Overview
Nobody likes the idea of bugs crawling in their hair , and many of us can still remember the madden sensation of having lice as kids . So , when we hear that ourcat has fleas , we can imagine the irritation they feel from have the creepy crawlies in their fur . For some of our feline friends , cat flea bite conduct to an extremely uncomfortable stipulation called flea allergy dermatitis .
Overall , flea allergic reaction dermatitis is the most uncouth skin disease of dogs and cats in most countries of the world . In areas lie with to have fleas , flea allergy dermatitis is the first thing your vet wants to rein out when you institute in your itchy cat . This can be very frustrating for you as the preferred parent , who may not even know your pet has fleas . It can take just one flea bit to stimulate flea allergy dermatitis .
What Is Flea Allergy Dermatitisin Cats?
Flea allergy dermatitis is more than the simple itching that your cat experiences from having fleas crawl around and biting them . Some cats are actually hypersensitised to the flea ’s saliva .
Not all cats are allergic to flea bites . In fact , most cat will go through only modest skin temper as a reply to fleas biting . Your distinctive cat may still have inflammation and hair loss from overgrooming , but it wo n’t be as hard as you ’d see with flea allergy dermatitis . On the other hand , cats who are allergic to flea spit can have a full - blown allergic reply to just one flea insect bite ! Around 2 pct of cats are allergic to flea saliva , with no specific breed predisposition known at this time .
Causesof Flea Allergies in Cats
Flea allergies in cats only chance from flea bites . The mere presence of a flea wo n’t cause a reaction , but it would be very rare for a flea to land on your hombre and NOT judge to take a chomp . The warm environs of a cat ’s pelt is perfect for a flea to ascertain their next meal . flea bite your cat to feed on profligate , which is how your cat gets exposed to the flea ’s spit .
When a flea bites them , the cat ’s soundbox has an overreaction to specific protein in the flea ’s spit , and this exaggerated response manifests as flea allergy dermatitis . Repeated exposure to flea saliva causes the Caterpillar to evolve a hypersensitivity reaction . In most cases , this hypersensitivity reaction manifests as flea allergy dermatitis .
Like how allergies can worsen in citizenry with repeated exposure , your cat ’s signs may aggravate with each reinfestation .
Symptomsof Flea Allergy Dermatitis in Cats
Most sign of flea allergic reaction in cats are related to the condition of your cat ’s hide . Some pet parents may refer to this as a flea rash . The distinctive signs of flea allergic reaction dermatitis in Arabian tea include :
While alive fleas and flea shit can for sure be present with a flea allergic reaction in African tea , keep in idea that cats are fastidious groomers . It ’s unwashed for cat parents not to even know that their flea - allergic guy has flea !
In some cases , a condition known as eosinophilic granuloma complex ( ECG ) may also occur . With ECG , your cat may evolve lip ulceration , raised memorial tablet on the pelt , or granulomas of the skin .
Diagnosinga Flea Allergy in Cats
In most sheath , your veterinarian will be able to name flea allergic reaction dermatitis in your cat with a physical test . If your pet has the characteristic skin allergy signs and the veterinarian finds a flea or flea dirt , a flea allergic reaction will be their presumptive diagnosis .
The veterinarian may apply a flea comb to check for flea or filth . Flea dirt is the excrement of flea , which turns ruddy or a rusty color when wet because it ’s abide blood . If the veterinary finds chocolate-brown or black jot on your cat , they may wet the specks with a newspaper towel to see if they change by reversal this characteristic rust red color .
Typically , the veterinary surgeon wo n’t require to run blood piece of work . However , if your cat is very new or has a very high routine of flea on them , the flea can actually feed on your cat enough to causeanemia . If the veterinarian surmise anaemia base on their strong-arm examination , the veterinarian may at least urge tally to ensure your computed tomography is n’t anemic from blood loss . Signs of anemia would include pale gums , weakness , and inanition .
In most cases , the veterinarian will recommend treating your pet intensively for flea allergy dermatitis for at least six hebdomad . If the fleas are depart after this clock time but the itch and red skin continue , then your vet may urge solid food elimination diets or tegument testing for allergies . While flea allergies are the top causal agent of itchy skin condition in areas with flea , environmental allergies andfood allergiescan also make pelt inflammation in cats .
TreatingFlea Allergy Dermatitis in Cats
as luck would have it , there ’s a solution to flea allergy dermatitis in cat — keep the fleas off your pet ! The hard part about a flea infestation is that the environment must also be treated . While 5 percent of the fleas in an infestation are adult flea which can jump onto your pet and bite them , the remaining 95 per centum are still in earlier life stages within the environment — testicle , larvae , and pupae . You must disrupt the lifespan cycle to halt the infestation . Most insecticides will kill fleas but preventing reinfestation is the on-going challenge .
To treat the active infestation , your vet may recommend an unwritten medication ( nitenpyram ) that can chop-chop down adult flea on your ducky within 6 time of day . This medication does not have residuary action , so reinfestation is not prevent . This is why the veterinarian will also recommend a routine flea and tick preventative , such as imidacloprid , fipronil , fluralaner , or selamectin . These smudge - on treatments have proficient efficacy , condom , and residuary activity . Other prevention options can include chewable pad , flea collars , and flea spraying . As a note , situation - on treatments must be apply directly to the skin , so make certain you ’re parting the fur when you put the spot - on on your pet .
Permethrin is in many flea treatments for dogs , but this medication is very life-threatening for CT . This ingredient can make regurgitation , diarrhea , tremors , raptus , and dying in cats . Ensure the intersection you utilise is label for CAT ! Do not use any mathematical product that lists permethrin as an ingredient on your quat .
All that skin irritation and scratching can lead in a subaltern skin contagion . If this is the case for your Caterpillar , your vet will dictate antibiotic to facilitate treat the contagion . If your pet ’s skin allergy is temperate to severe , the veterinary surgeon may also give a steroid shot or dictate unforesightful - term steroids like Pediapred to give your pet more contiguous relief . Steroids serve cut inflammation and can slow the immune organization ’s overreaction to the flea ’s spittle .
Most cat cover intervention at home . Hospitalization is not typically necessary , but very untried , sick , or anemic animals may postulate to stay in the infirmary for monitoring or , seldom , a blood blood transfusion .
When it follow to managing the flea in the environment , there are several steps you could take :
If you ca n’t get in soon to see your veterinary surgeon , it ’s a good idea to bathe your cat if they ’ll stomach it . you could utilise a bozo - friendly shampoo , but veritable dish scoop such asDawnis secure in a pinch . Whether your computerized tomography reserve the bath or not , you’re able to apply a flea coxcomb to help remove more flea . Some flea and ticking preventative are available without a prescription drug and can help you begin fetch the infestation under dominance .
How to PreventFlea Allergy Dermatitis in Cats
Remember that it can only take one flea bite to keep your flea - allergic cat fidgety ! While the undertaking may seem scare , bar is cardinal to keeping your pet healthy and happy .
Keep your cat and any in - contact pets on monthly flea control class - orotund . flea can continue to dwell indoors during the winter months . While the warm months of the year have typically been think flea season ( yr - round in some southern and coastal areas , saltation to fall in northern areas ) , flea season has been expanding to regard more months of the twelvemonth . Year - bout prevention is the best way to keep your pet from experience an allergic reaction .
Wild animals , community khat , isolated animals , and darling you share a fence - line with can all be flea reservoir . Keeping your Arabian tea indoors reduces their potential exposure to Modern flea infestations .
Remember that a large part of a flea infestation occur in the surround . even vacuuming can help hitch fleas who may have hitched a drive on your dog during their afternoon walk .
If you are struggling to hold a flea infestation , view speak with your veterinarian or a pest specialist . Once you get disembarrass of a flea infestation , prevention of future infestations becomes easy . With longanimity , you may help your flea - allergic cat get back to their common kittenish ego .
