VetOnIt clinical notes
Food allergy in cats: running a diet trial safely
Dr. Jason Pieper on food allergy as a cause of feline overgrooming, the risks of food trials in picky cats, and how quickly cats flare on challenge.
Updated · VetOnIt
Food allergy is worth looking for
In the study of overgrooming cats discussed in the lecture, food allergy was a common underlying cause. [1]
Food trials in cats are worth doing but need care, because a cat that refuses a new diet risks hepatic lipidosis. [1]
Reading the challenge phase
Cats flare faster than dogs after a dietary challenge: in the study cited, about a quarter flared on the first day and roughly 90% within a week. [1]
Adding several new ingredients day by day during the challenge makes it hard to tell which one caused a flare. [1]
Related lectures
On-demand lecture
Everyday Dermatology: Practical Approaches to Feline Pruritus, Canine Atopy, Otitis & Pyoderma
View on-demand lecture →References
- Dr. Jason Pieper: Everyday Dermatology, Practical Approaches (lecture recording, Nov 15 2025) VetOnIt lecture transcriptLecture source retained by VetOnIt.