What are food allergies?
Food allergies in cats
Symptoms
- Nonseasonal itching, especially on the front half of the body, head, face, ears, and neck
- Otitis externa – Itching and scratching can lead to inflammation and sometimes infection of the ears
- Excessive licking of the affected skin
- Papules (small, fluid-filled bumps) which eventually burst and crust over
- Hair loss (due to excessive scratching, grooming etc)
- Feline acne
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
Diagnosis
Treatment
- Avoid food that caused allergies, by switching to a homemade diet using novel ingredients (such as kangaroo) or the use of a commercial hypoallergenic one. If you are feeding a homemade diet it is important to ensure that your cat is receiving the correct nutrients in the diet.
- Corticosteroids to control itching. Unfortunately, not all cats will respond to this treatment.
- Antihistamines to control the itching.
- Antibiotics to treat skin infections caused by itching.