Opinions on Natural Balance Green Pea and Duck LID?

Since I've been having trouble with Finnegan's mystery skin ailment, my vet and I have opted to begin food allergen trials before getting back the results as to whether or not he has ringworm (none of the other animals or humans in the house have shown any symptoms). His symptoms have increased and I am now witnessing quite a bit of scratching and biting at the affected areas. But, that being said, his pattern of fur loss is not "typical" of a food allergy (ie. the patches and lesions are on the inside of his hind legs with new spots forming on his front paws -- however, he is also licking and biting other areas along his flank as of the last 24 hours). And, the affected skin is red and scabby. But, regardless, a food allergy is not out of the question and switching his food is the next move to make.

As of today, Finn, along with my other cats, has been eating TOTW dry (aside from a brief stint when I was ill and hospitalized where my roommate was feeding my cats Purina One Chicken and Rice without my permission ) and a rotation of wet foods -- some grain free, others with some grain. He also eats a 75% wet diet consisting of Wellness, EVO, California Naturals, and Tiki Cat to name a few. And, while I had the option of going with a hypoallergenic prescription food by either Royal Canin or Hills, I, with my vets blessing, have decided to opt for one of the Natural Balance LID formulas. And, since he has not had either duck or green pea in his diet thus far, I've decided that that particular formula would be best as it is completely out of his element. He will now eat a 25%/75% diet of the Natural Balance Green Pea and Duck dry and wet food.

I've already purchased a small bag and a number of cans, but would still appreciate some input as to whether or not others like the quality of this food. I'm not particularly against the Royal Canin or Hills (I would likely go with RC as I do not prefer Hills), but would prefer this as it's more in my price range and, in my opinion, has superior nutrition. But, an expert I am not. So, any advice, experiences, or suggestions? Anything and everything you can offer would be much appreciated. Thank you in advance!

He has had green pea as it is the second ingrediant in Taste... I may suggust an all fish formula ( many available now ... taste makes one , acana and orijen have a couple , evo has one

What flavors of wet has he had... ie primarily chicken, fish , beef

You're right, Sharky, he has had green pea. As soon as I wrote that I realized my error. But, the duck is a new ingredient. I suppose the protein source is where I was getting at with having him try this new food (he has not eaten it as of yet -- he was given his regular food throughout the day).

The TOTW is the Rocky Mountain formula. The ingredients are as follows:

Chicken meal, peas, sweet potatoes, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), potato protein, roasted venison, smoked salmon, natural flavor, ocean fish meal, methionine, potassium chloride, taurine, choline chloride, dried chicory root, tomatoes, blueberries, raspberries, yucca schidigera extract, dried fermentation products of Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus plantarum, dried Trichoderma longibrachiatum fermentation extract, zinc proteinate, vitamin E supplement, niacin, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, zinc sulfate, manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), vitamin A supplement, biotin, potassium iodide, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin (vitamin B2), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12 supplement, manganous oxide, sodium selenite, vitamin D supplement, folic acid.

As far as his wet food is concerned, the main ingredients have been chicken, beef, and some fish. Since he is a male cat, I do try to limit his fish intake and, therefore, stick with chicken and beef most frequently.It is possible that he is reacting the one of the grains or binders in the Purina One he was given while I was ill, but I don't know if I'd still see symptoms now as he has been off of that food for approximately 10 days. And, he was only on that food for 4-5 days. But, I suppose anything is possible -- including this not being a food-related allergy.

The ringworm results are expected back within days and he has been given an injection of Convenia that should last through next week in case this is an infection. If the ringworm culture is negative, a skin scraping will follow. But, if he is not improved by Friday, we are going to try an antihistamine to see if perhaps this is an inhaled allergy. Everything is up in the air, but my vet felt it would be worth a shot to attempt switching his food to a limited ingredient formula. At this point, do you feel I should give him the Natural Balance Green Pea and Duck? Or, should I choose something else? My vet is on board, but it never hurts to have a second...third...or even fourth opinion.

I'm honestly leery about him being on an all-fish diet. But, that being said, if that's what is best for him, I will do it without a second thought. Orijen and EVO are a bit higher in price than I can go, but they're not out of the question and I will make the finances work should the situation warrant my doing so. I rarely see Acana around here, but I think they're price is similar. And, the TOTW Canyon River formula is very difficult to find locally, but that, too, is an option if that is the direction I need to move in. I found out today that Natural Balance now has a Green Pea and Salmon formula and so that is also available locally. And, of course, as mentioned before, I have access to Hills and Royal Canin hypoallergenic foods.

This has been frustrating. I can continue him on what he's being fed now, but I feel like I should be doing something more. If it were your cat, what would you do next? Raw, other than as a treat, is not an option presently. Should I hold off on the Natural Balance Green Pea and Duck? Should I try it? Or am I in completely the wrong frame of mind? Everything medically that can be done is in process or will be done pending the ringworm results. But, I hate seeing Finn uncomfortable and I want to nip this problem in the bud rather than let it carry on indefinitely. So, any guidance is appreciated. Really...

I would try it... If you really want to go hypoallergenic, the one I would recommend is Hills Z/D.... but it is more expensive than NB... I pay a little over $2/can, don't remember from the top of my head how much the dry is.
Currently the 3 kitties are on it and love it, as with Bugsy's UTI I just took fish off the menu...

Originally Posted by Carolina

I would try it... If you really want to go hypoallergenic, the one I would recommend is Hills Z/D.... but it is more expensive than NB... I pay a little over $2/can, don't remember from the top of my head how much the dry is.
Currently the 3 kitties are on it and love it, as with Bugsy's UTI I just took fish off the menu...

Click to expand...

I would also suggest discussing Z/D with the vet.. at least then if thing s improve YOU 100% know it is a food issue

Salmon and pea may be a good try ... cept Peas from my research ( reading and seeing allergy test results ) are about as allergic as say Wheat and soy.. so to me I would avoid them if allergy is suspect'

Originally Posted by sharky

I would also suggest discussing Z/D with the vet.. at least then if thing s improve YOU 100% know it is a food issue

Salmon and pea may be a good try ... cept Peas from my research ( reading and seeing allergy test results ) are about as allergic as say Wheat and soy.. so to me I would avoid them if allergy is suspect'

Click to expand...

...................

Thank you Sharky and Carolina...

Well, I don't have an appointment for Finnegan until a week from Friday. But, since I happen to work for my vet's office, I always have access to one of the veterinarians. I next work on Friday and so I'll discuss Hills Z/D with the vet then. In the meantime, I am going to nix the Natural Balance Green Pea and Duck. I'll continue to keep Finn on his regular diet until I speak with the vet. I don't want to throw something else into the mix that may do more harm than good. And, while the Natural Balance may have worked, I do agree that starting off with a true hyperallergenic diet may be the way to go. I got caught up in trying to fix this issue without thinking it through completely. My intentions were good, but that's why I love TCS.

While cost is an issue, it's not a barrier I can't overcome. I don't love Hills as a general rule, but I also know that when you're dealing with a prescription food, it doesn't matter what it is as long as it does what it's intended to do. Thankfully, our vet clinic sells Hills Z/D (meaning I would get a nice discount) and I can also get it from PetSmart at a discounted rate. And, I am aware that there are other discounts available if I am willing to look and inquire about them. What Carolina quoted price-wise is definitely do-able and I'm more than willing to cut back in other areas in order to make getting the proper food a non-issue. It's not a hard-ship per se, but that is because I also get a discount for all of my veterinary costs. The money I put aside for routine care can be re-evaluated and allocated toward prescription food costs without jeopardizing any of the kitties' or dogs' care.

I hate when one of my babies are sick or dealing with a mystery ailment. But, as I said before, I'm thankful for TCS and the honest, experienced opinions I get here as well as for my vet and the entire staff I work with. Thank you again for your advice. I will definitely investigate Hills Z/D with my vet and provide an update when I can.

And, while we're at it, can I just have some no ringworm vibes for Finn (and the entire house)? I don't think it's it, but the vibes sure will be appreciated .

NOoooooo riiiiinngggwoooooorrrmmm!!! LOL!!

Poor baby... that itching must be driving him crazy!!

As always, good advice here re: food. My guys are on TOTW and it seems to agree with all of them... their diet is 50/50 wet and dry.

My vet did say to me she wasn't fond of duck as a protein source for kitties when we discussed food intolerances and limited ingredient diets. Doing a food elimination trial in my house was not likely b/c of the number of cats and the cost involved. So I tried TOTW and it seemed to work.

Hope everything works out with Finn!

I like the Z/D for a trial to get him to where he's comfortable, then after 8+ weeks I'd pick a different food to mix in (like one of the NB LID's) to see what happens.

Eden is on the NB LID Chicken/GP - combined with (ironically) Pro Plan Sensitive skin/stomach she finally quit vomiting & looks good.

I used a 4 week z/d only trial to rule out food allergies. Franklin is now thriving on NB Chicken & Green Pea cans and Royal Canin Gastrointestinal HE Dry (and 5mg prednisolone every other day )

I'm dealing with a cat with allergy problems. I tried the Natural Balance limited ingredient Duck (I was hoping for the venison but no one carried it) but NONE of my cats would touch it! I ended up having to use the Royal Canin Rabbit limited ingredient food instead, which thankfully they will eat.

My Siamese cat has a long history of Eosinophilic Granuloma Complex and has been on a variety of foods, including Prescription Royal Canin and Purina Verinary Hydrolyzed Protein diet.She is also on Cyclosporin (generic Atopica and probably will be for the rest of her life).

I recently tried her on the Natural Balance Green Pea and Duck and, for the first time in her life, she made a beeline for the water dish as soon as she was finished (she's a great eater, fortunately, and will eat anything) and drank for a prolonged period of time. Needless to say, I am returning this food. I did check the contents of this food and there is salt in it. I'm not sure of whether this is at the root of the food-related thirst, but her blood work is perfect with no kidney or glucose issues, so I have to assume that it was the food. As soon as I put her back on her old food, the excessive thirst disappeared.

I contacted Natural Balance and the Vet Tech was very nice, taking note of my concerns. But I would not recommend this food simply because of the salt content.

I second White Cat Lover's advice to do an 8 week trial of the Z/D. It should give you a clear idea of whether or not your cat has an allergy. After you've figured that out you can start incorporating other kinds of foods to narrow down the cause.

One problem with the Z/D wet that is that it has a weird jello-like texture that many cats do not like. My cat wouldn't eat it. Don't buy too much of it until you are sure that your cat will. If you are comfortable just feeding kibble you could go that route just for the duration of the trial.

I do know that natural balance makes a venison LID diet that you could try as a novel protein source. The duck LID diet I have no experience with. I believe my cat has a poultry allergy (on week 4 of a rabbit diet with no recurring symptoms, so it is looking very likely. Chicken, it turns out, is in almost every food out there - very frustrating), so I avoid proteins that fall into that food group. A vet told me that turkey and chicken are genetically very similar, so if a cat has a chicken allergy it is likely to be allergic to turkey as well. At the time I didn't ask about the genetic similarity of duck, it may or may not be an issue.

All that about duck being said, take my experience with poultry with a grain of salt. People will give you all kinds of advice on different allergens out there and what worked for their cat, but the point is that YOU and your vet need to figure out what works for YOUR cat. Your cat may not be allergic to fish/chicken/pea/wheat/soy, which will invalidate the advice. Z/D is a good place to start, after which will come a long period of experimentation with different foods to narrow down the exact triggers.

Finally a cheaper option: a friend of mine has cats with extreme food allergies. She tried a million different kinds of foods and finally had success with the Hills sensitive skin and stomach that is sold in most pet food stores. It's not the greatest food in terms of ingredients, but is what worked for her cats and her pocket book. It might be worth a look.

jztherapist said:

....

I recently tried her on the Natural Balance Green Pea and Duck and, for the first time in her life, she made a beeline for the water dish as soon as she was finished (she's a great eater, fortunately, and will eat anything) and drank for a prolonged period of time. Needless to say, I am returning this food. I did check the contents of this food and there is salt in it. I'm not sure of whether this is at the root of the food-related thirst, but her blood work is perfect with no kidney or glucose issues, so I have to assume that it was the food. As soon as I put her back on her old food, the excessive thirst disappeared....

Click to expand...

Yes! I'm using the Natural Balance kitten food and never in my life had I had a cat more obsessed with water. We have two bowls out for her plus she insists on drinking out of my "day" cup (near computer) and "night" cup near my bad. I'm shopping for a new brand because it seems so weird for her to be so thirsty after eating wet food.

gethane said:

Yes! I'm using the Natural Balance kitten food and never in my life had I had a cat more obsessed with water. We have two bowls out for her plus she insists on drinking out of my "day" cup (near computer) and "night" cup near my bad. I'm shopping for a new brand because it seems so weird for her to be so thirsty after eating wet food.

Click to expand...

alicatjoy said:

Thank you Sharky and Carolina...

Well, I don't have an appointment for Finnegan until a week from Friday. But, since I happen to work for my vet's office, I always have access to one of the veterinarians. I next work on Friday and so I'll discuss Hills Z/D with the vet then. In the meantime, I am going to nix the Natural Balance Green Pea and Duck. I'll continue to keep Finn on his regular diet until I speak with the vet. I don't want to throw something else into the mix that may do more harm than good. And, while the Natural Balance may have worked, I do agree that starting off with a true hyperallergenic diet may be the way to go. I got caught up in trying to fix this issue without thinking it through completely. My intentions were good, but that's why I love TCS.

While cost is an issue, it's not a barrier I can't overcome. I don't love Hills as a general rule, but I also know that when you're dealing with a prescription food, it doesn't matter what it is as long as it does what it's intended to do. Thankfully, our vet clinic sells Hills Z/D (meaning I would get a nice discount) and I can also get it from PetSmart at a discounted rate. And, I am aware that there are other discounts available if I am willing to look and inquire about them. What Carolina quoted price-wise is definitely do-able and I'm more than willing to cut back in other areas in order to make getting the proper food a non-issue. It's not a hard-ship per se, but that is because I also get a discount for all of my veterinary costs. The money I put aside for routine care can be re-evaluated and allocated toward prescription food costs without jeopardizing any of the kitties' or dogs' care.

I hate when one of my babies are sick or dealing with a mystery ailment. But, as I said before, I'm thankful for TCS and the honest, experienced opinions I get here as well as for my vet and the entire staff I work with. Thank you again for your advice. I will definitely investigate Hills Z/D with my vet and provide an update when I can.

And, while we're at it, can I just have some no ringworm vibes for Finn (and the entire house)? I don't think it's it, but the vibes sure will be appreciated .

Click to expand...

My male cat loves the duck and pea; my female won't touch it. Maybe if you tried something with beef, venison or lamb. Think duck would be in the "poultry" line and maybe he is having problems with poultry products. If he has ringworm, you are going t have a lot of cleaning to do! The spores get everywhere so you will need to clean his bedding/toys and your whole house once he gets treated. It can spread to humans so pick up some lotrimin cream just in case you start itching!!