cat with allergies

[LittlePink]

Our 4 year old cat has been diagnosed with allergies to some ingredients in her food and some plants. We won't know which exactly until we see the vet tomorrow. The nurse said she needs to go on monthly anti serum injections which are tailored exactly to her so they are very expensive and she needs a special diet.

She's been on the same food since we got her 3 years ago and she never had a problem until very recently when we noticed she's been licking away the fur on her front legs so she's got big patches of missing fur. The vet examined her and said she has licked away all the fur on her abdomen, groin and under her arms (front legs so to speak).

We moved 6 months ago so the plants are different and she's perhaps been exposed to new allergens on them but the food thing, I'm not sure about having to pay for a special diet for the rest of her life when she's been fine on the food she's been on for 3 years. Obviously if she really needs a new diet then we will do what it takes to make her better.

Anyone any experience of allergies in cats?

Is it just this summer?

Friends cat had a similar story, and it turned out to be harvest mite. Bald, sore skin on his tummy, only on the summer months, and after living happily in that area for several years.

They moved after a few summers and it's never come back so I don't know if they tried any treatment, sorry.

Is your cat insured? Do you go to a big "chain" vet? Sorry to be cynical :).

I'd be tempted to ask for a second opinion, or a referral to a skin specialist. The specialist might cost you more in the short term, but save long term on all this treatment...

Or claim you can't afford it, and see if they come up with other options. What's the special diet?

Yes we're insured thankfully but it doesn't cover the special diet. It is a big chain vet.

Seeing the vet tomorrow so will find out what the special diet is but it just doesn't make sense as shes been fine on her food for 3 years.

We only noticed the problem a couple of weeks ago. Thinking about it since it got really warm. But shes not had it in previous summers. I wonder if the insurance would cover a skin specialist. Will ask the vet tomorrow. Thanks for the advice.

The allergy tests are very accurate for environmental allergens and not so great for food allergens.
In your situation I would do the immunotherapy and a diet that excludes her allergens (depending on which ones they are you maybe able to buy on off the shelf diet) for 6 months. Then when the licking is under control and she is no longer making herself sore try her back on her previous food.
It is better with these cats to go hard core at the start with everything then gradually step back. If you start with a couple of changes, then add another, then another it often takes longer to get good control.

It's just it seems very expensive treatment without really getting to the bottom of the cause....

What about antihistamines, topical treatments first? Seems a big jump from skin issue to "allergies" and personalised treatment.

I am always sceptical of chain vets. Especially if they ask if you're insured then go to town on expensive treatment.

Do you have a smaller independent practice nearby? Not guaranteed better treatment , obviously, but you could maybe phone and have a chat? Don't know what the politics are but you're entitled to a second opinion .

Oh yes insurance would cover a skin specialist, however, you have your diagnosis you would be paying more money for a more expensive person to do the same tests.

Micah we have access to really specific blood tests that quickly identify allergens and immunotherapy is very effective hence why it is offer so quickly.
Yes you can to be frank piss about with anti histamines etc, but they will never do half the job that immunotherapy will.

If it was my cat I would go straight to the bloods and if positive immunotherapy.

So the upshot of the consultation with the vet was- the cat has got multiple allergies. To alsorts of things i'd never heard of like various different funghis and plants. Shes allergic to the big willow tree in our garden, dust mites, fleas, fibres in the house, wool to name but a few. There was a huge print out of all her allergies. The main foods shes allergic to is lamb, rice and barley among quite a few others.

So the insurance company have said they are happy to liase directly with the vet and they will pay for her monthly injections. The injections will stop her food allergies by the sounds of things so we don't need to do anything major about her diet. We will just steer clear of lamb and keep a watch on the ingredients in things to be on the safe side.

To think she may have been suffering in silence all this time breaks my heart and makes me feel very uncomfortable. We only found out because of her front legs, we have no idea how long her groins and abdomen have been like that for because she doesn't let us touch her stomach. She lashes out if we try to stroke her on her tummy, maybe that's why. We just thought she didn't like being touched there so avoided it, didn't think there might have been a medical reason. Feel bad now for not thinking a step further.