Treatment Of Flea Allergy Dermatitis
Your veterinarian can help you determine the best way to treat your dog if hes having an allergic reaction to fleas.
Some possible forms of treatment include the following:
- Cytopoint: an anti-itch injection that lasts four to eight weeks
- Apoquel: an immune-modulating pill that helps with both itch and inflammation
- Cyclosporine : an immune-modulating pill that targets inflammation
There are some over-the-counter medications you can use, like antihistamines, but these wont be as effective as prescriptions and you should ideally use them under the guidance of your veterinarian.
If you choose to give your dog an antihistamine, make sure it doesnt contain decongestants or alcohol, which can be dangerous for him.
What Is The Treatment For Flea Allergy Dermatitis
Since the flea saliva causes the reaction, the most important treatment for flea allergy is to prevent fleabites. Most flea infestations occur in the warmer weather, but can occur year round. Strict flea control is the foundation of successful treatment. There are many highly effective flea control products, both for treating the cat and for controlling fleas in the environment . Modern monthly flea preventives have made it easier and less expensive than ever to prevent fleas from affecting your cat.
“The most important treatment for flea allergy is to prevent fleabites.”
Speak to your veterinarian about the best preventive for your cat.
How Are Food Allergies Diagnosed
If a food allergy is suspected, your vet may recommend a diet trial. This is where your cats diet is changed to an alternative diet that is very unlikely to cause allergies. There are usually two types of option for this: a fixed recipe diet, or a hydrolyzed diet.
The fixed recipe diet is one that contains a single specific source of protein and guarantees the same ingredients in each batch of the food. By selecting protein and carbohydrate sources that your cat does not usually eat, chances are they will not be allergic to the ingredients.
The second option, a hydrolyzed diet, has been processed so that the potential allergens in the diet have been cut up, so that the allergic response wont be triggered. Hydrolyzed diets are usually quite expensive, but it is very rare for animals to have allergic responses to them.
If there is no change by the end of the diet trial, it may be that your cats allergies are triggered by something non-dietary. This means other diagnostic tests may be needed to find out what is causing their allergies.
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Dermatitis Caused By Disease
Apart from allergies, dermatitis in cats can be a symptom of underlying disease. Skin damage caused by sunburn is common in white cats. If you notice any crusty skin on your cats ears you need to get her seen by a vet. Skin cancer is frequently diagnosed in pure white or albino cats.
Arthritis is a common health problem in elderly cats just as it is with people. If your kitty is a senior, she may be finding it hard to groom herself. Poor mobility and painful joints can make it difficult for her to reach her back. Matted fur can cause skin irritation.
Flea Allergy Dermatitis In Cats And Dogs
Heres something you probably didnt know: There are more than 2,000 species of fleas. But the cat flea is the one most often responsible for the misery of cats and dogs. And for some pets, fleas are not only an annoyance, they are also a source of an allergic reaction called flea allergy dermatitis . A pet that is allergic to flea saliva might scratch and chew at flea bites, and eventually suffer skin inflammation, hair loss, and sores. In addition to attending whatever sores or infections have resulted from the bites, treatment involves removing fleas from the pet and the pets environment and keeping them off the pet and out of the pets living and play spaces.
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Flea Allergy Dermatitis In Dogs And Cats: Symptoms Treatment And Prevention
Flea bites expose pets to flea saliva which some pets become allergic to over time. This allergic reaction is known as flea allergy dermatitis, or FAD.
FAD is an allergic skin condition that mostly affects pets aged over one year and commonly occurs in dogs and cats with underlying skin diseases like atopic dermatitis.1, 2 Pets with FAD can damage their skin by constantly scratching, biting or licking, and this damage can lead to secondary infection.
How Long Does Flea Allergy Dermatitis Last
If fleas continue to bite your allergic cat, your pet will likely experience discomfort until the fleas are treated. During that time, secondary skin issues from clawing and scratching – including open sores and skin lesions – often occur. Unfortunately, a cat with FAD will most likely be sensitive to flea bites throughout their life, but you can help keep these flare-ups at bay by preventing the flea infestations that cause them.
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Talk To Your Veterinarian About How To Get Rid Of Flea Allergy Dermatitis
On top of using a fast-acting, effective flea control to minimize flea bites, your veterinarian may advise the following flea allergy dermatitis treatments to help heal your pets damaged skin, eliminate bacteria and alleviate the itching:
- Topical or systemic antibiotics
- Topical or systemic anti-inflammatories
- Medicated shampoos and conditioners
Always consult your veterinarian when using a medicated shampoo and/or conditioner in combination with K9 Advantix®II or Advantage®II. Apply flea treatment on a dry coat, then wait 48 hours before bathing your pet.
Do not use K9 Advantix®II on cats
- 1. Noli, C, Foster, A and Rosenkrantz, W, Veterinary Allergy, 2013, 1st edn, Wiley Blackwell, New Jersey.
- 2. Miller, WH, Griffin, CE and Campbell, KL, Muller and Kirks Small Animal Dermatology, 2013, 7th edn, Elsevier Mosby, Missouri.
- 3. Noli, C, Foster, A and Rosenkrantz, W, Veterinary Allergy, 2013, 1st edn, Wiley Blackwell, New Jersey.
- 4. 2 Miller, WH, Griffin, CE and Campbell, KL, Muller and Kirks Small Animal Dermatology, 2013, 7th edn, Elsevier Mosby, Missouri.
- 5. Mehlhorn, H, Hansen, O and Mencke, N, Comparative study on the effects of three insecticides on developmental stages of the cat flea : a light and electron microscopic analysis of in vivo and in vitro experiments, Parasitology Research, 2001, 87: 198-207.
- 6. Cruthers L, Bock E Evaluation of how quckly imidacloprid kills fleas on dogs. Suppl Comp Cont Educ Pract Vet 19 :27
Is It A Flea Allergy
While FAD is fairly common in cats, food or other environmental allergies can cause similar symptoms. According to The Merck Veterinary Manual, most FAD cases occur in late summer, which is the peak season for fleas. It is also rare for a cat to develop FAD before 1 year of age. If you do have evidence of fleas, either on your cat or in your home, and have ruled out other possible causes, the cat most likely has FAD. Remember, if your cat is excessively licking his fur, you might not find actual evidence of fleas on his coat because hes licked them all off!
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How Is A Flea Allergy In Cats Diagnosed
The easiest way to diagnose a flea allergy in your cat is to run a flea comb through his fur. If youve noticed your cat scratching at himself more often than usual, it may point to a flea allergy. Combing through his fur may reveal fleas, and if so, you can likely deduce that they are the cause and treat accordingly.
However, sometimes cats have groomed away the majority of the issue and you wont find any fleas when you comb through their fur. This doesnt necessarily mean that a flea allergy is not the cause, despite the fact that many allergens and other substances can cause similar symptoms.
If this is the case, you will need to have your veterinarian conduct allergy testing to determine what it is in your cats environment that is causing the reaction, or perhaps even something like a feline food allergy. Your vet will test your cats sensitivity to flea saliva as well as to other allergens.
You may even move forward and treat your cat for fleas even if no fleas are found during your physical examination. If the symptoms improve, youll know it was indeed a flea allergy that was causing the reaction. But if not, you will need to keep searching to find the cause.
Signs Of Feline Flea Allergy Dermatitis
If your cat has some or all of the signs listed below, flea allergy dermatitis may be the culprit. These signs can all be caused by other allergies and skin conditions, so a veterinary exam and possibly some skin testing may be required for proper diagnosis.
- Intense scratching of the skin, especially around the face, head, and neck.
- Bumps on the skin.
- Redness, open wounds, and oozing sores on the skin.
- Hair loss.
- The presence of fleas and/or flea dirt on the cat’s skin. You can learn how to check for this here: “”
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Cat Flea Allergy: Treatments And Home Remedies
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Fleas are tiny, troublesome parasites that feed on their hosts blood, namely our pets. These fleas carry diseases, and their saliva can lead to the development of flea allergy. Flea saliva can be found in the flea bites, which can then cause severe itching or an allergic reaction.
Even humans can get bitten by these fleas; however, the bites will show up and affect animals differently. Flea allergy dermatitis, simply known as FAD, is the most common skin problem amongst pets in the world. Cases involving cats were reported to have increased to about 67 per cent over the past ten years. Whether you are living in a rural area or in a high apartment, you can still have fleas in your home, which makes your cat vulnerable to flea allergy dermatitis.
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How To Treat Flea Allergy Dermatitis
Flea allergy dermatitis is a skin disease that affects the cats and dogs living in the house. Its symptoms are so bothersome for the pets that you feel the need to provide them with quick relief. Read this article for helpful info about how to treat this dermatological problem.
Flea allergy dermatitis is a skin disease that affects the cats and dogs living in the house. Its symptoms are so bothersome for the pets that you feel the need to provide them with quick relief. Read this article for helpful info about how to treat this dermatological problem.
The problem of flea allergy dermatitis arises when your pets fur is heavily infested with fleas. These fleas feed themselves with the blood sucked out from the pets body. While sucking blood, fleas release saliva to prevent coagulation of blood. This saliva is responsible for the allergic skin reaction that leads to dermatitis. In this condition, the pets experience such severe itching sensation that they start scratching and biting their skin. As a result, the skin becomes red and inflamed. Red skin rashes appear on various parts of the body. Too much scratching of these rashes can cause secondary infection in them. If flea allergy dermatitis is left untreated for long, then it can lead to hair loss in the affected part of the skin.
What About Steroids Or Other Drugs
Corticosteroids can be used to block the allergic reaction and give immediate relief to a cat suffering from the intense itching of FAD. This is often a necessary part of treating flea allergy dermatitis, especially during the initial stages. Some cats respond best to long-acting injections and others to oral medication .
“Your veterinarian will discuss the pros and cons of the various treatments for FAD with you during the examination, and will recommend the safest and most effective treatment plan for your pet’s individual needs.”
While it is true that cats are more resistant to the negative side effects of steroids than humans and dogs, significant side effects of steroids can occur if not used properly . For this reason, the goal is to administer the smallest amount of steroid needed to keep the cat comfortable. For some patients, combining corticosteroids with antihistamines and/or omega-fatty acid supplements will provide the ideal form of relief. If your cat develops a secondary bacterial skin infection because of the scratching, antibiotics may also be necessary. Occasionally topical treatments with shampoos and sprays may be considered.
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My Cat Has Flea Allergy Dermatitis Symptoms So Why Can’t I Find Fleas On Them
Because cats are so meticulous, it can be difficult to find fleas or flea dirt on them. And because animals with FAD may experience a severe reaction after only a few flea bites, it can be even more difficult to find the source of the problem. Look for fleas or flea dirt around your cat’s face and neck, where they can’t groom as thoroughly. Or bring your cat to the vet for a closer inspection to determine if FAD is the cause of your cat’s discomfort.
My Cat Is Allergic To Fleas: What Do I Do
- Fact Checked
You might not have guessed it, but cats can get fleas just as frequently as dogs do. In fact, flea bite hypersensitivity, or flea allergy dermatitis in cats, is the most common skin disease. There is even a specific species of flea called the cat flea, which is actually the flea that is most often responsible for the allergies found in dogs as well.
If a cat is allergic to fleas, he will scratch, bite, and lick at the bites that may be all over his body, which can be quite a bothersome condition, making life very uncomfortable for your furry feline friend. When cats are allergic, this incessant scratching and licking can lead to skin inflammation in cats, hair loss, and sores that make your pet more susceptible to developing secondary infections.
In order to provide your cat with some relief, you will have to take steps to remove the fleas from your cats environment, which may be easier said than done. This post is going to look into how to relieve the symptoms of a cat allergic to fleas and arm you with the right information you need to fight your cats flea infestation. Youll know what signs to look for as well as how to properly treat a flea allergy so you and your cat can go back to enjoying your lives together.
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Giving Injections To Cats
Certain medical conditions can be controlled by the use of drugs that are only available in an injectable format. In many cases, cat owners are willing and able to administer these medications at home. Most cats do not seem to mind routine injections which are given in the subcutaneous tissue. This handout provides step by step instructions. Dispose of the used needles and syringes properly.
Cat Flea Allergy Symptoms & Management
Fleas are annoying pests that bite our pets , feeding on blood. They carry diseases and the saliva in their bites often leads to a cat flea allergy symptoms developing. An allergy to flea bites causes Flea Allergy Dermatitis . This is a fancy term for the skin problems resulting from the allergic reaction to flea saliva.
Cats, dogs, and humans can all react, but the way it shows up on the skin looks different. The hallmark in all of them is that it creates a very itchy cat or dog. FAD is the most common skin disease in pets in the world.
Dont assume your cat cant have fleas because you live in a high-rise apartment and your kitty has never touched a paw on grass. Fleas have a way of hitchhiking on humans to reach your kitty inside. Anyone can have fleas in their home!
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Clinical Findings Of Flea Allergy Dermatitis In Dogs And Cats
Clinical signs associated with FAD are variable and depend on frequency of flea exposure, duration of disease, presence of secondary or other concurrent skin disease, extent of hypersensitivity, and effects of previous or current treatment. Nonallergic animals may have few clinical signs other than occasional scratching due to annoyance caused by flea bites. Those patients that are allergic will typically have a dermatitis characterized by pruritus.
In dogs, the pruritus associated with FAD can be intense and may manifest over the entire body. Classic clinical signs are papulocrustous lesions distributed on the lower back, tailhead, and caudal and inner thighs. Dogs may be particularly sensitive in the flanks, caudal and medial thighs, ventral abdomen, lower back, neck, and ears. Affected dogs are likely to be restless and uncomfortable, spending much time scratching, licking, rubbing, chewing, and even nibbling at the skin. Hair may be stained brown from the licking and is often broken off. Common secondary lesions include areas of alopecia, erythema, hyperpigmented skin, scaling, papules, and broken papules covered with reddish brown crusts. The rump and tailhead areas are typically the first, most evident, areas affected. As FAD progresses and becomes chronic, the areas become alopecic, lichenified, and hyperpigmented, and secondary bacterial and yeast infections occur.