One of the most private problems with whichpet lovers face, is flea dermatitis. In cats, the causes of this disease are usually banal infection with blood-sucking parasites. The fact is that when a flea bite secretes saliva. In addition, it contains substances that can provoke an allergic reaction in a pet.
The first signs of dermatitis appear in animals.usually one to two weeks after the bite. In this case, the actual fleas themselves on the body of a pet (especially if the owners take good care of it) may not be present by this time. It happens that for a cat with sensitive skin, even one or two parasite bites, jumping from another animal, or, for example, from the owners' outdoor shoes, are enough. Of course, at the first signs of the development of a pet allergy, you must begin to heal.
This disease can be diagnosed by the following symptoms:
The skin of a cat suffering from flea dermatitis,usually hot. At the same time, the animal constantly feels itchy and burning. Especially strong scratching can be observed around the base of the tail, on the abdomen and behind the ears. Another symptom of dermatitis may be periodic twitching of the skin on the back, accompanied by meowing. External signs of this disease are pronounced. However, flea dermatitis in a cat can be easily confused with other types of allergic reactions. And, therefore, choose the wrong treatment. Therefore, in the veterinary clinics when diagnosing this kind of dermatitis, among other things, intradermal studies are necessarily conducted.
By the nature of the course of this disease ischronic, acute or subacute. The last two forms are not considered particularly dangerous. However, if treated improperly, acute dermatitis in a cat can easily become chronic. In this case, all the symptoms of the disease in the pet will disappear by themselves. But at the same time in the future they will constantly appear in the period of relapses. Curing chronic dermatitis is much more difficult than acute. Therefore, at the first signs of the disease, it is advisable to show the cat to the veterinarian.
Most often, this disease affects catsage from 10 months to 3 years. In particular, hairless and short-haired animals are predisposed to it. Flea dermatitis is one of the diseases belonging to the seasonal group. Most often, cats suffer from this form of allergy in the warm season. That is, when the risk of a flea bite is highest. Therefore, it is in spring, summer and autumn that the condition of the pet's skin and hair should be monitored especially carefully.
Before starting to treat flea dermatitiscats, you should make sure that there are no more parasites on their skin. If they are detected, the first step is to take measures to expel them. To do this, you can use any suitable means: collars, shampoos, sprays, drops, etc. To treat fleas you need not only wool, but also animal toys. If the cat has its own litter, it should be replaced with a new one. Of course, if the house has other pets, be sure to handle them. Otherwise, treatment for parasites will be ineffective. To prevent re-infection with fleas, it is also desirable to limit the movement of the animal in the house to one room. In this case, carpets and upholstered furniture in the room selected for the temporary isolation of a pet should be sprayed with anti-parasitic spray.
The presence of parasites on the animal's skin can be determined by the following features:
In order to accurately diagnose the presence of fleas, the cat can be rubbed back against a white towel. If reddish-brown particles remain on it, the animal certainly has parasites.
Riding a flea pet at the same timeone should try to alleviate his suffering due to burning and itching. Most often, flea allergic dermatitis in cats is treated with glucocorticosteroids. Preparations of this group relieve inflammation and reduce itching. Most often, these agents are administered to animals by injection. But it is also allowed to feed them in pill form. Cat should take pills within 2-3 weeks. The dose should be gradually reduced.
Glucocorticosteroids are besthelp from a disease like flea dermatitis in cats. Treatment after the end of the course of medication should be continued with the use of special medicines that support the effect obtained. Relieve itching in an animal is possible not only with the help of tablets and injections, but also through various kinds of shampoos and other external agents. Sometimes antihistamines are also used to treat dermatitis. Of course, the specific means most suitable for the cat should be prescribed by a veterinarian.
Actually the cat dermatitis itself, as alreadymentioned causes saliva flea. However, in addition to various kinds of allergens, it may contain all sorts of pathogenic microorganisms. Therefore, flea dermatitis is often accompanied by other diseases that are no less dangerous to the health and sometimes to the life of a pet. These include first of all:
Let's talk about them in more detail.Atopic dermatitis has the same symptoms as flea. This is primarily itching, scratching and redness. However, unlike a flea, atopic dermatitis in cats cannot be cured. With the right approach, it can only be more or less successfully controlled. Treat the cat periodically in case of such a disease will have a lifetime. Suitable drugs in this case should also be prescribed by a veterinarian.
Simultaneously, a bacterial skin infection withdermatitis may occur due to the fact that the animal, while combing the wounds, introduces various kinds of pathogenic microorganisms into them. Mostly staphylococci or spirochetes. Symptoms of a bacterial infection can be fever, vomiting, drowsiness, loss of appetite in an animal. Treat such diseases should be required. Otherwise, the cat may develop severe complications.
К сожалению, средства, предотвращающего развитие allergies in cats to flea saliva, veterinarians have not yet invented. Therefore, in order to protect the animal from the development of dermatitis, first of all it is necessary to exclude the possibility of its infection with parasites. Allowing an allergic cat to walk outside is not recommended. Most often, fleas are picked up by their pets by contact with their homeless tribesmen. If the owners still prefer to walk their pet from time to time, you need to take it out on your hands. The fact is that fleas very often attack pets in the stairwell. They penetrate here from the basements, where homeless cats prefer to spend the night.
Разумеется, во время самой прогулки нужно следить ensuring that the animal does not communicate with street counterparts. In addition, you should not walk with a cat in places with high humidity. In such zones, fleas without a carrier can live from several weeks to a year. Also, in order to exclude the possibility of the development of such a disease as flea dermatitis, the fur of a cat should be periodically (approximately once a month) treated with special means. This could be, for example, Advantage or Front Line Plus. Buy high-quality anti-flea drugs today can be both in the usual pet stores, and through the Internet. When choosing a particular product, be sure to pay attention to its expiration date.
So, as you can see, fleadermatitis in cats - the disease is quite dangerous and unpleasant. It is imperative to treat it with antiparasitic and pruritic preparations. And only under the guidance of a veterinarian. Otherwise, the cat may develop a chronic form of the disease, or there will be all sorts of serious complications as a result of a bacterial infection.
