Chronic diarrhea - food allergy?
- Thread starter drjsiems
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Jean and Megan
Active Member
Figuring out a food allergy is basically about trying things with as few ingredients as possible and seeing what helps.
What flavor of Wellness are you feeding right now? I ask because some of the flavors have grains, and grains are often an allergic trigger.
But the trigger can be some way-down-in-the-list ingredient. It isn't necessarily a main ingredient at all.
I'm definitely not sure about this, but how about - for a very short time only, like a couple of days max - feeding only boiled chicken (boiled in plain water, no salt, no nothing). This is NOT a complete diet and should not be fed alone for long. But if things improve, you know that chicken itself is not a trigger and you then will have some idea of what flavors of cat food you could try. Besides, I think plain chicken often helps diarrhea.
I suggest this only because even the "limited ingredient" foods you can find in the stores have vitamins and such, and one of those could be a trigger. The only way to know for sure, unless you just luck into a no-reaction food, is to avoid *all* those added ingredients for a short time. Repeat to avoid any misunderstanding: Feed plain chicken, or anything else plain, only for a very SHORT time. Then add in other things one at a time, as much as possible, and see what the reaction is.
If nutrition gurus on the board say this is a bad idea, then please believe them. I wouldn't want to hurt your kitty by making a bad suggestion.
ETA: I saw in another of your posts that you are feeding Wellness turkey and chicken. Those are grain-free, so forget what I said about grain. Actually, those two flavors of that brand have been the "magic" food for my allergy kitty (who has asthma and gets coughing attacks if he gets even a hint of a food he shouldn't have). Maybe you could try Merrick? Grammy's Pot Pie is very good, as is Cowboy Cookout (but that's beef, which very well could be a trigger). Natural Balance has some limited ingredient foods. They didn't work at all for my Darwin, but they might work fine for another.
What flavor of Wellness are you feeding right now? I ask because some of the flavors have grains, and grains are often an allergic trigger.
But the trigger can be some way-down-in-the-list ingredient. It isn't necessarily a main ingredient at all.
I'm definitely not sure about this, but how about - for a very short time only, like a couple of days max - feeding only boiled chicken (boiled in plain water, no salt, no nothing). This is NOT a complete diet and should not be fed alone for long. But if things improve, you know that chicken itself is not a trigger and you then will have some idea of what flavors of cat food you could try. Besides, I think plain chicken often helps diarrhea.
I suggest this only because even the "limited ingredient" foods you can find in the stores have vitamins and such, and one of those could be a trigger. The only way to know for sure, unless you just luck into a no-reaction food, is to avoid *all* those added ingredients for a short time. Repeat to avoid any misunderstanding: Feed plain chicken, or anything else plain, only for a very SHORT time. Then add in other things one at a time, as much as possible, and see what the reaction is.
If nutrition gurus on the board say this is a bad idea, then please believe them. I wouldn't want to hurt your kitty by making a bad suggestion.
ETA: I saw in another of your posts that you are feeding Wellness turkey and chicken. Those are grain-free, so forget what I said about grain. Actually, those two flavors of that brand have been the "magic" food for my allergy kitty (who has asthma and gets coughing attacks if he gets even a hint of a food he shouldn't have). Maybe you could try Merrick? Grammy's Pot Pie is very good, as is Cowboy Cookout (but that's beef, which very well could be a trigger). Natural Balance has some limited ingredient foods. They didn't work at all for my Darwin, but they might work fine for another.
Maggies Mom Debby
Very Active Member
When we were trying to find out if Emme was allergic to chicken, we used Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance L.I.D. (Limited Ingredient Diets). No grains, no chicken. We had to try the new food for a month to rule out the chicken as a cause of Emme's diarrhea. Emme wasn't diabetic, so check the carbs before you use them!
DUCK & GREEN PEA FORMULA
Duck, Duck Broth, Duck Liver, Pea Flour, Pea Protein, Salmon Oil, Dicalcium Phosphate, Guar Gum, Potassium Chloride, Taurine, Sodium Chloride, Flaxseed, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Dried Cranberries, Carrageenan, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Calcium Iodate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin, Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement.
VENISON & GREEN PEA FORMULA
Venison, Venison Broth, Venison Liver, Pea Flour, Venison Meal, Salmon Oil, Dicalcium Phosphate, Kelp, Flaxseed, Guar Gum, Potassium Chloride, Methionine, Taurine, Parsley, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Sodium Chloride, Dried Cranberries, Carrageenan, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Calcium Iodate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin, Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement.
DUCK & GREEN PEA FORMULA
Duck, Duck Broth, Duck Liver, Pea Flour, Pea Protein, Salmon Oil, Dicalcium Phosphate, Guar Gum, Potassium Chloride, Taurine, Sodium Chloride, Flaxseed, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Dried Cranberries, Carrageenan, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Calcium Iodate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin, Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement.
VENISON & GREEN PEA FORMULA
Venison, Venison Broth, Venison Liver, Pea Flour, Venison Meal, Salmon Oil, Dicalcium Phosphate, Kelp, Flaxseed, Guar Gum, Potassium Chloride, Methionine, Taurine, Parsley, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Sodium Chloride, Dried Cranberries, Carrageenan, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Calcium Iodate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin, Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement.
Donna & Shiloh (GA)
Active Member
Figuring out food allergies is tough. The blood test isn't reliable. Common allergens: grains, beef, fish. Have you worked with your vet? Some GI antibiotics, steroids, or probiotics may help. Try the single protein cans like duck and green pea, rabbit, venison. These are all novel proteins that may be acceptable. Food tests should be at least 3 weeks long.
My cat did the best on California Natural Chicken and brown rice. She was also on prednisone. Have you joined Yahoo's group: Feline Inflammatory Bowel syndrome? You'll get lots of ideas there.
Good luck. Donna
My cat did the best on California Natural Chicken and brown rice. She was also on prednisone. Have you joined Yahoo's group: Feline Inflammatory Bowel syndrome? You'll get lots of ideas there.
Good luck. Donna
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