Food hypersensitivity to lamb in a cat

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Dermatology
• Animal Nutrition

Background:

• Food hypersensitivity is a common condition in cats.
• Diagnosis often involves elimination diets.

Observation:

• A cat presented with severe facial pruritus, erythema, alopecia, and excoriations.
• These signs were poorly responsive to corticosteroid treatment.

Findings:

• The cat had a history of food hypersensitivity to fish.
• An exclusive lamb-based diet for two years preceded the current signs.
• Resolution of clinical signs occurred within weeks after removing lamb from the diet, indicating lamb hypersensitivity.

Implications:

• This case highlights the importance of considering specific protein sensitivities in feline food hypersensitivity.
• Dietary elimination is crucial for managing adverse food reactions in cats.
• Recurrence of hypersensitivity to a novel protein source is possible.