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Feline
Allergies and Their Symptoms
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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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