Food allergies and good canned food options at the box store

sefaleth · 11-21-2006, 12:37 PM

Yoshi has a bald, itchy spot - and the vet would like me to phase out his 'new' foods until he gets to his appointment next week.

He was on Royal Canin Persian at his foster's - and a mix of Chicken Soup and Royal Canin at my place. I also finally got him eating wet friskies canned - which would be my guess for the culprit if it is a food allergy.

I'm loathe to discontinue the wet food after convincing Yoshi that canned is yummy - so I'd like to run out to the box stores to pick up something relatively good that has similar ingredients to royal canin persian. Does anyone know what brands I can expect to find at Petsmart/Petco that would work?

OsnobunnieO · 11-21-2006, 09:58 PM

it doesn't need to be a new food to cause an allergy. Typically, its a food they've eaten long term and developed an allergy to. And it could be several ingredients, or a single one (usually a protein source).

Has the vet seen him at all yet? A week isn't nearly enough time to make a difference. I hate to say it, but I'd rather keep him on what he's eating and have the vet take a look at him first to see if he still thinks its an allergy. It could be several things... ringworm, fleas, some sort of contact allergy.

Where is the spot located? How big would you say it is? Is he licking/scratching at it, or it just seems itchy when you touch it?

sefaleth · 11-21-2006, 11:32 PM

The vet saw him a month ago at his preliminary checkup, where he got a clean bill of health. He is just trying to eliminate any new changes since we adopted him a month ago and he did not have the condition then.

It's a very large bald spot, with a rashy skin underneath. He is itchy all over, and it only started after he came to live with us, so we are trying to eliminate environmental factors.

OrangeJulius · 11-25-2006, 04:26 PM

Its hard to tell which food is causing an allergy if any at all. It can take months for an allergy to show up. Instead of mixing, pick one food and stick to it for at least 12 weeks. If the sores do not get better after 12 weeks, there's an allergen in the food, switch to a food with a whole different ingredient list, say change protein or instead of corn go rice. Try again for 12 weeks.
There are allergy tests that aren't 100% accurate available at vets for $300-$500.

sefaleth · 12-01-2006, 01:41 PM

Well, we've duck and pea food for him... at 30 dollars a bag, I hope the little brat doesn't refuse to eat it, or I'm not sure what our other options are.

The vet didn't do an allergy test- too inaccurate, but she did do a skin scraping - no diseases or parasites, so it's allergies or skin cancer.

11-21-2006, 12:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
sefaleth Tom Cat Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 304	Food allergies and good canned food options at the box store Yoshi has a bald, itchy spot - and the vet would like me to phase out his 'new' foods until he gets to his appointment next week. He was on Royal Canin Persian at his foster's - and a mix of Chicken Soup and Royal Canin at my place. I also finally got him eating wet friskies canned - which would be my guess for the culprit if it is a food allergy. I'm loathe to discontinue the wet food after convincing Yoshi that canned is yummy - so I'd like to run out to the box stores to pick up something relatively good that has similar ingredients to royal canin persian. Does anyone know what brands I can expect to find at Petsmart/Petco that would work?

11-21-2006, 09:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
OsnobunnieO Premier Cat Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Simpsonville, SC Posts: 4,399	it doesn't need to be a new food to cause an allergy. Typically, its a food they've eaten long term and developed an allergy to. And it could be several ingredients, or a single one (usually a protein source). Has the vet seen him at all yet? A week isn't nearly enough time to make a difference. I hate to say it, but I'd rather keep him on what he's eating and have the vet take a look at him first to see if he still thinks its an allergy. It could be several things... ringworm, fleas, some sort of contact allergy. Where is the spot located? How big would you say it is? Is he licking/scratching at it, or it just seems itchy when you touch it? __________________ Jessie "There is no snooze button on a cat who wants breakfast."

11-25-2006, 04:26 PM	#4 (permalink)
OrangeJulius Cat Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 146	Food Its hard to tell which food is causing an allergy if any at all. It can take months for an allergy to show up. Instead of mixing, pick one food and stick to it for at least 12 weeks. If the sores do not get better after 12 weeks, there's an allergen in the food, switch to a food with a whole different ingredient list, say change protein or instead of corn go rice. Try again for 12 weeks. There are allergy tests that aren't 100% accurate available at vets for $300-$500.

11-21-2006, 11:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
sefaleth Tom Cat Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 304	The vet saw him a month ago at his preliminary checkup, where he got a clean bill of health. He is just trying to eliminate any new changes since we adopted him a month ago and he did not have the condition then. It's a very large bald spot, with a rashy skin underneath. He is itchy all over, and it only started after he came to live with us, so we are trying to eliminate environmental factors.

12-01-2006, 01:41 PM	#5 (permalink)
sefaleth Tom Cat Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 304	Well, we've duck and pea food for him... at 30 dollars a bag, I hope the little brat doesn't refuse to eat it, or I'm not sure what our other options are. The vet didn't do an allergy test- too inaccurate, but she did do a skin scraping - no diseases or parasites, so it's allergies or skin cancer.

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