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 For
your cat pet to enjoy time with you, she must always be in good health. Like
you, if the pets are feeling pain they are unable to feel the mood of having
fun!
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Like
people, cats can suffer from allergies.
As in the human population,
the incidence of allergies in pets seems to be increasing. While
allergic humans may often sneeze, wheeze or even have serious
respiratory difficulties, cats show similar symptoms, even to
the point of developing asthma. Allergic reactions in pets are
mostly characterized by skin problems, exacerbated by their primary
symptom—itching and scratching. Cat allergies fall into three
main categories: flea allergic dermatitis, atopy, and food allergy.
Many pets can be affected by one or more allergy.
Food Allergy
What is food allergy
and what are its symptoms?
Food allergy is an
allergic reaction to one or more ingredients in a pet’s food.
The most common allergens are beef and milk products, cereals
(wheat, corn, soya), chicken and eggs. The exact cause of a food
allergy is not known. Perhaps a change in the pet’s immune system
causes
certain ingredients
to be perceived as “foreign,” initiating inflammatory mechanisms
to fight off the perceived “intruder.”
The most common symptoms
of a food allergy are itching, licking or chewing. Otitis Externa
(ear infection) along with other skin problems are also common
in conjunction with food hypersensitivity. Some pets may also
have diarrhea and other digestive problems. Symptoms can appear
at any age, whether a pet has just started a new diet or has been
eating the same food for several years.
How is food allergy
diagnosed?
The only effective
way for your veterinarian to diagnose a food allergy is to put
your pet on a “hypoallergenic” or “exclusion” diet for a minimum
of 8–12 weeks. Such a diet contains ingredients to which the animal
has not been exposed in the past. Because the source of protein
causes most allergic reactions, exclusion diets use proteins—often
venison, fish or duck—that are normally not found in regular pet
food. An exclusion diet may comprise home-prepared food or prescription
commercial hypoallergenic products.
If your pet has a
food allergy, there should be a significant reduction in the symptoms
after the recommended period on the exclusion diet. To identify
all the food allergens, your veterinarian will recommend adding
a single protein back into the diet every 1–2 weeks, while watching
for a recurrence, or worsening, of symptoms. If this happens,
the veterinarian will recommend removing the offending ingredient
from the diet.
How is food allergy
treated?
The best way to treat
your pet’s food allergy is to carefully monitor his or her diet,
in order to avoid flare-ups.
In rare cases, your
veterinarian may also prescribe antihistamines and corticosteroids.
Flea
Allergy Dermatitis
What is flea allergy
dermatitis and what are its symptoms?
Flea allergy dermatitis
(FAD), often called “flea bite hypersensitivity”, is a skin disease
caused by an allergic reaction to flea saliva. A single flea bite
can trigger the disease’s intense itching. Cats with FAD scratch
their heads and necks. This often leads to “hot spots”, or localized
hair loss and skin infections. You may find fleas and flea dirt
(the flea feces look like black specks) on your pet, although
many cats with FAD have very few fleas, since they are constantly
licking and chewing.
How is flea allergy
dermatitis diagnosed?
Your veterinarian
looks for the usual signs (scratching, skin sores, the presence
of fleas and/or flea dirt). He or she may also perform a skin
test to confirm that fleas are causing the problem, as FAD symptoms
can resemble those of other conditions, including external parasites
(mites, lice), infections and other allergies, that cause severe
itching.
How is flea allergy
dermatitis treated?
The best way to treat
FAD is to prevent fleas from attacking your pet. Various insecticides
and insect growth regulators that eliminate flea infestations
are available. Your veterinarian can recommend the right product
for your pet. Daily vacuuming and frequent washing of your pet’s
bedding can also reduce your home’s flea population.
To break the “itch-scratch”
cycle that leads to skin infections, your veterinarian may prescribe
corticosteroids, antihistamines and essential fatty acids to relieve
irritation. Warm water baths and anti-itching shampoos and conditioners
also help.
What is most important
to realize is that there is no cure for FAD: your pet will always
be allergic to flea bites and you must be continually on your
guard to prevent further problems. Flea prevention is a must.
Atopy
What is atopy and
what are its symptoms?
Atopy, or environmental
allergy, is an allergic reaction to airborne substances like pollen,
molds, house dust mites and animal dander (skin or hair fragments).
It is most common in dogs, but some cats are also affected. The
incidence of atopy depends as much upon a pet’s genetic susceptibility
as exposure to the allergen itself. (An allergen is any agent
causing the allergic reaction.)
Itching, mostly around
the face, feet, lower chest and belly, is the primary symptom.
Depending on the cause, this may occur only seasonally (pollen)
or year-round (molds, dust mites and dander). “Hot spots”, other
skin infections and ear problems can develop. Frequent scratching
due to chronic irritation may lead to hair loss. These signs can
be seen from 4 months to 7 years of age but are typically first
noticed around 1–3 years of age.
How is atopy diagnosed?
Atopy is confirmed
through a process of elimination. Other causes of itching, such
as fleas, mites, lice, bacterial and yeast infections, as well
as food allergies, must be ruled out first. Your veterinarian
will ask you for a detailed history of your pet’s itching problem.
Skin or serum (blood) testing for different allergens may then
be performed to help pinpoint the exact cause.
How is atopy treated?
Atopy is a lifelong
condition and there is no known cure. However, there are a number
of ways to manage the problem :
- Anti-itch therapy, including the use of drugs, medicated
shampoos and conditioners.
- Removing the source of the allergy from the environment as
much as possible.
- Immunotherapy uses a series of injections to gradually accustom
your pet’s system to the allergen(s) causing the problem. Although
its effectiveness varies, it provides at least some relief for
around 75% of pets with atopy.
- If the atopy is relatively mild (for example, occasional
itching during the pollen season), you can use “Elizabethan”
collars, T-shirts and socks to reduce irritation by physically
preventing your pet from scratching or biting themselves.
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