Food Allergy In Cats - The Feline Perspective!

By Abhishek Agarwal

Food allergies do attack Dogs and cats. To own a pet cat does have its rewards and you seem to have a companion when your alone at home. Are u aware that even if your companion is jus four or five months old, it could have food allergy? Majority of cats show symptoms between two to six years. The cats which are affected have concurrent inhalant or contract allergies.

Often, Pet owners get confused between food allergy and intolerance of food. The first one is a result of vomiting or diarrhea which doesn't invite any allergic response. The latter is the true allergy where itching and skin problems are the main symptoms. The only common thing among them is that both conditions are removable when a planned diet is carefully carried out. Be sure your cat doesn't swallow unnecessary things outside or the dirt at home. It might prove to be costly.

In cats, allergic reactions are caused by foods like beef, fish, and dairy products. The offenders are also considered common ingredients in their food. There are antigenic proteins than the rest of proteins. The proteins in food are generally similar and exposure is associated with the allergic responses.

Itchy skin is the main symptom when your cat suffers from food allergy. Excessive scratching; hair loss and military dermatitis are other symptoms too. You wont be able distinguish in case your cat has food allergy if u base your evaluation on physical signs.

Your cat may be suffering from allergy if during the beginning of winter the cat suffers from an allergic reaction. The alternate confirmation that your pet has an allergy is when your cat?s itchy skin doesn't respond to antihistamines or steroid treatment.

Before obtaining diagnosis for food allergy, your cats other problems must be treated and identified. It could suffer from parasite hypersensitivities, atopy, and allergies with flea bites, yeast infections, bacterial or seborrhea. If these problems are solved and your cat still shows symptoms, then probably u should be ready to carry the food trial.

The food trial should have carbohydrate and novel food which will last for 12 weeks. You can have the diet homemade or get it in the market. During the trial period do not give your cats any treats. Make sure it goes through a well balanced diet so that it won?t get sick.

If you observe any marked reduction or elimination of the symptoms, you should carry on with provocative testing, which means the original food must be given. This is important to confirm or prove the diagnosis. Incase the symptoms gets back after consuming the original food, it confirms your diagnosis.

You will have two choices after such confirmation. You can feed the cat a commercial or a homemade diet. The first option requires you to purchase food every time which adds to cost. The second option your cat could be challenged by providing other ingredients that don?t produce allergic reactions. You must be sure about the amount of ingredients.

Whatever you do and choose, you?re doing it only for the cat?s well-being.

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