Do you have any suggestions for treating an allergy to food?
The causes of an allergic type of response may be many and varied - including pollen, fabrics, insects and plant material. While it is possible for an occasional cat to have an allergic reaction to food, it is generally accepted that food allergies are third, behind inhalant allergies and flea bite allergies. Allergies do not usually relate to one brand or one specific product. Ordinarily, a variety of commercial foods would cause a similar response because the ingredients are often quite similar. Food allergy, when it occurs, does not imply a product problem, but is the result of an individual medical problem.
It is always important to identify the allergen in order to guard against further exposure. When a food allergy is suspected, the standard method of diagnosing involves feeding an elimination diet to see if the symptoms clear. If they do, the veterinarian may reintroduce the original diet to see if the symptoms return. If the symptoms do return, as a third step the veterinarian may feed select ingredients to try to identify the offending ingredients. Skin tests and blood tests have not been found to be very reliable in diagnosing food allergies in dogs and cats.
Since the ingredients in Nestle Purina products are very similar to those in other cat foods, we would suggest that you continue to work with your veterinarian in determining the specific ingredients your cat needs to avoid.
Original post by Cat Advice (Emotional): Purina® Cat Chow® Mentor Amy Shojai and software by Elliott Back
