Cats, like humans, can suffer from allergies. In contrast to human allergies, a cat with inhaled or swallowed allergies will show signs of itching, such as scratching, gnawing, and biting. Atopic dermatitis in cats is one such allergic disease.
What Is Atopic Dermatitis in Cats?
Atopic dermatitis in cats, also known as feline atopy or non-flea, non-food allergic dermatitis, is a frequent allergy illness. In fact, after flea allergy dermatitis, feline atopic dermatitis is the second most commonly identified allergy in cats. When cats are exposed to an allergen, such as pollen, mold spores, dust particles, or even ingredients that cause food responses, they develop atopic dermatitis. Allergens can be breathed in or eaten. Feline atopic dermatitis can be seasonal or non-seasonal, and many cats are diagnosed at an early age when most allergens manifest in cats.
Feline Atopic Dermatitis Symptoms
A cat with feline atopic dermatitis may gnaw, lick, or scratch its entire body. The paws, face, ears, axilla (or armpit areas), and front of the legs are usually the most affected. In contrast, cats with flea allergic dermatitis gnaw and lick their tails, rump, crotch, and thigh area. Of fact, a cat with feline atopic dermatitis could also have flea allergic dermatitis, which would result in scabby lesions and hair loss in both places.
We don't entirely understand why cats have allergies, just as we don't fully understand why people get allergies. However, we can figure out what they're allergic to, which can aid with treatment.
Prevention & Treatment
Managing your cat's acute skin infections is the first step in treating feline atopic dermatitis. Scratching and biting are the causes of these illnesses. To determine if a crusty spot has bacteria, yeast, or both, your veterinarian will take cytology samples, which are often acquired by rubbing a piece of scotch tape over a lesion. Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial skin infections, whereas antifungal drugs are used to treat fungal infections.
Your veterinarian may prescribe steroids to help relieve your cat's itching right away. Corticosteroids are quite successful at reducing itching and inflammation, but they do have some disadvantages. They have both short-term and long-term adverse effects when used.
They may cause your cat to have a temporary increase in appetite, thirst, and urination, requiring you to clean out the litter box more frequently and your cat to ask for food more frequently. Long-term use can cause complications such as diabetes and have an impact on the immune system. Your veterinarian can help you figure out if corticosteroids are right for your cat. They can also assist you in determining the lowest effective corticosteroid dose for your cat, as well as monitor your cat's bloodwork for any changes in organ function.
Identifying what your cat is allergic to is the most effective long-term treatment for feline atopic dermatitis. Your veterinarian may recommend that you begin with a food trial, which is placing your cat on a hydrolyzed diet prescribed by your veterinarian in order to determine which protein your cat is allergic to (as cats are more likely to be allergic to proteins versus grains). The term "hydrolyzed" simply means that the protein source has been broken down into its component amino acids, making it impossible for your cat's immune system to distinguish whether the protein is poultry, beef, or fish. While you wait for your cat's symptoms to go away, you'll need to feed them this diet solely for 8 to 12 weeks. This excludes all other foods and treats.
If your cat's symptoms go away while they're on the prescription food, it's most probable that they have a food allergy. If your cat has a food allergy, it's best to maintain them on hydrolyzed food for the rest of their lives to avoid allergic flare-ups.
A veterinary dermatologist will be required to screen some cats. Intradermal testing and even blood testing are frequently used to establish whether allergens are harming your cat. The lab can make immunotherapy drops that you may administer to your cat orally to assist build up their immune system once it's been discovered what in your environment your cat is allergic to. Many cats will require long-term drugs, such as cyclosporine, to help avoid flare-ups, but your veterinarian will discuss their suggestions with you based on how your cat is doing.
Unfortunately, there is currently no way to prevent feline atopic dermatitis from developing. Recognizing the symptoms and keeping track of your cat's flare-ups, on the other hand, can help keep your cat as comfortable as possible when they have allergies.
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