starting cat on an elimination diet due to suspected food allergy

[bicks]

I recently finished my cat on the 12 week meat elimination diet. I have a 12 year old rescue cat who I have only had for 6 months. The vet/shelter had her on Royal Canin Satiety biscuits for 9 months as she's a chunky girl so I continued with this as her coat was like velvet. I also started feeding her human grade kangaroo mince, chicken fillets, cooked lamb, raw beef which she absolutely loved but then she started losing hair on the back of her ears from scratching about 3 weeks after I got her so I figured it must be something I'm feeding her or it's environmental so my vet prescribed a topical anti inflammatory spray which eased her discomfort.

I put her on Royal Canin Hypoallergenic biscuits but she was so miserable and appeared to be sulking because she couldn't eat any raw meat,  I was also concerned that the biscuits had no Taurine which is essential to cats health and found in raw meat so I rang the vet and asked for a wet food equivalent and so she's been eating the Hills Prescription z/d tin food which has Taurine but it looks and smells revolting. She reluctantly ate it and the scratching eased but not completely after 12 weeks.  I started giving her roo mince again and I noticed the scratching increased so I then stopped and moved on to raw lamb fillets and the scratching eased a bit so I tried her on raw turkey fillets and having about the same result as the lamb. I'm not going to give her beef or chicken as they are apparently known allergens so not sure really what the problem is, her hair has mostly grown back on her ears though.

I've also checked the plants in my yard as some plants like ivy are toxic to cats and I have ivy growing all over my fence so it could be this. Here's a link with toxic plants that can cause itching. http://www.petmd.com/cat/emergency/poisoning-toxicity/e_ct_poisonous_plants

I hope your cat improves, it really is trial and error with cat allergies. 

 

[kittylove14]

the royal canin you originally had her on has tapioca which i believe is responsible for my cats food allergy.

 

[rawlins02]

@Bicks   As you said in your last sentence, diagnosing a food allergy in a cat, or any allergy for that matter, is quite challenging. It requires a very well thought out and methodical approach. No offense, but I think you might consider and doing a true elimination diet, perhaps consulting with an allergist. Though it contains lots of carbs, I believe Hill's dry z/d might be a good way to go.

I just finished feeding Lexi 9 days on Nature's Variety limited ingredient duck. I've seen no obvious adverse reaction. Today was the first day on the limited ingredient turkey. She is much more satisfied on the wet food, to which I'm adding a tablespoon or so of water. Lexi loves her duck soup!

 

[loveteachart]

Just found this, and I'm so glad to have found someone who is a little further along in the same process I'm currently going through with my just over 2 year old rescue, Lizzie. Currently we're going on week 7 of a hydrolyzed protein diet, and Lizzie has to stay on prednisolone in order to quell the vomiting. She gets Hill's z/d wet(which I agree with you, has a strong smell and a strange texture, but I just water it down a lot), and I supplement with the dry in case she's still hungry. Given that the steroid has been needed to prevent her from vomiting, the food is obviously not helping, and in following suggestions from other members on this site I'm considering consulting with my vet on switching to a raw or limited ingredient diet to try to figure out what the allergy is.

Fortunately Lizzie's scratching isn't as severe; she scratches but not to the point where she gets raw spots, and she does shake her head relatively often, but the vomiting for us was the issue. I'm curious as to how your Lexi is doing on the Nature's Variety limited ingredient.

 

[rawlins02]

 
Just found this, and I'm so glad to have found someone who is a little further along in the same process I'm currently going through with my just over 2 year old rescue, Lizzie. Currently we're going on week 7 of a hydrolyzed protein diet, and Lizzie has to stay on prednisolone in order to quell the vomiting. She gets Hill's z/d wet(which I agree with you, has a strong smell and a strange texture, but I just water it down a lot), and I supplement with the dry in case she's still hungry. Given that the steroid has been needed to prevent her from vomiting, the food is obviously not helping, and in following suggestions from other members on this site I'm considering consulting with my vet on switching to a raw or limited ingredient diet to try to figure out what the allergy is.

Fortunately Lizzie's scratching isn't as severe; she scratches but not to the point where she gets raw spots, and she does shake her head relatively often, but the vomiting for us was the issue. I'm curious as to how your Lexi is doing on the Nature's Variety limited ingredient.

Lexi is doing fine. Thanks for asking. She still scratches a bit but I now feel this is fairly normal or unrelated to food. Just finished 10 days on the duck and 10 day on turkey. She loves them. I suppose we'll try chicken next. Then beef.

Sorry to hear about your Lizzie's problems. It's nice that you care so much about her well being.

The allergist told us that 8-9 weeks is usually sufficient to clear a reaction from a food allergy. My understanding is you can at that time assume no reactions from a protein allergy. If the vomiting continues on either of the Hill's wet or dry or Nature's Variety limited ingredient, I'd wonder if it's due to something other than food. There are some great folks on this site and along with guidance from your vet I hope you can get to the bottom of this. Best wishes.

 

[bicks]

I asked the vet about getting Bickie's allergies tested and she didn't recommend the test as she says it's not reliable or conclusive so I went with the vets suggestion of the Royal Canin hypoallergenic dry food and the Hills wet z/d for 3 months. Now that she's finished the elimination diet I have her alternating between raw turkey and raw lamb fillets which she enjoys and the ear scratching is not as bad anymore

.

I also have her on good quality grain free dry food. Her fur has now entirely grown back on and behind her ears. I'm going to steer clear of beef and chicken as these are apparently known allergens. It's good to see your Lexi has also improved, lets hope our girls stay that way!

 

[rawlins02]

I want to update this thread. Lexi has eaten a series of proteins in isolation following the prescription allergy diet. She's had Nature's Variety Limited Ingredient duck, then rabbit, then lamb. Afterward, Merrick turkey pate and then chicken pate. She was on each for between 10-14 days. If I had to do it again I would have gone a full 14 days on each. That said, I've seen no significant increase in scratching. She still scratches at her head several times each day (sticking a hind foot in her ear at times), but has created no open wounds like last summer. The vet even observed that her belly was furrier than in the past.

We still need to challenge with beef starting any day. I told the regular vet that 'm not sure how to go about testing for an allergy for any seafood. I'd previously fed some, which Lexi never seemed very fond of, except for some canned tuna of course. Maybe I'll just try to avoid feeding her fish from now on.

I've given her a bit of egg and bacon here and there over the past few weeks. I wanted to also eliminate those, and it probably would be wise not to do that while testing with beef. If she started scratching a lot again I wouldn't know which of the three proteins might be causing the itch.

So, all in all, it's looking very likely that the scratching during a month or so in June 2015, and for most of the summer in 2016, was not due to a food allergy. I haven't spoken with the allergy specialist in several weeks. I believe the plan is to wait and see if scratching resumes as summer approaches, and if it does, perform a blood test for possible environmental allergy triggers. I will continue to update this thread.

ps - Despite the wood stove running nice and hot lately, this cat has taken up lap napping at every possible moment. Playful, affectionate, and so sweet.

 

[LTS3]

From what I understand, one needs to stick with a limited ingredient diet for at least a few weeks to see if the cat's condition improves. 10 -14 days is not enough time. I suggest trying the NV LID canned foods again and stick with one protein for at least a few weeks before switching to another protein. There are other LID foods and novel protein foods you can try. Home cooked and raw are also options but not everyone has the time or wants to do these.

Proteins aren't the only thing that causes a food allergy or sensitivity. Eggs, grains, peas and many other things can also cause itchy skin and such.

 

[lisahe]

 
From what I understand, one needs to stick with a limited ingredient diet for at least a few weeks to see if the cat's condition improves. 10 -14 days is not enough time. I suggest trying the NV LID canned foods again and stick with one protein for at least a few weeks before switching to another protein. There are other LID foods and novel protein foods you can try. Home cooked and raw are also options but not everyone has the time or wants to do these.

Proteins aren't the only thing that causes a food allergy or sensitivity. Eggs, grains, peas and many other things can also cause itchy skin and such.

I couldn't agree more, particularly that many, many ingredients that can cause food issues. The simpler the recipe, the better, which means it's too bad so many foods have peas, "egg product," gums, and carrageenan.

That said, new fur growth and no open wounds is an improvement, right? (Always trying to be optimistic here!)

 

[rawlins02]

 
From what I understand, one needs to stick with a limited ingredient diet for at least a few weeks to see if the cat's condition improves. 10 -14 days is not enough time. I suggest trying the NV LID canned foods again and stick with one protein for at least a few weeks before switching to another protein. There are other LID foods and novel protein foods you can try. Home cooked and raw are also options but not everyone has the time or wants to do these.

Proteins aren't the only thing that causes a food allergy or sensitivity. Eggs, grains, peas and many other things can also cause itchy skin and such.

She was on a prescription elimination diet for 10 weeks in the fall before I began the food challenges I described in post #47. Read the entire thread.

Yes. Many things can create trouble. That said, the allergy expert I'm working with says grains cause allergic reactions much less frequently than do proteins and environmental allergens.

 

[kittensx4]

She was on a prescription elimination diet for 10 weeks in the fall before I began the food challenges I described in post #47. Read the entire thread.

Yes. Many things can create trouble. That said, the allergy expert I'm working with says grains cause allergic reactions much less frequently than do proteins and environmental allergens.

Wow I know you haven't posted in 3 months but would love to know what's up as I am battling allergies with one of mine right noiw.

 

[huxleysmom]

I have been dealing with allergies with Huxley since I adopted him back in December. It is so frustrating isn't it?! It's like trying to figure out a puzzle only you don't have all of the pieces in front of you, and poor kitty can't tell you what makes him sick.
My vet told me the allergy tests were not that reliable, but I did it anyway, and even if it was wrong about Huxley not being allergic to rabbit: cue to instant vomiting, it did give me a list, albeit very short, of a protein I could start with: pork. Unfortunately, proteins are not the only possible allergens and I had worked out from very early on that soy was an issue for him. What I didn't know however is that peas are in the same family of legume, which means cross reaction was an issue. The test confirmed it, and Huxley is allergic to all legumes, including peanuts and peas. This makes finding food really hard as it may have the right protein, but peas or no peas, the right protein, but a sneaky poultry liver hiding in there. I have tried MANY different wet foods and struggled to find dry food that had nothing but pork (or hydrolized chicken) as protein and no peas. Huxley has been on pred for a few months now so everytime I tried new food I had to try and wean him off to see what happened. This time I think I have figured it out and found the right food for him. He is still on pred, but for the first time since I have gotten him (even with preds) his ears are clean! No yucky black discharge! His chin acne which was growing daily has gone away and he has more energy than I have ever seem him with. The best thing is, the health feedback from huxley was very fast. He drastically withing 2-3 days on his new diet. Obviously I now have to wean him off completely of pred and will do THE happy dance of the century if he has no more allergy symptoms when I do!
All I can say is hang in there. You'll figure it out. Just be thorough and methodical with your food trials.

Wow I know you haven't posted in 3 months but would love to know what's up as I am battling allergies with one of mine right noiw.

 

[rawlins02]

Wow I know you haven't posted in 3 months but would love to know what's up as I am battling allergies with one of mine right noiw.

kittensx4 Happy to say that while Lexi still scratches often, and shakes her head as well, she has not scratched herself raw like in May of 2015 and all summer last year. No open sores. Her skin above left eye is just slightly red as if she's worked it over some, but it's very, very minor. I'm now crossing my fingers that her skin condition remains good.

BTW: my allergy expert says food allergies are not as common as allergies to something in the environment. Also that blood tests for allergies are preferred over a skin test.

 

[kittensx4]

I have been dealing with allergies with Huxley since I adopted him back in December. It is so frustrating isn't it?! It's like trying to figure out a puzzle only you don't have all of the pieces in front of you, and poor kitty can't tell you what makes him sick.
My vet told me the allergy tests were not that reliable, but I did it anyway, and even if it was wrong about Huxley not being allergic to rabbit: cue to instant vomiting, it did give me a list, albeit very short, of a protein I could start with: pork. Unfortunately, proteins are not the only possible allergens and I had worked out from very early on that soy was an issue for him. What I didn't know however is that peas are in the same family of legume, which means cross reaction was an issue. The test confirmed it, and Huxley is allergic to all legumes, including peanuts and peas. This makes finding food really hard as it may have the right protein, but peas or no peas, the right protein, but a sneaky poultry liver hiding in there. I have tried MANY different wet foods and struggled to find dry food that had nothing but pork (or hydrolized chicken) as protein and no peas. Huxley has been on pred for a few months now so everytime I tried new food I had to try and wean him off to see what happened. This time I think I have figured it out and found the right food for him. He is still on pred, but for the first time since I have gotten him (even with preds) his ears are clean! No yucky black discharge! His chin acne which was growing daily has gone away and he has more energy than I have ever seem him with. The best thing is, the health feedback from huxley was very fast. He drastically withing 2-3 days on his new diet. Obviously I now have to wean him off completely of pred and will do THE happy dance of the century if he has no more allergy symptoms when I do!
All I can say is hang in there. You'll figure it out. Just be thorough and methodical with your food trials.

Oh boy frustration doesn't begin to explain it.

 

[kittensx4]

kittensx4 Happy to say that while Lexi still scratches often, and shakes her head as well, she has not scratched herself raw like in May of 2015 and all summer last year. No open sores. Her skin above left eye is just slightly red as if she's worked it over some, but it's very, very minor. I'm now crossing my fingers that her skin condition remains good.

BTW: my allergy expert says food allergies are not as common as allergies to something in the environment. Also that blood tests for allergies are preferred over a skin test.

Thanks for your reply. I am thrilled to hear things are going better. I am just in the beginning stages of this horrible ordeal. Unsure at this point if it's seasonal or food. When it first started about 6 weeks ago my poor baby had his head just tore open from Scratching . What to the vet right away-and for a quick emergency type fix we did a Steroids shot . This of course is not a long term solution and I would not continue to give steroids As the long term effects Are awful . We just wanted to get him through a miserable time hoping it was a seasonal thing and by the time the Steroids wore off he Would-be through it . Lo and behold one month later the allergy symptoms returned . Still hopeful it could-be seasonal he is now on chlorpheniramine 3 mg twice A-day . It has been 5 days on that and while things are better they're not great . Starting to think at this point it is a food allergy . That worries me a lot because putting him on a new diet is rough when you have 5 cat who all want to eat the same thing . Will be speaking with the vet later this week to determine how much longer to stay on the allergy pills . Of course there is not a feline dermatologist for over 2 hours away-and this cat does not Travel well . Still My vet is holding out hope that it is seasonal as she said there has been a real Up tick in pet allergies this year with such an odd Spring here In Ohio . It looks like a food elimination diet May be around the corner . Currently their protein is chicken and Turkey . We have discussed trying a hypo allergenic diet as introducing new proteins in the past did not go over well . I have tried beef lamb and venison in the past just to change things up for them and there was at-least one puking cat every time . When you have 5 that insist on eating together it is impossible to try to feed just one something different and I have to be careful because another 1 of my cats has idiopathic cystitis and a very sensitive stomach and can't tolerate many foods and they all must be grain free . I also leave down some dry for them during the day-and that Would-be another obstacle for my cat with a sensitive stomach . I try so hard to do everything right for these babies and it seems like something always crops up . So frustrating . Ugh!

 

[huxleysmom]

I am sorry to hear it's been a rough time for your poor baby. It's so hard to see them suffer.
Given when it started, it's possible it is seasonal.
If you can afford it, the testing is fairly accurate for environmental allergies. I was at a loss when it all started, and I just wanted to have some sort of a place to start since I didn't know if it was food, environment or worse, both!
I also only have one cat so I can't imagine having to deal with several cats at the same time and consider everyone's diets requirements! I have heard somewhere (please correct me if I am wrong) that red meats can be harder for cats with sensitive stomachs to digest. How about rabbit or pork? They are novel proteins but seem easier on the stomach. What does your vet mean by hypoallergenic diet?

Thanks for your reply. I am thrilled to hear things are going better. I am just in the beginning stages of this horrible ordeal. Unsure at this point if it's seasonal or food. When it first started about 6 weeks ago my poor baby had his head just tore open from Scratching . What to the vet right away-and for a quick emergency type fix we did a Steroids shot . This of course is not a long term solution and I would not continue to give steroids As the long term effects Are awful . We just wanted to get him through a miserable time hoping it was a seasonal thing and by the time the Steroids wore off he Would-be through it . Lo and behold one month later the allergy symptoms returned . Still hopeful it could-be seasonal he is now on chlorpheniramine 3 mg twice A-day . It has been 5 days on that and while things are better they're not great . Starting to think at this point it is a food allergy . That worries me a lot because putting him on a new diet is rough when you have 5 cat who all want to eat the same thing . Will be speaking with the vet later this week to determine how much longer to stay on the allergy pills . Of course there is not a feline dermatologist for over 2 hours away-and this cat does not Travel well . Still My vet is holding out hope that it is seasonal as she said there has been a real Up tick in pet allergies this year with such an odd Spring here In Ohio . It looks like a food elimination diet May be around the corner . Currently their protein is chicken and Turkey . We have discussed trying a hypo allergenic diet as introducing new proteins in the past did not go over well . I have tried beef lamb and venison in the past just to change things up for them and there was at-least one puking cat every time . When you have 5 that insist on eating together it is impossible to try to feed just one something different and I have to be careful because another 1 of my cats has idiopathic cystitis and a very sensitive stomach and can't tolerate many foods and they all must be grain free . I also leave down some dry for them during the day-and that Would-be another obstacle for my cat with a sensitive stomach . I try so hard to do everything right for these babies and it seems like something always crops up . So frustrating . Ugh!

 

[kittensx4]

I am sorry to hear it's been a rough time for your poor baby. It's so hard to see them suffer.
Given when it started, it's possible it is seasonal.
If you can afford it, the testing is fairly accurate for environmental allergies. I was at a loss when it all started, and I just wanted to have some sort of a place to start since I didn't know if it was food, environment or worse, both!
I also only have one cat so I can't imagine having to deal with several cats at the same time and consider everyone's diets requirements! I have heard somewhere (please correct me if I am wrong) that red meats can be harder for cats with sensitive stomachs to digest. How about rabbit or pork? They are novel proteins but seem easier on the stomach. What does your vet mean by hypoallergenic diet?

Thanks. I feel so sorry for him. He is looking pretty good today. I too have read that about red meats, unfortunately it was after I tried beef. Oh boy what a puke fest! The hypoallergenic diet is canned that is soy based as opposed to meat. So obviously not a long term food, but just to get the allergies in check before introducing meat protein. She consulted with a dermatologist at ohio State on it. Hoping a round or two on these allergy pills does the trick if it is seasonal. Fingers crossed. This is the first time he has experienced allergies. He is 5 now and I have had him since birth. I am trying to be optimistic about seasonal allergies since he does have sensitive skin. Dandruff and a few bouts with chin acne. I tried omega 3 fish oil supplement but he's not a fan. I did talk to the vet about allergy testing. Her plan of attack was to get through the seasonal allergy time of year then try testing if needed. Gosh this is all so overwhelming!

 

[huxleysmom]

Overwhelming is the word, but it sounds like you have a thorough vet, and a plan to start with. The only thing I would say is to be careful about soy. When I adopted Huxley, he was on Hill's Science prescription because they had established he had food allergies (due to his constent ear infections). He had only been on it for a little while, and they thought they had found something that worked for him, however, once I had him for a few weeks m, and the anyibiotics in his ears wore off, it became clear that they hadn't. Now I know he is allergic to soy, and that was one of the main ingredients of the wet food. So I would check the food you have been feeding them to see if it has any soy in it, as it could very well be one of the culprits.
But at the end of the day, you'll have to start somewhere. The inportant is to not give up. You'll figure it out, and one day your poor baby will feel so much better and it'll make all of this bad experience worth it!


Here is my baby now, fast asleep as I am typing. Not a single wheezing noise!

Thanks. I feel so sorry for him. He is looking pretty good today. I too have read that about red meats, unfortunately it was after I tried beef. Oh boy what a puke fest! The hypoallergenic diet is canned that is soy based as opposed to meat. So obviously not a long term food, but just to get the allergies in check before introducing meat protein. She consulted with a dermatologist at ohio State on it. Hoping a round or two on these allergy pills does the trick if it is seasonal. Fingers crossed. This is the first time he has experienced allergies. He is 5 now and I have had him since birth. I am trying to be optimistic about seasonal allergies since he does have sensitive skin. Dandruff and a few bouts with chin acne. I tried omega 3 fish oil supplement but he's not a fan. I did talk to the vet about allergy testing. Her plan of attack was to get through the seasonal allergy time of year then try testing if needed. Gosh this is all so overwhelming!

 

[kittensx4]

Overwhelming is the word, but it sounds like you have a thorough vet, and a plan to start with. The only thing I would say is to be careful about soy. When I adopted Huxley, he was on Hill's Science prescription because they had established he had food allergies (due to his constent ear infections). He had only been on it for a little while, and they thought they had found something that worked for him, however, once I had him for a few weeks m, and the anyibiotics in his ears wore off, it became clear that they hadn't. Now I know he is allergic to soy, and that was one of the main ingredients of the wet food. So I would check the food you have been feeding them to see if it has any soy in it, as it could very well be one of the culprits.
But at the end of the day, you'll have to start somewhere. The inportant is to not give up. You'll figure it out, and one day your poor baby will feel so much better and it'll make all of this bad experience worth it!

View attachment 185165
Here is my baby now, fast asleep as I am typing. Not a single wheezing noise!

Interesting about the soy. I will need to check into that. And what a precious baby! Here's my brat!