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Fix Those Feline Allergies With The Best Discount Pet Medications

Flea allergy dermatitis is the most common allergy affecting cats. This is a reaction to the saliva release by fleas as they bite your cat and should be suspected if your cat has bumps around his neck or near the base of his tail. Environmental allergies to the pollen from grasses or to dust mites in the home can be another source of feline discomfort. Cats with food allergies may require several weeks or months of adding one ingredient at a time to their diet to identify the source of the problem.

For cats, parasites can be a serious concern. Tapeworm in cats can make fur appear dull and lifeless and is easily diagnosed by the tiny white specks that are visible around the anus. Most kittens require worming when young and older cats may also require medication to kill parasitic worms in their system. A secondary problem for cats with skin irritated by allergic reactions is the increased chance of a secondary infection. Skin that is raw from scratching provides a fertile ground for bacterial and fungal infections to gain hold. Treating the initial skin reaction with itch relief treatment and removing the source of the allergen causing the reaction will keep the skin healthy and able to resist bacteria and fungi in the cat's environment.

Cats groom themselves several times a day and owners may not realize a skin problem exists until there is a thin spot in the coat. Incessant grooming can turn a small area of irritated skin into a health problem requiring treatment.

If the cause of the allergy is identified, it is possible for your vet to provide allergy shots to reduce the sensitivity of your cat to the allergen. This is not an exact science and may not provide relief for all felines.If the problem is a food allergy, your veterinarian may recommend a specific cat food designed for feline allergies. If changing the diet of your cat you will need to allow two months at least before deciding whether the change in diet has been beneficial.

Chlorpheniramine and antihistamines are frequently used to tret cat skin allergies. if the problem is severe, corticosteroids such as prednisone may be prescribed by your vet. Steroidal treatments reduce itching almost immediately but used long term can cause serious side effects. Itchy skin in cats is often a symptom of flea allergy dermatitis. When diarrhea and vomiting are present with hair loss and itching, the culprit is likely to be food allergies. The itching from an allergic reaction to foods is concentrated on the face, neck and ears. If inhaled substances of flea allergy dermatitis are the problem, the cat's entire body may be one mass of irritated skin.

Only one-third of cats with food allergies will display symptoms of the digestive tract. Food allergies in cats tend to appear more often in young cats and are found in all breeds and equally in male and female felines.Atopica for cats utilizes cyclosporine which has been proven to work well in fighting skin problems caused by allergic reactions. Atopica acts by suppressing the body's immune response so should not be given to cats with infections or known immune disorders. Because Atopica can leave cats with a reduced defense against infections, it should not be used on cats with FeLV (feline leukemia) and FIV (feline AIDS). When being treated with Atopica, cats should be kept indoors to limit their exposure to infection and disease.

Cat allergies usually affect the skin and coat of the animal but can also be identified through other symptoms. Identifying the allergy is often a process of elimination just as it is with many allergies that people suffer.It may not be as important to find the source of your cat's allergy as it is to relieve the skin discomfort caused by the allergic reaction. For feline skin problems, addressing the symptoms is the first step to solving the problem.

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Article by: D.Thurmond,D.V.M. | Total views: 86 | Word Count: 649

About the Author

Is your cat scratching and chewing, sneezing and shaking his head? Stop feline allergies. Buy prescription and non-prescription meds for cat allergies at Pet Scripts Direct directly from a practicing veterinarian.


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