Glossary

Novel protein

A protein source a dog has never eaten before, used in elimination diets because the immune system has not learned to react to it.

Also called: novel protein diet, exotic protein, venison dog food, kangaroo dog food, rabbit dog food, new protein

A novel protein is a meat or fish a dog has not been exposed to, such as venison, rabbit, kangaroo, duck or fish. Because allergies develop after repeated exposure, a new protein is less likely to cause a reaction in a dog already allergic to common ones such as beef or chicken. Novel proteins are often fed with a single starch in an elimination diet.

Novel is relative. For a dog fed venison treats for years, venison is not novel, and as fashionable proteins become more common, they are less so. Some foods labeled novel contain traces of other proteins.

Some vets prefer a hydrolyzed diet for testing, as it avoids this problem. Keep a record of everything your dog has eaten, and ask a veterinarian to choose a diet instead of switching on your own.

Last reviewed November 8, 2026

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Related terms

Food allergy An immune reaction to a protein in the diet that usually causes itchy skin and ear problems, and sometimes digestive upset. Limited-ingredient diet A food built around one protein and one carbohydrate source to reduce exposure, often used to look for a food allergy. Hydrolyzed protein diet A veterinary diet whose proteins are chopped into pieces too small for the immune system to recognize, used to diagnose and manage food allergy.