There is no valid skin or blood test for food allergy in our pets—the blood tests that some labs offer have not been proven to be even close to accurate! The only way to find out if your pet has food allergies is to feed them a diet that contains no other proteins that they have been exposed to. That means no corn, wheat, egg, beef, chicken, soy, dairy, or lamb (if they have eaten that). Unfortunately a new study shows that some over-the-counter “venison-only” diets contained soy, chicken, and beef and these are not listed on the label! The safest way to be sure you’re feeding an elimination diet is to either do a home-cooked diet under your veterinarian’s supervision or feed a prescription hypoallergenic diet recommended by your veterinarian. Examples include Hill’s D/D, Eukanuba F/P or K/O, Purina HA or Royal Canin prescription diets. While on the diet the pet should get no other foods, treats, bones, rawhides, beef-flavored heartworm preventative, or supplements. Dogs need to be on the diet 8-l0 wks and cats 4-6 weeks. One mistake i.e. treats, will set the pet back 2 weeks! If you have any questions about hypoallergenic/elimination diets, ask your veterinarian!