Food intolerances & allergies occur when your pet's immune system reacts to something, frequently quite innocuous. The gastro-intestinal tract & skin are two very sensitive organs which are exposed to all manner of things & sometimes the body can't cope. When this happens your pet's immune system reacts with food intolerance or allergies. Your cat will present with symptoms sch as increased itchy skin or diarrhoea because it is reacting to a specific ingredient in its food which is potentially allergenic, such as animal or vegetable protein. It doesn't matter how much or how little of something your pet's food contains, because even the smallest trace can trigger a bad allergic reaction. Unfortunately pet owners can only rarely identify the exact ingredient which causes an allergic reaction. Most pets don't suffer with extreme allergies but rather with a variety of food intolerances. No matter whether it is a clinically recognised specific food allergy or a more general intolerance of certain ingredients or nutrients, it can be distressing & worrying for you & your pet. Indications: Food elimination trial Food intolerance / allergy Dysbacteria Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) Contraindications: None Key benefits: Hydrolysed protein: Hydrolysed soya protein consists of peptides with low molecular weight. This makes the food hypoallergenic & highly digestible. Skin barrier: A patented complex with high levels of biotin, niacin & pantothenic acid, combined with a zinc-linoleic acid mixture, helps to reduce fluid loss through the skin & to improve the barrier effect of the skin. EPA/DHA: Fatty acids to help maintain a healthy digestive system & a healthy skin. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) & docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are long-chain omega-3 fatty acids which can help to reduce inflammatory skin reactions. Digestive Health: With nutrients to support a balanced digestive system. A combination of fermentable fibre (beet pulp, FOS) with zeolite promotes balanced intestinal flora & supports a healthy intestinal mucous membrane. This food is lactose & gluten free Changing your pet's diet & length of treatment: Changing your pet's diet should generally be carried out over several days, however, where food allergy or intolerance is suspected, or where there is acute diarrhoea, HYPOALLERGENIC can be fed without a transition phase. If signs of intolerance disappear, this diet can be used indefinitely. Further information: HYPOALLERGENIC is recommended if your pet suffers from chronic dermatitis caused by allergies. Therapeutic veterinary diets are carefully formulated & recommended to be used in conjunction with veterinary advice & support. Royal Canin strongly recommend you seek advice from your Vet prior to & during feeding of any of these products to your pet.