermal testing? Are you at the point where allergy symptoms have disappeared and you are going to challenge the system with one addition at a time?.

All his skin tests came back negative but since the symptoms began last May during pollen season and many dogs were suffering from environmental allergies I decided to not start introducing food until I saw if he had a problem with the pollen this year. My vet thought it was a good idea too. The vet never felt he had a food allergy but since Thor's condition was so serious he felt ruling it out wouldn't hurt. The vet thinks the skin issues may have been Thor's immune's systems response to the cancer but there is no way to prove that other than that everything else was ruled out....well except for food which I hope to finally rule out by starting reintroducing one protein at a time.

10 days is good and that is really interesting about the organ meat. I liked my Cornish hen idea because I thought it was a great way to give him a well balanced diet with one protein source.

So after 10 days would I continue with the Cornish hen and add the organ meat for 10 more days? And then add say chicken and repeat with the organ meat? Once he is good with a protein source can I mix it in while introducing something else or should I only feed one source at a time?

I'll probably feed Cornish hens, chicken, turkey, lamb and beef. I don't have access to much else and the pork bones make me nervous.....I suppose I could have them ground..

"So after 10 days would I continue with the Cornish hen and add the organ meat for 10 more days? And then add say chicken and repeat with the organ meat? Once he is good with a protein source can I mix it in while introducing something else or should I only feed one source at a time?"

Once the challenge food has proven to be innocuous, then yes, it can stay in the diet as you add the others, one at a time. So the hens, followed by the regular chicken, will be good RMBs while you challenge him with the others as "sides."

Don't forget that there are many protein sources besides meat, so each one will be a challenge item: eggs, yogurt, cheese, pumpkin, fish, peanut butter, gelatin capsules, treats, and anything else you ever give that provides protein.

Wah! I wasn't even thinking of those other sources....I've been feeding yogurt....I'm going to say the yogurt has passed the challenge. Why was it less confusing when I began feeding him raw years ago than it is to restart it?

Is this a sign my brain is getting old? I guess it's better than what is happening to other body parts.

Just curious Connie,is'nt cornish hen chicken anyway?I would of thought it is the same.Just wondering cause as you probably remember I also have one of my boys thats food allergic especially chicken and if its NOT the same then it would be worth a try for me as well.Thanks

 Quote: Domenic Spina

Just curious Connie,is'nt cornish hen chicken anyway?I would of thought it is the same.Just wondering cause as you probably remember I also have one of my boys thats food allergic especially chicken and if its NOT the same then it would be worth a try for me as well.Thanks

It is. We had a thread here not long ago about that very thing. But I believe it's produced by White Rock hens x Cornish hens but also sometimes with pheasant strain introduced.

That is, it seems that it's possible for it to present a different profile, so might as well treat it separately for something like this.

How did you find out out about the chicken allergy? I don't recall, sorry....

Sorry Connie,did.nt come back on last night.I found out a few years ago after a lot of testing and trying different things.He is definetly allergic to chicken,even in its raw form.He has a very bad reaction to it within a couple hours.Lots of biting,scratching etc.