Frequently Asked Questions about the Contribution of Dietetics in Dermatology

Q

A

Which nutritional deficiencies are most commonly implicated in feline dermatology?

Essential fatty acid and tyrosine deficiency are possible deficiencies leading to skin disease in cats.

Do cats get zinc deficiency?

In contrast to dogs, zinc deficiency has not been reported in cats.

Are adverse food reactions common?

In cats, adverse food reactions are more frequently seen than in the dog. An adverse food reaction should be considered particularly when head and neck pruritus are observed or there are concurrent gastrointestinal signs associated with the skin disease.

Which foods are the most likely to cause allergic reactions?

Fish, beef and dairy products are the most commonly reported food allergens in the cat. However, this may simply be due to the widespread use of these ingredients in cat food.

Is white meat less allergic than red meat?

This belief is incorrect. The color of the meat does not have any influence on its potential allergenic or hypoallergenic character. The risk increases with the quantity of meat ingested. Red meats such as venison are widely and successfully used as a basis for elimination diets, simply because these foods are not typically found in cat foods.

How do you diagnose atopic dermatitis in a cat?

Atopic dermatitis in the cat may present as a variety of cutaneous reaction patterns. These cutaneous reaction patterns in turn may be caused by many different diseases. Thus, the differential diagnoses for each patient with potential atopic dermatitis need to be ruled out prior to the diagnosis of atopic dermatitis. For example, all cats with potential atopy need to undergo strict flea control and an elimination diet to rule out flea bite hypersensitivity and adverse food reaction.

Can atopic dermatitis be controlled simply with PUFA supplementation?

Yes, but if the response is unsatisfactory after 6 - 12 weeks of treatment, other therapeutics should be used.

Can diet be the cause of non-inflammatory "endocrine" alopecia in the cat?

Years ago, non-inflammatory alopecia was considered a hormonal disease. However, true endocrine alopecia in cats is very rare. Subsequently, this disease was diagnosed as psychogenic alopecia. Some patients indeed develop psychogenic alopecia and responded to behavioral therapy. However, many of these cats are actually allergic cats; the overgrooming and alopecia is a response to pruritus. An elimination diet to rule out adverse food reaction is an essential diagnostic tool in every cat with non-inflammatory alopecia.