Food allergies
Food hypersensitivity (allergy)
Diet hypersensitivity occurs when a cat develops an allergic reaction to one or more specific ingredients in its food. This condition can start at any age, even in cats less than 1 year old.
In general, the most frequent allergic reaction in cats is an allergic skin reaction. This usually means that the cat is constantly biting and scratching, causing skin damage and hair loss. This could lead to bacterial infections in damaged areas.
Other signs include vomiting and chronic diarrhea. Stool can be extremely odorous, soft, frequent, and mucus. Affected animals can be excessively thin despite a good appetite.
The most common allergen that causes this condition is large proteins, associated with one or more protein sources in a commercial pet food. Beef, pork, cereal grains, chicken are common allergens.
The best way to deal with this type of hypersensitivity is to use elimination diets. This food contains sources of protein and carbohydrates to which the cat has not been previously exposed and therefore could not generate a sensitivity response. This type of diet should be fed exclusively, with no table scraps or additional treats during the first stage to get a proper diagnosis.
Since the diagnosis and treatment of this syndrome is to identify the correct allergen and eliminate it from the diet, owners and veterinarians play a very important role in helping the cat improve its state of health, and they can make a big difference between having a cat with itchiness and chronic discomfort or a healthy and skin-lesion-free cat.
Thinking about your cat's health and well-being, 1st Choice developed a hypoallergenic formula made from fresh duck meat, a new premium source of protein to help reduce potential allergens and potato and rice flour, two highly digestible and low in calories. Allergenic sources of carbohydrates. This formula will help your pet solve scratching and digestion problems.
