Have you ever tested for food allergies?

[Mandy S]

Sissy started licking her hair off going on 2 years ago. At first it was just a little patch here or there...but by February of this year she had just a strip of hair left down her back, had licked both sides and her stomach and part of her leg hair off. We had tried elimination diets and ended up going on Hills z/d. Up to that point she had always been perfectly healthy, but a few months in on that and her hair started growing back but she started having stomach issues, feeding issues...and then diabetes. We went of that food and tried to find limited ingredient foods of one protein at a time that she would eat...but that is a HUGE challenge. Now all the foods that she would eat, she won't touch because of different episodes of not eating, nausea, and just struggling to get her to eat anything at all. We're coming off several weeks of not eating well...after a complete boycott of her weruva foods we were rotating. We've thrown several things at her to get her to eat and a few nights ago in the hall when the light hit her a certain way, I realized the hair on her backend is very thin...she's overgrooming again. I am just now the last few days getting her to eat anything at all. It's a mix of different things, not allergy friendly, she's on something for nausea and an appetite stimulant that are helping but she's still VERY picky.

I know a few people on here have said they'd done the allergy blood tests and had some luck, but also others have been told that the testing isn't any good. My vet said she doesn't order it. But I know I read on here or the FB page about someone who used it and found out their cat had an allergy to pork and they were able to clear things up after that, I believe. I'm running out of food options with her and even if she will eat a food no way will she eat it for the time it needs to do a food trial. I posted a picture of her from this spring when her hair was starting to come back in...the one on her back, she was like that on both sides...and the one of just her back end in the hall where you can see what she's doing to herself now. I really feel bad for her and I don't want her to be bald again, but she will be if she follows what she was doing.
I really just do not know what to do for her and was hoping someone else had been there and figured it out.

Anyway, if you've done the allergy blood testing, I'd love to hear about it. I am trying to decide if it would be worth it to try. I know it is expensive.

 

[SashaV]

When a cat overgrooms itself, my first thought is always stress. Could it be stress?
Single protein is easier when feeding raw. Will she eat raw meat?

 

[Mandy S]

I don't think its stress. It went on for about a year and as soon as we gave up food trials and went on the Hills z/d for allergies her hair grew back within a few months.

I've never tried raw meat. I always thought they had too have all the nutrients and vitamins etc in food...read some not so great stories about raw diet so just never did it. I'm going to be honest and say I'm not sure I can handle raw meat. From a germaphobe and long time vegan it really grosses me out. I've cooked her chicken before and we've done freeze dried...but raw is another thing.

I'd do about anything for her though so wouldn't rule it out.

 

[Critter Mom]

Hi Sasha,

When a cat overgrooms itself, my first thought is always stress. Could it be stress?

I agree that stress can be a cause of overgrooming but I think that vets who don't even consider other possibilities do their patients a great disservice at minimum and significant harm at worst.

Our previous vet automatically put Saoirse's overgroomed tum down to stress for years. The actual problem was the diet they prescribed for her (Royal Canin Urinary s/o dry) which I am convinced led to her developing chronic pancreatitis and diabetes. This isn't based just on Saoirse's experience: the number of cats who arrive here having been on that diet is alarming.

When Saoirse switched to a species-appropriate diet the hair on her tummy started regrowing straight away and she never had the issue again.


Mogs
.

 

[jt and trouble (GA)]

I don't think its stress. It went on for about a year and as soon as we gave up food trials and went on the Hills z/d for allergies her hair grew back within a few months.

I've never tried raw meat. I always thought they had too have all the nutrients and vitamins etc in food...read some not so great stories about raw diet so just never did it. I'm going to be honest and say I'm not sure I can handle raw meat. From a germaphobe and long time vegan it really grosses me out. I've cooked her chicken before and we've done freeze dried...but raw is another thing.

I'd do about anything for her though so wouldn't rule it out.

There are raw diet systems in that all nutrients are contained in a packet you ADD to your raw food

 

[Critter Mom]

Hi Mandy,

I had allergy tests run for Saoirse but I was counselled by our own vet and a feline internal medicine specialist that the test results aren't definitive. They may, however, give some pointers as to potential allergens in the diet. I used Saoirse's results as a guide. She got an IGE result of 1 for duck, lamb and beef but that didn't add any real value other than to support my own empirical observations of her feeling more uncomfortable after eating those particular proteins.

I'm glad I had the tests done because I was desperate for any information that might help me to make eating easier for her.


Mogs
.

 

[jt and trouble (GA)]

(((((Saoirse & Mogs)))))

 

[SashaV]

Hi Sasha,


I agree that stress can be a cause of overgrooming but I think that vets who don't even consider other possibilities do their patients a great disservice at minimum and significant harm at worst.

Our previous vet automatically put Saoirse's overgroomed tum down to stress for years. The actual problem was the diet they prescribed for her (Royal Canin Urinary s/o dry) which I am convinced led to her developing chronic pancreatitis and diabetes. This isn't based just on Saoirse's experience: the number of cats who arrive here having been on that diet is alarming.

When Saoirse switched to a species-appropriate diet the hair on her tummy started regrowing straight away and she never had the issue again.


Mogs
.

Hi Mogs

You're so right. Stress is only the first thought, and if treatment doesn't help, then of course it should be investigated further!

I really hope you're wrong with the urinary food, cause Mauers brother got it for years.... I really don't wanna end up with two diabetics.

 

[tiffmaxee]

You can use commercial raw foods which are single protein. If food is part of the problem that might help some. It has to be a protein she has never eaten and it needs to be started cold turkey. You can’t mix her old food with it. This so far has worked for Mocha’s skin allergies. I don’t think I would do that with Sissy based upon her history though unless your vet thinks the thickening of the intestines is from IBD. Her recent history is complicated.

 

[Critter Mom]

I really hope you're wrong with the urinary food, cause Mauers brother got it for years.... I really don't wanna end up with two diabetics.

Hopefully not, but I've found it striking the number of caregivers here who reported that they were giving their cats that particular food. I wish I had found catinfo.org sooner because I would prefer to have followed Dr. Pierson's dietary recommendations - they make much more sense. Have a look at the page about urinary tract issues, Sasha, it's a very helpful read.

I had Saoirse on that diet because she had had to have surgery to remove oxalate uroliths from her bladder when she was ten. Ironically, the oxalate uroliths were caused by the 'urinary protection' additives in her previous diet.


Mogs
.

 

[Critter Mom]

Stress is only the first thought, and if treatment doesn't help,

They didn't offer any treatment or recommendations about how to counter the alleged stress! The response from the vets we were with at the time was essentially a shrug of the shoulders. I don't know who I'm angrier at: them for not investigating further or myself for not educating myself better. On balance, I lean towards the latter. I was her advocate and I failed her by trusting them completely. (((Saoirse)))


Mogs
.

 

[tiffmaxee]

Hi Mandy,

I had allergy tests run for Saoirse but I was counselled by our own vet and a feline internal medicine specialist that the test results aren't definitive. They may, however, give some pointers as to potential allergens in the diet. I used Saoirse's results as a guide. She got an IGE result of 1 for duck, lamb and beef but that didn't add any real value other than to support my own empirical observations of her feeling more uncomfortable after eating those particular proteins.

I'm glad I had the tests done because I was desperate for any information that might help me to make eating easier for her.


Mogs
.

Max was on Hills CD because he blocked once and the same thing as Saoirse, he ended up with pancreatitis. I’ve seen a few here on CD becoming diabetic recently.

 

[SashaV]

They didn't offer any treatment or recommendations about how to counter the alleged stress! The response from the vets we were with at the time was essentially a shrug of the shoulders. I don't know who I'm angrier at: them for not investigating further or myself for not educating myself better. On balance, I lean towards the latter. I was her advocate and I failed her by trusting them completely. (((Saoirse)))


Mogs
.

Huge hugs, Mogs!
I've been following catinfo.org for a while now, thank God. Both of mine is now eating raw and loving it! But yeah, it makes a lot more sense rather than dry food..

 

[Critter Mom]

Thank you, Sasha.


Mogs
.

 

[Mandy S]

You can use commercial raw foods which are single protein. If food is part of the problem that might help some. It has to be a protein she has never eaten and it needs to be started cold turkey. You can’t mix her old food with it. This so far has worked for Mocha’s skin allergies. I don’t think I would do that with Sissy based upon her history though unless your vet thinks the thickening of the intestines is from IBD. Her recent history is complicated.

Yes, it is complicated. That's why I'm struggling with what to do. I mean I guess she's eating fairly well right now at the moment....but only specific things. Take that away and you know what happens. My husband says at least she's eating, even if she ends up bald. UGH!

We'll probably opt for the blood test just to see what it says.

 

[Mandy S]

Hi Mandy,

I had allergy tests run for Saoirse but I was counselled by our own vet and a feline internal medicine specialist that the test results aren't definitive. They may, however, give some pointers as to potential allergens in the diet. I used Saoirse's results as a guide. She got an IGE result of 1 for duck, lamb and beef but that didn't add any real value other than to support my own empirical observations of her feeling more uncomfortable after eating those particular proteins.

I'm glad I had the tests done because I was desperate for any information that might help me to make eating easier for her.


Mogs
.

I think I will go ahead and do the test...I am desperate too.



Sissy wasn't on the CD, but she was on the Z/d and I swear that's what made her sick. It was within a few months of starting it, her hair was coming in great, but she was starting to not eat, and throw up, lose weight, then the pudding poop for 2 months...ugh, and started this whole vicious cycle.
Never in 13 years did she have any feeding issues whatsoever
until she was on that food.

 

[Critter Mom]

(((Sissy and Mandy)))




Mogs
.

 

[Wendy&Neko]

There are lots of single protein commercial raw products out there. And way more variety in proteins than in canned food. When I worked a the shelter, we had one animal (OK, a dog, but same idea) who only stopped scratching on raw ostrich. Believe me, everything else was tried. Of course the expensive meat worked.

If the ick factor is too much for you in handling raw, there are freeze dried raw products that you add water to. Have you tried venison or lamb yet? You can get those in canned too.

 

[Mandy S]

There are lots of single protein commercial raw products out there. And way more variety in proteins than in canned food. When I worked a the shelter, we had one animal (OK, a dog, but same idea) who only stopped scratching on raw ostrich. Believe me, everything else was tried. Of course the expensive meat worked.

If the ick factor is too much for you in handling raw, there are freeze dried raw products that you add water to. Have you tried venison or lamb yet? You can get those in canned too.

We haven't tried venison or lamb...that I remember. I know definitely not venison. I'd have to look back at notes from last year. The expense is what I'm afraid of...we're at one income right now, so everything is harder.

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Lamb is cheaper than venison.

 

[Mandy S]

Lamb is cheaper than venison.

That's good to know!

 

[tiffmaxee]

I’m using Primal frozen venison for Mocha. The freeze dried bag I bought to have in case I ran out is super hard and I can’t break them up. My pet food store has sales often so I stock up. The lamb is really high fat, even higher than duck. Primal does have freeze dried ostrich. Store here don’t sell it though.