Sep 14 2010
Food Allergies: Crazy Trivia
Food allergies in cats are not as common as other types of allergies, but when they do occur, they are extremely challenging. However, even though they are not as common as flea bite allergies and atopy, they still accounts for about 60 percent of all of the causes of itching and scratching in cats. What makes this allergy all the more challenging, is that it may take several months or even years before it actually surfaces.
In fact, in most cases, it can take several months or even as long as two years before it finally rears its ugly head.
What exactly is it?
Food allergies in cats are a very complicated antibody response that is still not fully understood in the medical community. It is believed to be a type of response in the intestinal tract of your cat, but again, contrary to a lot of misconception, it is not always the result in a change in your cats diet. It is also very challenging simply because the symptoms closely mimic the symptoms of an inhalant allergy. However, there are some possible ways to identify the difference.
The most common food allergies in adults include fish, shellfish such as shrimp, crabs, lobsters, and crayfish which can sometimes be deadly if consumed. Many adults who suffer from allergic reactions to food may not have had these allergies as children.
Food allergies, unlike atopy, have no breed preference, and attack both males as well as females. This very challenging condition can first strike cats as early as five months old; and in other cases it may not surface until your cat is 12 years old or older. However, this is where there is one situation that seems to be common with food allergies; in the vast majority of cases it will strike between the ages of two and six.
If your cat has eaten anything new or different and suddenly develops an allergic reaction, the chances are very high that it is not a food allergy. In almost every case, it takes more than one exposure to produce an allergic reaction and as stated, in most cases, it will be months or years before it surfaces. There is also a growing consensus that although not breed specific, it may be genetic.
Children who experience allergic reactions to foods are most commonly allergic to milk, peanuts, eggs and nuts that include walnuts or pecans. If a child is diagnosed with food allergies they may eventually grow out of them, however, adults who are diagnosed will most likely have those allergies for the rest of their lives.
Symptoms:
Food allergies in cats, to be properly identified and treated, must be separated from food intolerance. Food allergies will show signs of itching and other skin conditions, while food intolerance will almost exclusively show only two symptoms; vomiting and diarrhea. Food intolerance is best described as the same type of reaction that we have to spicy or fried foods, or similar to lactose intolerance reactions.
Bad skin odor is another telling symptom, as well as excessive skin scaling. Red bumps and papules may also develop during a bout of food allergies that can very easily lead to your cat self-inflicting further skin trauma by intense itching. Ear infections are also very common symptoms.
However, these symptoms are very similar to inhaled allergies, but there is one way you can separate the two. Inhaled allergies are subject to seasonal changes; food allergies are not. If your cat has an allergy year around or develops an allergy in the winter months, it is most likely a food allergy.
I should also suggest that you check out more info on Symptoms Of Lactose Intolerance In Babies and Lactose Intolerent.
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