Food allergies
Food Hypersensitivity (Allergy)
The hypersensitivity to a diet happens when a cat develops an allergic reaction to one or more specific ingredients of his food. This condition may start at any age, even in cats less than 1 year old.
In general, the allergic reaction most commonly seen in cats is an allergic skin reaction. Usually this means the cat is constantly biting and scratching himself, causing skin damage and hair loss. This could lead to bacterial infections on damaged areas.
Other signs include vomiting and chronic diarrhoea. The feces may be extremely odorous, soft, frequent and with mucus. Affected animals may be excessively thin despite good appetite.
The most common allergen that cause this condition are 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 kind of hypersensitivity is the use of elimination diets. This food contains sources of protein and carbohydrates to which the cat has not been previously exposed, and therefore they couldn’t generate a sensitivity response. This kind of diet must be fed exclusively, with no additional table scraps or treats during the first stage to obtain a proper diagnose.
Since the diagnosis and treatment of this syndrome is to identify the correct allergen and remove it from the diet, owners and vets play a very important role on helping the cat to improve his health condition, and they can make a big difference between having a cat with chronic itchiness and discomfort or one healthy and free of skin lesions.
Thinking about the health and well-being of your cat, 1st Choice developed a Hypoallergenic formula made with fresh duck meat, a new superior quality source of protein to help reduce the possible allergens and potato meal and rice, two highly-digestible and low-allergenic sources of carbohydrates. This formula will help your pet solve his scratching and digestion problems.
