Veterinary hydrolyzed-protein hypoallergenic diet
Description
A prescription diet in which the protein source has been broken down (hydrolyzed) into fragments small enough that the immune system generally doesn't recognize and react to them as an allergen, used specifically for diagnosing or managing a suspected food allergy — a more rigorously controlled approach than a standard novel-protein limited-ingredient diet, since even a "novel" protein can theoretically trigger a reaction, while a properly hydrolyzed protein generally can't.
Prescribed For
Diagnosed food allergy/adverse food reaction
Suitable For
Cats undergoing veterinary-supervised food allergy diagnosis or management, particularly when a standard limited-ingredient trial hasn't produced a clear result.
Cautions
Requires an actual veterinary prescription and, as with any elimination diet trial, strict adherence with no other food sources for the trial to give a reliable result — this is generally considered a more rigorous diagnostic tool specifically because of that protein-breakdown mechanism, which is undermined entirely by even occasional non-compliance during the trial period.