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Food Allergy Food hypersensitivity, or food allergy, is an adverse reaction to a component of the diet; protein is the most consistent offender. Feline food allergy most commonly presents as hair loss and severe non-seasonal skin irritation of the face and neck; classic miliary lesions may be present. Some cats will self-mutilate, leading to ulcerative lesions. Occasionally, generalized skin irritation may be found. Elimination diet testing remains the only reliable method for confirming food allergy in the cat. Some improvement is noted in most cats after 6 weeks of a food trial. Skin scraping and fungal culture should be performed to eliminate parasites and ringworm as the cause of irritation. Intradermal skin testing and blood testing are generally considered unreliable for diagnosis of food allergy. With these tests, a cat may have a positive reaction to foods it has never eaten. Many lamb-based commercial diets contain potentially allergenic substances, including other sources of protein. Lamb is not inherently hypoallergenic. Most cats with food allergy are poorly responsive or non-responsive to corticosteroids. Lack of response should raise one's index of suspicion. Atopy and flea allergy frequently coexist with food allergy Avoidance of the offending foodstuff is the most appropriate treatment. The prognosis is good as long as the offending allergen can be identified and avoided. |
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