Allergies & Itchy Skin: How Novel Protein Raw Diets Can Help

If your dog or cat is constantly scratching, battling rashes, or suffering from recurring ear infections, you’re not alone. Skin problems and gut upsets are among the most common reasons pet parents seek veterinary advice. One powerful, natural way to address these issues is by introducing a novel protein raw diet.

At Raw Essentials, we’ve seen countless pets thrive on this approach — and science backs it up. Let’s explore what novel proteins are, why they matter, and how they can help pets with food sensitivities get back to feeling their best.

What is a Novel Protein?

A novel protein is simply a protein source your pet hasn’t eaten before. For pets who have spent years on processed diets (often chicken, lamb, and beef-based), proteins like rabbit, venison, wallaby, goat, or duck may be “novel.”

Switching to something new helps in two ways:

1. It removes the potential allergens causing problems.

2. It allows the gut to heal while providing a biologically appropriate diet designed for carnivores.

This approach has been recognised in veterinary medicine as one of the most effective ways to diagnose and manage food allergies in pets (Olivry & Mueller, 2020, BMC Veterinary Research).

Why Allergies Show Up as Skin & Gut Problems

The gut is a powerful barrier — it’s meant to let fully digested nutrients in, while keeping out partially digested particles. But when the gut is inflamed or compromised (sometimes called “leaky gut” or intestinal dysbiosis), undigested proteins can slip through.

The body then mistakes these proteins for invaders and mounts an immune response. The result?

• Itchy skin

• Hot spots

• Ear infections

• Vomiting or diarrhoea

Research shows that food hypersensitivities in dogs and cats often manifest first as dermatological issues (Olivry et al., 2015, Veterinary Dermatology). Unfortunately, most processed pet foods — full of fillers like grains, starches, and additives — only make things worse.

How a Raw Novel Protein Diet Helps

At Raw Essentials, our approach is different. We design individualised Novel Protein Feeding Plans that usually last 4–6 weeks. These plans aim to:

• Heal the gut by removing common allergens and replacing them with species-appropriate proteins.

• Soothe inflammation naturally, without relying on starch-heavy processed diets.

• Support digestion with gut-friendly additions like green tripe, probiotics, or fish oil (temporarily, until the gut can maintain balance itself).

Proteins we commonly use in novel plans include:

• Rabbit

• Venison

• Wallaby

• Goat

• Duck

• Possum

• Turkey

• Fish

• Alpaca

Each plan is unique — but what they share is the removal of everything your pet has eaten before that may have triggered their symptoms. Even small “extras” like toast crusts or a commercial treat can undo progress, which is why we also provide a range of allergy-safe raw treats.

Science Meets Success Stories

Veterinary studies confirm that elimination diets using novel proteins are the gold standard for diagnosing and managing food allergies (Olivry et al., 2015). But beyond the research, we’ve seen thousands of pets turn their health around.

✨ Take Aria, a bull breed rescue who struggled with constant rashes and ear infections. After switching to a venison-based novel protein plan, her skin cleared within weeks, and she’s now thriving on a varied raw diet.

✨ Or Milo the cat, who suffered digestive upsets for years on kibble. A rabbit and duck novel protein plan gave his gut the reset it needed — his stools normalised, his coat shone, and his energy returned.

These stories aren’t just feel-good moments — they’re evidence of what happens when you match nature’s design with veterinary science.

Why We Don’t Recommend Processed Novel Protein Diets

While some commercial brands market “novel protein” kibbles or cans, they’re often still loaded with fillers, preservatives, and starches. Research shows that these ingredients contribute to gut dysbiosis and ongoing inflammation (Sandri et al., 2017, BMC Veterinary Research).

In contrast, our raw novel protein plans are:

• 100% natural

• Grain- and starch-free

• Made from NZ-grown, traceable proteins

• Designed by raw feeding experts with veterinary input

Because when it comes to healing, raw means raw.

The Bigger Picture: Healing for Life

The ultimate goal of a novel protein plan isn’t just short-term relief — it’s to “heal and seal” the gut so your pet can enjoy a wide, balanced raw diet long-term. Once the gut is restored, most pets can digest a variety of proteins without issue, giving them the diversity and nutrition they need to thrive.

Ready to Help Your Pet?

If your cat or dog struggles with itchy skin, hot spots, or ongoing tummy troubles, a novel protein raw feeding plan may be the solution. Our expert team can design a plan tailored to your pet — with empathy, evidence, and wildly good nutrition.

👉 Pop into your nearest Raw Essentials store or get in touch with our in-house nutrition advisors. Let’s help your pet heal, naturally.

📚 References

• Olivry, T., Mueller, R. S. (2020). Critically appraised topic on adverse food reactions of companion animals (5): prevalence of cutaneous adverse food reactions in dogs and cats. BMC Veterinary Research, 16(89).

• Olivry, T., et al. (2015). A systematic review of the evidence of reduced allergenicity and clinical benefit of hydrolyzed diets in dogs with cutaneous adverse food reactions. Veterinary Dermatology, 26(4).

• Sandri, M., et al. (2017). Raw meat based diet influences faecal microbiome and end products of fermentation in healthy dogs. BMC Veterinary Research, 13(65).