Allergy in cats to food: symptoms and treatment

Cat food allergies can be a perplexing problem for their owners. Cats are susceptible to developing dietary sensitivities, just like humans are. It is critical to identify the symptoms as soon as possible because this can result in a variety of uncomfortable symptoms.

Itching, digestive issues, and skin irritations are typical symptoms. You can determine whether your cat is having an allergic reaction to food by keeping an eye out for these symptoms. It’s essential for your cat’s health and wellbeing to be aware of their specific dietary requirements.

Usually, the course of treatment entails making dietary adjustments and may involve speaking with a veterinarian. Your feline friend can live a happier, healthier life if you can help them feel better by identifying the specific allergens and providing a suitable diet.

Symptoms	Treatment
Itchy skin	Change to a hypoallergenic diet
Red, inflamed skin	Consult a vet for medications
Vomiting	Introduce new food gradually
Diarrhea	Use probiotics for gut health
Loss of fur	Regular grooming and vet check-ups

Cats with food allergies may experience a variety of uncomfortable symptoms, including skin irritations, gastrointestinal problems, and itching. Effective treatment, which frequently entails switching to a hypoallergenic diet and tracking your cat’s response, depends on identifying the precise allergen. Comprehending these allergies enables pet owners to better care for and enhance the quality of life for their furry companions.

Key features of food allergies

• there is no connection between the tendency to an allergic reaction and the breed, although most often alimentary allergy is observed in hairless cats – sphinxes, bambino, etc.;
• the disease develops with equal frequency in both males and females;
• it is diagnosed equally often in castrated/sterilized individuals and in those that can reproduce;
• reaction to food can manifest itself from 5 months – the largest number of identified cases occurs at the age of 2-6 years;
• does not depend on the season;
• sometimes it can develop to a product that has long been part of the pet"s diet, after a fairly long time;
• cats with identified allergies to food usually have both contact and inhalation forms.

New products are rarely the source of an unexpected allergy in pets.

It is not reasonable to assume that the immune system only reacts to recently introduced products because it takes some time for a reaction to form. Veterinary professionals, on the other hand, think that there is very little chance that the reaction was brought on by novel proteins.

Water-soluble glycoproteins with a molecular weight of 10,000–60,000 daltons are known as food allergens. They can be found in just about any protein source, including milk, soybeans, fish, poultry, and turkey.

Moreover, long-tested goods like milk or chicken meat might cause an allergic reaction.

The corn found in premade feeds frequently results in skin irritations. Food reactions are rare when flavorings and preservatives are used. There are no all-purpose proteins that are non-allergic. Allergy is a highly individualistic illness; in one animal, it may show up as a reaction to chicken, while in another, it may show up as a reaction to dairy products, rice, carrots, or pumpkin.

Contrary to what is commonly believed, flavorings’ "chemistry" rarely plays a role in allergies.

• decreased immunity;
• violation of the diet,
• overfeeding the animal;
• feeding low-grade budget feeds;
• mixed diet.

By the way! Food allergies may initially show symptoms in the context of pre-existing hypo- and avitaminosis. On our website, you can learn about the effects of a cat’s body being deficient in vitamins.

Allergies can also develop as a result of recurrent helminthic invasions, fungal, viral, or parasitic infections. Products from the human table are one of the potential causes of its appearance.

Keep in mind that your feasts are not for the cat to partake in.

The chance that your pet may eventually develop an dietary allergy rises if you occasionally feed them fatty foods, sweets, buns, or smoked sausages.

Symptoms of food allergies

An owner of a tail-bearing pet must be able to discern between food allergies and symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders. Itching and scratching are common dermatological symptoms associated with food allergies. Gastrointestinal disorders do not result in dermatological issues, but they can cause nausea, diarrhea, and other reactions that are also seen in people. If you take irritants out of your pet’s diet, you can prevent these illnesses.

It’s critical to promptly differentiate food allergies from upset stomachs and other gastrointestinal issues.

Making the distinction between an allergy to food, atopy, or another kind of allergy is far more challenging. Cats’ skin conditions indicate any allergic reactions they may be experiencing. Itching is, of course, the primary symptom. The intense itching that characterizes the alimentary form is such that steroids are unable to control it.

Itching that is too uncomfortable may cause the cat to start causing damage to its skin.

It usually appears on the pet’s head and neck and is particularly common with alimentary allergies. It frequently comes with miliary dermatitis, hair loss, and scratching. Regular scratching can cause dermal damage, which increases the likelihood of a secondary infection joining.

Numerous bacteria will find it easy to prey on wounds hidden beneath the fur.

The animal’s skin may then start to develop papules and abscesses. The pet’s temperature may rise by one to two degrees in severe situations.

• sneezing, coughing, wheezing;
• snoring, which occurs as a result of swelling of the mucous membrane;
• watery eyes;
• susceptibility to frequent ear infections;
• swelling of the paws.

Frequent allergic reactions severely wear down the animal

In more severe situations, the animal exhibits no appetite, numerous scratches and nicks, chronic wounds that don’t heal, bleeding ulcers, and visible abscesses on the skin.

Identification of food allergies

Before identifying the agent causing the reaction, it is necessary to diagnose and treat other diseases that exhibit similar symptoms. Worms, flea allergies, atopy, fungi, seborrhea, cat scabies, and numerous other conditions can all cause itching.

An everyday household item that the pet’s body had previously disregarded can also be an allergen.

If the type of allergy is not immediately apparent, it is first determined. It is imperative to rule out allergies to fleas, bedding materials, and floor cleaning detergents. Numerous allergens, such as grass and cigarette smoke, can have an impact on a pet.

• sensitivity to flea saliva (bite);
• atopic dermatitis;
• alimentary allergy.

The strategy of two or three anti-flea treatments excludes the first type of allergy. Then, monitoring the diet is the most trustworthy approach. Once a cat reaches the 12th week of life, it should be fed an entirely new diet that includes proteins and carbohydrates that the cat has never eaten before. Carrots and wild boar are two examples.

The switch to a new diet might not always make the cat happy.

You can purchase two types of foods in stores: first, regular foods, and second, special foods called "food with hydrolyzed protein," which are made of proteins and carbohydrates broken down into molecular components that don’t react. Some cat owners choose the ingredients for their pet’s diet on their own, paying close attention to detail.

A cat with an allergy must be fed differently from a healthy cat.

For three months, the diet should be adhered to without adding sweets, food additives, vitamins, or prescription drugs. The cat should only consume food and fresh water. The cat shouldn’t be allowed to go for walks outside or have access to plastic or leather goods, as the latter could be gnawed off.

The owner needs to be aware that the reaction may linger up to one month even if there is no allergen present.

Making sure the animal cannot access human food is essential; you must even deny it the opportunity to lick dishes and the floor. If there are two cats in the house—one healthy and the other sick—they must be fed differently; the sick cat should not be fed the same food as the other.

The cat must not be allowed in the owner’s kitchen at all.

Twenty-six percent of pets may already be seeing improvements three weeks after the diet change. Most cats don’t show any positive reaction until the end of the third month.

The owner should exercise patience when experimenting with the diet because the provocateur product is not always evident.

The pet is put back on regular food if there is a positive response, which is a provocative test to confirm the diagnosis. The reaction is 100% food if the symptoms reappear. The food is not the cause of the issue if, after two weeks on a regular diet, the itching does not return.

If the cat has dietary allergies, it won’t benefit from being tortured with medical testing.

Several veterinary dermatologists feel that the blood test is not a reliable way to determine if a patient has this specific type of the disease. Statistics show that the accuracy rate of intradermal tests in determining the provoking agent is not higher than 40%, indicating that they are also ineffective in this regard.

By the way! It is crucial for the owner to remember that determining the precise cause of the allergy is not always feasible. As a result, you shouldn’t count on prevention to produce results instantly or at 100%.

Treatment

• to the vegetable protein gluten;
• to animal protein;
• dairy products, yeast, eggs.

The widely held belief that cats adore milk is untrue; occasionally, their bodies are lactose intolerant.

By the way! Refusing any medication is advised when on a strict diet. The owner should speak with a veterinarian if the pet requires medication on a regular basis.

• cortisone and steroids in an exacerbation;
• antihistamines to prevent an attack;
• fatty acids in food additives relieve itching;
• sprays with aloe and oats are also suitable for relieving itching.

First, itching is removed in order to prevent deep wounds.

1. Hydroxyzine.
2. Tavegil.
3. Diphenhydramine.
4. Pipolzin.
5. Chlorpheniramine.
6. Diphenhydramine.
7. Clemastine.

You must realize that using steroids and antihistamines for treatment is merely symptomatic and won’t address the root of the issue.

By the way! Probiotics, immunomodulators, hepato- and gastroprotectors, and other medications that aid in the body’s self-cleansing process can also be prescribed by the veterinarian.

Levomekol typically relieves cat claw wounds and inflammations quickly.

Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory ointments are used to treat wounds and pustules on the skin. In the future, the owner can decide whether to feed their pet natural food or ready-made dietary food for those with allergies.

A cat’s therapeutic diet typically consists of rice.

You can occasionally add new items to your pet’s diet with natural food, but you should pay close attention to how it responds. Dermatological symptoms can be left untreated if they do not manifest a few weeks after the addition of a new component.

The health of the pet deteriorates when its diet is out of balance.

One drawback of natural nutrition for allergy-prone cats is that it can be challenging to keep up a balanced diet with the right amounts of vitamins, minerals, and other ingredients. In order to conduct the required tests, you should get in touch with a veterinarian right away if your pet exhibits concerning symptoms, such as weakness, drowsiness, or a decline in activity.

Video – Advice from a specialist on preventing food allergies

Cat food allergies can be difficult for owners and pets to deal with. The first step in treating the issue is identifying the symptoms, which may include skin irritations, digestive problems, or itching. A veterinarian should be consulted if you think your cat may have a food allergy in order to receive a precise diagnosis and a customized treatment plan.

An elimination diet is usually used to manage food allergies. This procedure aids in pinpointing the precise components generating the reactions. You can convert to a hypoallergenic diet or look for substitute ingredients that your cat can eat once the trigger food has been identified. To see results, it is imperative that you strictly adhere to the new diet.

Medication to reduce symptoms may be part of the treatment plan in addition to dietary adjustments. To help with itching and discomfort management, your veterinarian may suggest antihistamines or other treatments. Frequent exams will enable you to keep an eye on your cat’s health and modify the treatment plan as necessary.

Many cats with food allergies can lead comfortable lives if they receive the correct care. Maintaining awareness and taking initiative will guarantee the happiness and well-being of your pet. Keep in mind that there is a helpful community of professionals and pet owners available to assist you; you are not alone in this.

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