Cat Allergic to Fleas

Flea Bite Hypersensitivity in Cats

Flea bite hypersensitivity or flea allergic dermatitis is very common in felines. In reality, it is the most typical skin disease to be identified in animals. Flea allergies typically develop when felines are young (less than one and up to five years of age), however can begin at any age. Flea saliva is really believed to be the cause for the allergic reaction or level of sensitivity.

The flea life process consists of the adult flea, egg, larva and pupa. Adult fleas do bite, but can not survive long if they are not on an animal. When the adult flea lays its eggs on the host feline it will fall off, leaving the eggs to mutate through the rest of their life cycles. The remainder of the flea’s life cycle then occurs on the host cat, and the generational cycle continues and grows till the flea population has actually been eradicated totally.

Symptoms of Flea Allergy in Cats

Flea bite hypersensitivity or flea allergic dermatitis typically causes severe itching, a condition that is medically referred to as pruritis. Considering that as couple of as one or more flea bites a week can cause pruritis, symptoms will often persist even after some form of flea control has been used. Many cats will have symptoms that intensify with age, but symptoms are likewise typically episodic. Cats particularly will in some cases struggle with an associated conditon called neurodermatoses, a behavioral problem that happens as the outcome of stress and anxiety related flea bite hypersensitivity.

Many owners will first see frequent and severe itching and scratching, loss of hair, and scabs on their cat’s skin. Often times the hind end is affected more than the front of the body or the head, however, felines that are struggling with an allergy to fleas can have lesions anywhere on the body. Furthermore, fleas or flea dirt might or might not be easily noticeable.

Diagnosis

Using a flea comb to check your feline, fleas or flea dirt may be seen more easily. Skin tests for mites or bacterial skin diseases might likewise be advised if the fleas can not be seen. Often the best diagnostic technique is just to treat for fleas.

Treatment for Flea Allergy in Cats

Flea control and avoidance is necessary for felines with flea bite hypersensitivity. There many options on the marketplace for eliminating the adult fleas for a period of time, but all need to be duplicated (as suggested) for continuous flea control. Treatments often are applied as spot-on treatments, which are topical treatments that are applied to a small unreachable area, usually at the top back of the neck where the cat is not able to lick it off. Sometimes, oral products might be more useful and practical. Flea shampoos can also be helpful for young animals or for an intense flea problem, however constant management with one of the long-lasting items is necessary.

Flea control for outdoor animals is essentially impossible, although the current flea control items that are available may be sufficient for short term treatment, as long as your house does not end up being infested. There are lots of animal items that treat for fleas during their immature stages of life (i.e., eggs). Nevertheless, if the house or lawn has actually become infested, ecological treatment will be required. Fleas may in fact bite humans in your house if flea medications cause them to leave their animal host to look for another host.

Cats that are allergic to fleas might require steroids or antihistamines to combat their sensitivity to the bites. Also, if a secondary bacterial infection develops as the result of open sores, antibiotics might be prescribed. Follow-up exams are frequently required for figuring out how treatments are progressing.

Living and Management

The most important consider managing a feline with fleas is the application of regular treatment dosages on a prompt basis. Because it takes only one or 2 bites for a flea allergic animal to begin itching, you will have the best results when you follow flea control items. Other factors, like frequent bathing, and whether you have decided to use spot-on or other topical products, will identify how long to wait in between item applications.

Reyus Mammadli/ author of the article

I have had pets since childhood: cats, guinea pigs, rabbits, geese, chickens, ducks, parrots, aquarium fish and dogs (in the yard). Of course, I constantly encountered diseases of pets and treated them. Glad to be able to share my skills and experience, as well as advice on caring for and adapting these critters and birds.

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