Blue Buffalo Allergy in Cats

The term food allergy is often used interchangeably with food intolerance.  The main difference between the two terms is from where the body’s reaction stems -- basically a straightforward gastric disturbance versus an immunological response.  The immunological response would, of course, be the more serious and severe form of food allergy reaction, the cause of which would emanate from the immune system’s response to the introduction of certain ingredients ingested from foods or snacks offered to your pet.

A food allergy can be defined as an intolerance to foods or snacks consumed or ingredients contained in a food or snack.  This intolerance can range from mild food reactions to more severe life-threatening reactions which can send your feline family member straight to the emergency clinic.

While the symptoms of Blue Buffalo allergies in cats can vary from feline to feline, some of the basic symptoms to watch for are listed below and can be found in varying degrees of intensity:

• Skin inflammation and irritation
• Loss of hair - bald patches
• Changes in appearance and feel of the animal’s coat
• Lethargy
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Changes in appearance and odor of urine
• Foul smelling breath
• Foul smelling gas
• Weight loss
• Changes in appetite

Types

There are various types of foods manufactured by Blue Buffalo for your feline family member which can be utilized if a food allergy or food intolerance with the associated symptoms is afflicting your pet.  Here are the products which have been formulated to aid in various health issues in your cat:

• HF Hydrolyzed for food intolerance - A product formulated specially for cats who may be experiencing sensitivities to various foods and additives
• Blue Basics - Formulated using limited ingredients, this food is formulated for those cats who are experiencing problems with ingredients found in most cat foods and is formulated to give cats more nutrition while using less of the ingredients known to cause food intolerances and allergies in cats
• Blue Natural Veterinary Diets - Formulated to provide appropriate nutrition for those cats having food intolerance issues, gastrointestinal support, weight management,urinary support and kidney support

Food allergies or intolerances are basically the body’s response to a food, ingredient or other additive which has been ingested.  What is actually going on inside your feline’s body is this:

• The food or snack is consumed by the cat
• It gets into the digestive system where the body breaks down the food into various components (proteins, carbohydrates, glucose)
• Sometimes one or more components can be identified as foreign by the  body while others are not
• Those components which are identified as foreign are treated as the enemy and a battle ensues
• The immune system gets involved by sending antibodies to fight the invader
• Some components actually naturally attach themselves to various cells in the digestive system and, when the battle begins, the immune system actually attacks and destroys cells which are normal and necessary for the functioning of various body systems

The result of this internal digestive battle can be  diarrhea, vomiting and worse.

Diagnosis of Blue Buffalo allergies in cats can be challenging one for your veterinary professional.  Your cat’s complete history will be needed which should include the food being fed, snacks being fed and the frequency the foods and snacks are being offered.  The duration of this feeding regimen should also be noted along with any of the above symptoms which you have noted in your cat.  Be sure to include any other unusual behaviors which you may have noticed in your cat especially those which apply to appetite, urinary and bowel habits and appearance and feel of the animal’s coat.  Your vet will do a physical examination and, based upon his findings in this examination, he will likely order some tests on your cat.  

There are many diseases in felines which can present with similar symptoms and physical appearance.  It is for this reason that your vet will likely order blood tests, perhaps tissue samples, radiographic imaging (x-rays) and even CT imaging.  It is necessary to utilize these testing modalities to rule out some of the other conditions and diseases which could be causing the symptoms and clinical signs found in your feline family member.  He will also be assessing the overall condition of your pet to determine if emergent or urgent measures are needed.

Once the results of the blood work, tissue samples and various imaging modalities which were ordered have been collected and analyzed, a treatment plan will be developed and initiated.  If your pet is determined to be in a condition which requires emergent or urgent care, that, of course, will be initiated immediately, with the balance of the treatment plan being incorporated once your pet is stabilized.  Treatments would likely include fluids being administered IV or orally, rest and close observation.  

Medications would likely be given to treat bacterial infections, for pain or inflammation. The current food being offered will be discontinued and a food elimination diet will be recommended to determine the culprit responsible for the signs and symptoms.  This elimination diet will likely take several weeks or months to complete and how to go about it will be thoroughly explained by your vet.  If your pet is very sick and is in very poor condition, be prepared for your cat to be hospitalized until he is healthy enough to return home.

Food allergies or intolerances can be very serious for your pet and, if not treated sooner rather than later, could be fatal for your kitty.  If you note the skin inflammations, irritations or gastrointestinal symptoms noted above, do not hesitate to get your family pet to a veterinary professional.  Weight loss in a cat who is within normal weight limits can occur and become quite serious if not treated expeditiously.  We all know how curious our feline family members can be and knowing this will hopefully keep up your awareness of your cat’s behavior, eating and litter box habits.  If you suspect a food allergy or intolerance, please seek medical advice as soon as possible for your kitty - it could save his life.