Unfortunately, although we know the mechanism of food allergy, we don't know why these allergies occur.
We don't understand why some cats are allergic to food while others are not.
Do food allergy and food intolerance mean the same thing?
First of all, let's distinguish between food allergy and food intolerance, which many people will confuse.
Food allergy is a real allergy, and it also shows symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea and itchy skin.
Food intolerance can lead to vomiting or diarrhea, but it does not produce a typical allergic reaction (itching).
Cat's food intolerance is just like people's diarrhea or stomach upset because they eat spicy or fried food.
Cats of all ages may develop food intolerance.
But you can rest assured that food intolerance and food allergy can be solved through diet management.
Causes of cat food allergy
Except meat,
Such as fish (most cats love tuna, but fish is becoming a more common food allergen for cats), beef and mutton are common protein allergens in cat food.
Other common allergens that may cause food allergy in cats include artificial colors, starch such as corn flour, dairy products (cats are lactose intolerant), and meat by-products (viscera, etc.). ) and preservatives.
Symptoms of cat food allergy
Both food allergy and environmental allergy can cause skin itching and other problems, so whether a cat is allergic to food needs to be judged in combination with other manifestations.
If cats have allergic symptoms all year round, rather than seasonal, then food allergies may need to be greater.
Because environmental allergies, such as pollen allergy, are usually seasonal, the symptoms mainly appear in spring and summer.
Skin itching caused by food allergies usually does not respond to steroid treatment.
This itching usually occurs on the face, ears, abdomen, groin, armpits and feet.
If itching is not controlled, cats often lick their hair excessively, leading to depilation and serious trauma (wound).
In addition to itching, the following symptoms may occur:
Skin problems, itching, frequent scratching, over-modification, dull and rough hair.
Gastrointestinal problems, including vomiting and diarrhea
Ear problems, infections, hair loss, etc.
Respiratory problems (rare), tears, runny nose, sneezing, coughing or wheezing.
How to diagnose food allergy?
The vet will do a complete physical examination, including skin examination.
First of all, skin diseases caused by non-food should be ruled out, and other reasons should be ruled out through blood routine, blood biochemistry and endocrine examination.
About the health status of cats, the time when symptoms appear, and the possible events before that,
Especially about any change in diet and feeding any new food, even if it is only once or twice.
Doctors need to know these things before they can narrow down their suspicions to food allergies.
The most reliable test to diagnose food allergy is food exclusion test, not food allergen detection.
Food exclusion test can have many forms of food selection, including:
Hydrolyzed protein diet (protein is broken down into smaller parts that the cat's immune system can't recognize)
Protein diet (food ingredients that cats haven't eaten), such as ostrich meat, kangaroo meat, gluten-free cat food, etc., is emerging in the market.
Homemade food (food ingredients that cats have never eaten)
It is usually recommended to make food for animals at home, because all ingredients can be controlled.
Food types must choose a single ingredient that has not been eaten, because the food that has not been eaten will not cause allergies within 3-4 months and belongs to hypoallergenic food.
The specific process of food experiment is as follows:
First, make your own food.
Find a kind of meat (protein) and an unhealed carbohydrate, and add a little oil.
In this way, a basic food with more comprehensive nutrition can be prepared. If you have eaten everything, you can only find food that you rarely eat before and haven't eaten in the last three months.
1, look at the recipe table of the food and snacks you have eaten before, and then carefully recall what the animals have not eaten.
2. In experiment, protein can choose rabbit meat, donkey meat and horse meat. And carbohydrates can choose millet, barley and so on. , generally will not be added to pet food.
3, every meal can be poured with a spoonful of vegetable oil, such as olive oil (the principle is that you have never eaten vegetable oil).
4. Observe the appetite and stool of animals after eating. If you have any adverse reactions, please contact your doctor in time.
Note: In this process, all edible things need to be avoided except selected food and white water.
Including snacks, yogurt, pet milk, as well as flavor tablets (such as oral antibiotics) and other flavor products (such as flavor toothpaste).
Second, the duration.
About the duration: 4- 12 weeks.
Third, the excitation test
Eat the original food suddenly and observe whether the symptoms get worse within a week.
Fourth, the result judgment
If it only improves during the food test and recurs during the second test, it can be judged as food allergy.
The above process must be completed under the guidance of a pet doctor in order to make a correct diagnosis!
How to treat cat's food allergy?
Antihistamines, steroids, fatty acids, JAK enzyme blockers (Epoch? ) can help cats alleviate allergic reactions in a short period of time.
But the only way to treat cat food allergy is to avoid feeding allergic food.
Once you have finished the food testing and identified the allergen, you should make sure that this ingredient (including snacks, medicines, health care products, etc. ) is completely avoided from the cat's diet.
The shovel officer has two choices, feeding the cat hypoallergenic food or homemade diet.
If you use a homemade diet, you must ensure that you can provide your cat with normal nutritional needs, including protein, vitamins and minerals.
Self-made meals for long-term use should be developed by veterinary nutritionists.
What is the prognosis of cat food allergy?
Clinical symptoms related to food allergy are usually resolved within 12 weeks after allergen elimination.
Some cats with food allergies may be allergic to new foods if they are fed for a long time.
If you see a cat showing signs of food allergy, please consult a veterinarian.
At present, there is no way to prevent food allergy. It is impossible to determine whether the cat is allergic to food by inspection.
Finally, if you have a cat with food allergy, it means that you need to put more energy into managing the cat's diet.
We need to carefully observe the daily situation of cats to prevent the recurrence of allergies. If the cat is found to have signs of food allergy, the best way is to contact the veterinarian as soon as possible.