Content
- Feline flea allergy
- How is flea allergy manifested in cats?
- Diagnosis and treatment of feline flea allergy
- It is important to eliminate fleas from the house
Fleas are very small insects that only reach 3.3 millimeters in diameter, but they may be capable of causing real damage to our pets, as in addition to being very agile, they have a specialized anatomical structure that allows them to feed from the blood of your guests.
A flea infestation is in any case a problem that must be treated as soon as possible, but when the organism suffers an exaggerated response to the aggression of this insect (an allergic reaction), the complications are much greater.
In this article by PeritoAnimal, we will deepen the theme of flea bite allergy in cats, to be able to offer the best care to your feline and recognize if you actually suffer from this condition.
Feline flea allergy
Cats are very independent, but like any other animal we decide to adopt, need a lot of care as they are susceptible to suffer multiple illnesses, including allergy in cats.
Allergy is an alteration of the immune system that occurs when faced with an allergen (a substance that the body recognizes as allergic), causing an exaggerated reaction that usually manifests itself through the release of very high levels of histamine (inflammatory substance).
A cat allergic to flea bites has a immune system that changes when a flea sucks blood (more specifically, the allergen is flea saliva), putting in place a complex physiological and pathological mechanism.
How is flea allergy manifested in cats?
Cats affected by this type of allergy, also known as flea allergy dermatitis, will begin to get symptoms from the moment the bite occurs. The main symptoms of this allergic reaction are as follows:
- lick excessively
- Alopecia caused by excessive licking
- back skin
- Peeling zones
- intense itching
Alopecia usually appears when the allergic reaction has occurred several times. If you notice that your cat exhibits these symptoms when it has fleas on its body, it shouldn't take long to take him to the vet.
Diagnosis and treatment of feline flea allergy
The diagnosis of allergic dermatitis to flea bites is carried out mainly through the clinical and physical exploration history of the symptoms and signs that present themselves. The veterinarian may decide to take a blood test to confirm the diagnosis, as affected cats will have an abnormally high number of eosinophils, a type of white blood cell or defense cell.
The mainstay of treatment is to eliminate fleas from cats to reduce allergic reactions. topical treatment with corticosteroids and/or antihistamines designed to reduce symptoms associated with the allergic reaction.
Immunomodulatory therapy lacks effectiveness in cats, so treatment focuses on relieving itchiness and preventing contact with the allergen.
It is important to eliminate fleas from the house
If you carry out an exhaustive deworming of the cat, but do not pay attention to the fleas that may have been in our pet's environment, the infestation and the consequent allergic reaction will not take long to occur again.
For eliminate any fleas from your house we recommend the following:
- Perform an exhaustive cleaning of the entire house, taking care that the products you use are not toxic for your cat in the recommended doses.
- If you have a vacuum, this is the best way to clean the house, as you will not only be able to eliminate the fleas but also eliminate all the eggs.
- Clean all your cat's accessories, including all her toys.
- If your cat has a bed, wash it using a program that uses hot water.
- To prevent the presence of fleas in your home again, nothing better than having some lavender plants, whose scent acts as a repellent.
house cleaning is as important as deworming the cat.Therefore, it should be understood as another phase in the treatment of feline flea allergy.
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.