DOI: https:// doi. org / 10.56496 / DJWV6470

Nicola Swales, BSc( Hons), RVN

ENVELOPE nicola. swales @ paragonreferrals. co. uk

Nicola graduated in 2015 with a degree in veterinary nursing and bioveterinary science. She has since worked as a dermatology nurse at Langford Vets( part of the University of Bristol) and is now the dermatology nurse at Paragon Veterinary Referrals in West Yorkshire. Nicola is the chair of the Veterinary Nursing Dermatology Group and provides CPD to veterinary nurses in all aspects of dermatology. Her professional interests include cat-friendly practice. Outside of work, Nicola enjoys crafting, foraging and cuddles with her rescue cat Miso.

ABSTRACT Diet trials are the current best practice for diagnosing cutaneous adverse food reactions in dogs and cats, yet they remain one of the most challenging diagnostic tools to perform successfully in first-opinion practice. Success depends not only on selecting an appropriate diet, but also on careful planning, excellent owner education, patient compliance and accurate interpretation of the results.

This article provides a practical guide to performing a robust elimination-provocation diet trial, from selecting the most appropriate diet and timing the trial correctly through to understanding the four key phases of elimination, medication reduction, provocation and allergen identification. Common pitfalls involving owners, veterinary teams and patients are discussed, alongside strategies to minimise factors that can invalidate the trial.

The article also explores the role of concurrent medications, the importance of monitoring for secondary infections and how to interpret different clinical outcomes.

By performing diet trials correctly and avoiding common mistakes, veterinary professionals can confidently diagnose or exclude food allergy, allowing affected patients to be managed successfully through dietary modification and reducing reliance on long-term medication.

Keywords allergic skin disease, food allergy, cutaneous adverse food reaction, food-induced atopic dermatitis, diet trial, eliminationprovocation trial

38 Veterinary Nursing Journal