title: Double-blind evaluation of two commercial hypoallergenic diets in cats with adverse food reactions.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate two commercially available selected-protein-source diets as maintenance diets in cats with dermatological manifestations of adverse food reactions. Twenty cats with a confirmed adverse food reaction were tested in a double-blind manner. An adverse food reaction was diagnosed when, after recovery with a home-cooked elimination diet, the signs relapsed after a challenge with their previous dietary components, and re-disappeared on a second elimination diet period. Hereafter the cats were blind and randomly challenged with two commercial hypoallergenic diets. Relapse of the clinical signs was seen in eight cats (40%) on a lamb and rice diet and in 13 cats (65%) on a chicken and rice diet (P>0.05). Neither one of the commercial diets was as effective in controlling the skin problems as the home-cooked elimination diet. The study confirms that commercial hypoallergenic diets are adequate for maintenance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leistra
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Willemse
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000178:diet therapy*; D002415:Cats; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins