Blue Wilderness Allergy in Cats

The symptoms of food allergies and intolerances are similar in some cats while not so much in others.  The below list of symptoms may not be exhaustive and will vary from case to case, but this list should give you some idea what to watch for in your kitty:

• Skin inflammation and irritation

• Loss of hair - bald patches

• Changes in the animal’s coat - like the appearance and feel of the coat

• Lethargy - more lazy than usual

• Diarrhea - mild or severe

• Vomiting - mild or severe
• Changes in frequency, appearance, and odor of urine
• Foul smelling breath
• Foul smelling gas
• Weight loss
• Changes in appetite

If you note any of the above symptoms, in any degree of intensity, or if you notice unusual behavior in your pet, call your veterinary professional as soon as possible for medical advice.

Types

There are two types of reactions to food and their ingredients:

• Allergic reactions - These reactions involve the immune system as it fights an “invader” as the immune system is designed to do

• Intolerance reactions - Doesn’t generally involve a immunological response (skin irritations, inflammation of skin, loss of hair, balding patches)

Basically, the difference between allergies and intolerances is the involvement of the immune system.  These immunological symptoms usually display as vomiting and diarrhea which can begin mildly but progress to more severe very quickly or perhaps even be extreme at onset.  Sometimes intolerances can also present with gastrointestinal reactions but are usually more mild than allergies.  Blue Buffalo (the makers of Blue Wilderness) makes several types of foods which are formulated for those kitties whose digestive systems are more sensitive.

The cause of allergic reactions is related to immunological response to an ingredient in the food or snack.  Here is a brief synopsis of what happens inside the gastrointestinal tract of your pet:

• Kitty eats the food or snack 
• Kitty’s digestive system gets the job of breaking down the food into its various components (proteins, carbohydrates, glucose)
• The problem begins when one or more components becomes identified as foreign by the body
• Once Kitty’s body  has identified these components as foreign, they are treated as the enemy and a signal is sent to the immune system that an invader is present
• Inside Kitty’s digestive system the battle begins when the immune system gets involved because it sends antibodies to fight the invader
• Unfortunately to add to the problem, some of these foreign components actually attach themselves to different types of cells inside Kitty’s digestive system and, as the battle is waged, the immune system will actually destroy normal cells which are necessary for the various systems to function

Your complete history will be essential to assist your veterinary professional in accurate diagnosing of the reason your family pet isn’t well.  You will need to provide information about the food and snacks you are currently feeding your feline as well as the amount/frequency of the feedings and the duration of that feeding regimen.  Try to be aware of the availability and opportunity that your family feline has to investigate and sample various things around the house and yard.  Be sure to include all the symptoms and unusual behaviors you have noticed, regardless of how insignificant you think they may be.  

Your vet will do a physical examination and, based on his finding and clinical signs, he will likely order some blood work and perhaps tissue samples for testing.  He might also utilize radiographic imaging (x-ray) and CT imaging to rule out other conditions and diseases.  Some of the symptoms associated with allergies and intolerances can also be symptoms of other health conditions so he’ll want to rule out as many as possible to zero in on what’s causing your cat to be sick.  Once he has collected the results of the ordered testing and imaging, he will develop and initiate an appropriate treatment plan.

The treatment phase of your cat’s illness will begin with assessment of the patient’s overall condition by your veterinary professional.  This means that a determination will be made as to whether the animal is in an emergent or urgent condition, as these designations require prompt medical intervention, sometimes even requiring hospitalization.  Regardless of the condition of the patient, your feline family member will need to be stabilized using whatever steps are required for safe treatment.  

This could require IV fluids, orally administered fluids, medications to treat diarrhea and vomiting, antibiotic medications if a bacterial infection is found, antifungal medications given if fungal infections are found or perhaps various parasitic treatments if that is found to be present.  A special diet may be recommended and developed which may include food preparation at home or a commercially prepared food which will limit the ingredients to those not usually found to be intolerant or allergic to most felines.  A food elimination diet may also be recommended to isolate and ascertain the invader which has caused the reactions.