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Cats Symptoms Cure |
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Symptoms Cats
> Allergic Dermatitis
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Allergic Dermatitis
Some cats, like some people, are born with a predisposition to
develop reactions when exposed to certain substances in their
environment. Cats with allergic dermatitis usually develop skin disease
characterized by signs of itching, such as biting and scratching the skin,
when exposed to the material to which they have become allergic. In some
cases there is no evidence of itching, but other skin abnormalities occur.
Exposure to the substance may be by inhalation (this route of sensitization
is common in a form of allergy called atopy), ingestion (e.g., food
allergies), inoculation (flea bites, drugs), or direct contact of the skin with
the offending substance. You will usually see reddening of the skin, small
bumps, oozing and possibly sticky areas and scabs, and sometimes dan
drufflike scales. The reddened skin may feel abnormally warm to the touch.
In neglected cases there is hair loss, large areas of raw skin may develop,
and the skin may even become thickened. If these changes go untreated
long enough, they can become permanent. Areas where scratching is
severe may become infected. Cats with allergic dermatitis may lick at their
flanks, abdomen, and the inside of their rear legs excessively when
grooming, causing a characteristic symmetrical hair loss unaccompanied
by any actual skin changes. Cats with this form of allergic dermatitis must
be differentiated from those with other (e.g., hormonal) causes of hair loss
that take a similar pattern. In addition to skin signs, cats with allergic
dermatitis may have more general signs of allergy such as a watery nasal
discharge and sneezing, tearing, and conjunctivitis. Some may even have
vomiting or diarrhea.
Allergic Dermatitis has many causes
Fleas are probably the most common cause of allergic dermatitis. If
you practice good flea control, you may be able to prevent the dermatitis
from developing or relieve a case that has already developed. Be careful,
however, about putting flea sprays or dips on an irritated skin; they
sometimes make the irritation worse. If you think you are controlling fleas
but your cat continues to scratch, there can be several possibilities. For
example:
1. The bite of a single flea (which you may not see) can cause extreme
itching in an allergic animal.
2. Cats can be allergic to many things other than or in addition to fleas—
among them pollens, house dust, molds, trees, wool, foods, cigarette
smoke.
3. The condition may not be allergic dermatitis (for an example).
Bathing is part of the home treatment
Frequent bathing (every one to two weeks) helps to control the signs
in many cats and also helps prevent secondary bacterial infection. It
removes allergens from the coat and seems to relieve some of the skin
inflammation associated with allergic dermatitis. Use a gentle
hypoallergenic shampoo (for example, castile shampoo, baby shampoo,
or a veterinarian-prescribed shampoo, not bar soap or dishwashing
detergent) to avoid additional damage to a sensitive skin. If your cat’s skin
and hair become too dry with bathing, an emollient oil diluted with sufficient
water to avoid leaving the fur excessively greasy can be used as a final
rinse. Hypoallergenic bath oils for people are satisfactory, or a veterinarian
can prescribe a product. If you find that bathing makes your cat’s signs
worse, don’t, of course, continue to use it as a treatment.
Often, once the itching has begun it continues even if you remove the
original cause of the irritation. This may be due to scratching, which
releases itch-causing substances from the damaged cells. When such a
cycle occurs, a veterinarian must administer and/or prescribe drugs such
as antihistamines, antiinflammatory fatty acids, or corticosteroids to control
the problem. In many allergic cats drug treatment must be repeated
intermittently or administered continuously.
Skin testing, blood testing, and hyposensitization (induction of immune
tolerance by the injection of small amounts of allergen) as used in people
with certain allergies have been helpful in some cats with allergic
dermatitis induced by environmental allergens such as pollen, molds, and
house dust. Special elimination diets, often based on rice or potatoes and
lamb, turkey, or rabbit, are useful to diagnose and treat allergy signs
related to food sensitivities. A minimum of four weeks’ diet restriction is
needed to rule out food-induced allergy. Many veterinarians have a special
interest in skin disease and can make an effort to find out what allergies
affect your cat. Cats with very difficult allergy problems can be diagnosed
and treated by a veterinary dermatologist. For persistent problems, ask
your veterinarian for a referral to a specialist.
Contact irritant dermatitis
Contact irritant dermatitis can occur in any cat whose skin comes into
contact with an irritating substance such as certain soaps, detergents,
plants, paints, insect sprays, or other chemicals. The reaction can look
similar to that described for allergic dermatitis, but tends to be limited to
the areas that have been in contact with the substance and is more
common in sparsely haired skin areas. If left untreated, the affected areas
often become moist and sticky.
Contact irritant dermatitis is treated much like allergic dermatitis, but
long-term success is more likely since it is usually easier to find the
offending substance and remove it permanently. The first thing to do is to
remove the cause. If the contact dermatitis is due to a flea collar, remove
the flea collar. Bathe your cat and rinse his or her coat thoroughly. If these
methods are insufficient to relieve the signs, have a veterinarian examine
your cat. Corticosteroids will probably be given, and a soothing antibioticcorticosteroid
cream dispensed, if necessary, for home use. Since cats
often lick off any topically applied medications an Elizabethan collar may
be suggested as a way to prevent licking of an affected skin area.
Pododermatitis
Pododermatitis is an inflammation of the skin of the foot. When it
involves the foot pads, it can be a sign of a systemic immune problem, but
it is frequently due to local causes (e.g., a wound between the toes, contact
with a irritant substance) and may also be due to infection with bacteria or
fungi (e.g., ringworm).
The web of the foot in the affected areas is reddened and usually moist
from exudation (leakage of fluid from tissue) and licking. It may be swollen.
This condition can be painful enough to cause lameness on the affected
foot.
Examine the foot before beginning treatment
Examine the foot carefully in a bright light. Look closely for evidence of
foreign bodies or wounds. Probe gently for areas of soreness. If you find
an invader and can remove it, the pododermatitis may improve quickly.
Often the original cause is gone but the problem persists because the cat
continues to lick the irritated area. Washing the foot with a gentle antiseptic
soap (e.g., chlorhexidine, povidoneiodine), drying, and soaking it in warm
water for fifteen minutes twice a day followed by thorough drying is often
helpful. Try to prevent your cat from licking the affected area. In addition,
the application of a soothing hydrocortisone cream usually helps clear up
simple irritation-associated conditions quickly if you can keep the cat from
licking the medication off. These products are sold over the counter in
drugstores. If the inflammation and/or soreness persists longer than fortyeight
hours without signs of improvement, a veterinarian will have to
diagnose and administer treatment. Prolonged use of corticosteroid
ointments in any but the most simple condition confounds diagnosis,
aggravates certain conditions (e.g., ringworm), and interferes with healing.
Ringworm (Dermatophytosis, Dermatomycosis)
Ringworm is an infection of the hair, toenails, or skin caused by
special types of fungi that may be transmitted to cats from other animals,
people, or the soil. Cats under one year of age are more often affected
than other animals, and infection is most severe in animals weakened by
other infections, parasites, or stress. The “classic” sign of ringworm is a
rapidly growing, circular area of hair loss, but ringworm can appear in
many other ways—scaly patches, irregular hair loss, crusts, and
discolored, deformed toenails. Areas of reddened or darkened skin or
small scabby bumps usually considered more typical of allergic reactions
may also indicate ringworm. A ringworm infection can be present with no
evidence of skin disease at all!
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