What to do if you are allergic to flea bites in cats

A flea allergy in cats occurs as a response of the body to the presence of a large number of parasites. In most cases, an allergic reaction occurs with a weakened immune system and the presence of concomitant diseases.

A flea bite on a cat can not only lead to skin infections, but also cause an allergic reaction.

The first signs of allergies

In a cat, a flea allergy can occur in different ways, depending on the individual characteristics of the body. Some animals react more acutely, while others have milder symptoms. This depends on the number of parasites, the state of immunity and the age of the pet. Kittens are the most susceptible to allergies.

Allergy to flea bites in cats has the following primary symptoms:

Severe skin itching. The cat is constantly itching, trying to get to hard-to-reach places by biting the skin with its teeth.
The appearance of alopecia in certain areas. Inflammatory lesions appear on damaged skin, affecting the hair follicles. This leads to active hair loss.
Formation of bumps on the skin. Papules appear in the place where the flea bites were. They begin to become inflamed, causing discomfort.
Change in skin color, appearance of pigment spots.
Severe swelling of the skin.

The cat develops dermatitis, which leads to severe cat itching and skin lesions. If the allergy is not identified and treated in a timely manner, the animal's condition will worsen. Associated symptoms will appear: cough and frequent sneezing, clear discharge from the eyes.

How do fleas appear on a domestic cat?

The appearance of fleas in cats can be caused by a number of reasons:

The animal loves to explore the entrances and basements of the house. After all, rooms without ventilation with the same level of humidity and a minimum of light are ideal conditions for the reproduction of fleas.
Penetration of insects from neighboring apartments. Fleas can move through the thinnest cracks, so there is only one way to protect yourself from uninvited guests after getting rid of them - to make high-quality repairs.
Contact with an infected cat – even minimal animal contact is enough.
Carrying fleas on clothes. Unfortunately, the owner can infect the animal on his own, and in this case it is impossible to protect himself from undesirable consequences.
Inadequate cleaning after treatment of the cat. Simply washing the floors and bowls is not enough: eggs or larvae may remain in furniture, carpets or the animal's bed. If fleas appear in the house again, repeated treatment and better cleaning of the premises is required.

Change in animal behavior

In addition to visual manifestations on the skin and hair loss, the psycho-emotional state of the animal changes. Due to severe, incessant itching due to an allergic reaction, the cat’s appetite decreases or completely disappears. The pet does not walk, becomes passive, spends most of its time lying down, scratching its skin.

Some cats, instead of passivity and apathy, on the contrary, may behave differently: their irritability increases, excessive aggressiveness occurs, which increases even more when the owner tries to touch damaged areas of the skin. The reaction to stroking the fur is a pitiful, prolonged meow.

Symptoms of flea infestation

It is difficult to detect fleas at the initial stage. However, this is quite possible if you examine the cat’s stomach. It is in this area that, upon careful examination, insects or their feces can be seen.

Signs of flea infestation:

active scratching;
the cat is worried, reacts sharply to stimuli, meows;
loss of appetite;
weakness, reluctance to play.

If you do not get rid of fleas on a cat in time, the animal will begin to lose weight, and ulcers will begin to form at the bite sites. In addition, advanced infestation is associated with the presence of bald spots in the fur.

Consequences of allergies

Severe itching of the skin, which occurs in response to flea saliva, causes the cat to actively itch and bite the skin with its teeth. This leads to mechanical damage to the epidermis and the appearance of open wounds. As a result, a favorable environment for secondary infection is created. Infection aggravates the course of the allergy and can lead to the formation of large inflammatory areas in which pus accumulates.

The resulting wounds contain pathogenic fungi and bacteria, which are not at all easy to deal with.

Allergies also have an extremely negative effect on the animal’s immune system. Suppressed immunity reduces the body's resistance to various viruses and infections. The cat's general condition and behavior are only getting worse.

In addition, allergies can trigger the development of Quincke's edema. This is a complex pathological condition that can lead to the death of an animal due to suffocation.

Treatment of the territory

Some owners, after treating their dog, forget to disinfest the dog. Here are a few simple rules to follow:

Thoroughly vacuum all areas where the animal is. Don't forget about your car, bed, and carrier. After cleaning, throw away the bag or filter.
Treat surfaces with insecticidal preparations. Neostomozan or Butox will do. As a rule, one ampoule is diluted in two liters of water; in any case, it is better to follow the instructions on the package.

Diagnosis of the appearance of dermatitis

The owner can independently determine the presence of fleas in a pet by changing behavior and examining its fur. But only a veterinarian can make an accurate diagnosis - an allergy to parasites - based on the results of laboratory tests and examination of the animal. To clarify the primary diagnosis, a sample is taken from the affected area of the skin and examined. In addition, an allergen test is prescribed.

Allergic dermatitis as a negative reaction to a large number of fleas has similar symptoms to a number of other diseases. Therefore, differential diagnosis is required. Allergy to parasites must be distinguished from diseases such as lice, sarcoptic mange, alopecia, and pemphigus foliaceus.

Dermatitis is a skin reaction that is a symptom and not a disease itself.

Prevention

Of course, even after all the measures taken, no one will give you a guarantee that the dog will not become infected with the ubiquitous parasites again. However, a caring and attentive owner will prevent re-infection of the pet. If you want to avoid this scourge, use the following tips from experts:

Regularly inspect your dog’s fur and body for parasites;
limit your dog’s contact with stray animals;
periodically treat your pet’s bed and carpet with insecticides;
during the “flea season”, be sure to treat the animal with antiparasitic agents;
monitor the animal’s nutrition and provide your pet with a balanced diet rich in vitamins and microelements;
Follow the rules of hygiene and carefully care for your tailed friend.

The most modern method of preventing fleas is injections. The injection is given directly by a doctor in the clinic. Usually the injection lasts for six months and during this time the animal is guaranteed not to pick up arrogant parasites.

What to do first

Therapy for allergies to blood-sucking insects is complex. To begin with, it is important to quickly and completely remove fleas, and to stop signs of the pathological process and alleviate the pet’s condition, take medications.

Destruction of parasites

To remove parasites, it is recommended to use the following methods:

The animal must be thoroughly washed with a special shampoo to kill fleas.
Use a comb to comb the fur to remove parasite larvae.
Apply a special product in the form of drops to the skin, which is aimed at killing fleas, ticks and other parasites.
Give the cat an anti-worming tablet.

It is important to rinse off the foam very thoroughly; to do this, the wool is washed three times with clean water.

You cannot use a flea collar during therapy, as it can aggravate the pathological condition. This is due to the fact that the cat’s body reacts negatively to the chemical composition of the collar and the essential oils in its composition. This leads to cramps, nausea and severe, profuse vomiting, prolonged diarrhea and frequent fainting. Therefore, it is worn only as a preventive measure after the fleas have been destroyed with special means.

If necessary, all activities (bathing, combing, taking pills) are repeated. Although flea treatments for cats always give a positive result, if there are too many fleas, a repeat course may be required.

Home treatment

The house must be treated for fleas. They can jump from the animal's fur to pieces of furniture, remain on the carpet and then migrate back to the pet after it has been treated.

Treating your apartment for fleas is necessary to completely get rid of these insects.

For the home it is necessary to use special insecticides. You can buy them at a pet store. All upholstered furniture in the house, floor coverings, and carpets are subject to treatment. You also need to treat the floor, especially the baseboard. The cat mat on which the pet sleeps must be washed at high temperature.

If the animal lives in a private house and regularly goes out into the yard, the area needs to be thoroughly treated.

Top 4 best drops

Drops containing insecticides help achieve the best results in the fight against annoying bloodsuckers. Check out the highest quality, most effective and modern products:

Bars AVZ. A universal remedy, suitable for both adult dogs and puppies. The protective effect lasts for a month. Does not cause side effects.
Advantix for large breeds from Bayer. It does not penetrate into the pet’s blood, but remains in the sebaceous glands. Designed for large mature dogs weighing over 25 kg, as well as for growing young animals from seven weeks of age.
Advantix for medium breeds from Bayer. Does not leave excess oil on the coat, protects against any midges and is considered a hypoallergenic product. It is better to use it together with a flea collar from the same manufacturer.
Frontline Combo S Merial. It is also not absorbed into the blood and destroys eggs and larvae. Using a special bottle, it is convenient to apply the solution directly while walking.

It is important that after using antiparasitic agents, it is better to put a special collar on the animal, which will prevent the dog from licking the strong-smelling liquid.

Treatment regimens for cat allergies

Ridding an animal of parasites is not a sufficient measure to treat allergies. Depending on the symptomatic picture and the presence or absence of complications, appropriate drug therapy is selected.

Symptomatic therapy

For symptomatic treatment, drugs mainly from the hormonal pharmacological group are used:

Prednisolone. The dosage ranges from 0.5 to 1 mg for every 1 kg of animal body weight. Prednisolone is used in tablet form.
Dexaforte. The amount of the drug is 0.05 ml per 1 kg of weight. Dexaforte is used to treat animals that have excessive aggression due to allergies, and pets that spend a lot of time outdoors, where the risk of re-infection is high.

In addition, it is recommended to give antihistamines such as Tavegil, Zyrtec and Suprastin.

Prednisolone is a white or white with a slight yellowish tint crystalline powder in odorless tablets.

If a cat has constant access to the street, despite the treatment, she has a risk of re-infection with fleas and developing allergies. To avoid this, veterinarians recommend immunotherapy – introducing a small amount of an allergen into the animal’s body.

When a small amount of an irritating substance is constantly introduced into the body, the cat’s immune system begins to actively produce antibodies. Over time, their concentration increases, and the body ceases to be sensitive to the allergen.

Immune therapy in cats in 85% of cases gives a positive result, which consists in the complete elimination of allergies, even in the presence of fleas in the fur.

Antibiotics for severe cases

Antibacterial drugs are prescribed if the cat, due to an allergic reaction and severe scratching, has inflammatory processes (purulent) on the skin, and an infection has entered the wounds.

Antibiotics are substances that inhibit the growth of living cells, most often prokaryotic or protozoan.

Antibiotics for cats can only be prescribed by a veterinarian. Drugs with a wide spectrum of effects are used. The duration of the course is 14 days.

Skin restoration products

Allergies primarily negatively affect the condition of the coat: it loses its shine and strength, and actively falls out. Bald spots appear on it. Treatment of the pathological condition includes careful and proper care of the coat. To quickly return it to its normal state, special vitamin and mineral supplements are used.

They should contain fatty acids:

Nordic Omega-3 Naturals;
Medizinal Dorschlebertranl.

Additionally, special drops for wool are prescribed: Essential-6 or Allerderm.

If the owner feeds the cat with finished industrial products, it should be replaced with dry food, which contains all the elements necessary for hair restoration. Recommended foods with medicinal effects: Derma ProPlan Plus, Hill's z/d, Coat Formula and Royal Canin Skin.

Preventive actions

If you want to have a pet, it is recommended to experimentally test the reaction of your body and household members for the presence of allergies. For example, visit acquaintances or friends who already have a cat or cat. It is better if the communication is long and not five minutes, since an allergic reaction may not appear immediately. If after the experiments no signs of allergy were observed, then with a high degree of probability we can talk about its absence.

If you know that you are prone to an allergic reaction, but your love for cats does not allow you to completely give up your pet, then before getting a kitten, you need to carefully choose the breed. Hypoallergenic breeds will make the life of an allergy sufferer much easier.

But what if you already have a cat and are later diagnosed with an allergy? In this case, to reduce allergy symptoms and maintain a normal state, the following preventive measures must be taken:

minimize direct contact with the animal if possible;
take special anti-allergenic drugs;
bathe the animal, and then comb the fur at least once a week (if possible, this should be entrusted to household members who do not suffer from allergies);
If possible, remove as much as possible carpets, rugs, blankets and other soft coverings that can accumulate wool;
regularly ventilate the premises;
Do not leave personal items and items of your wardrobe in a place accessible to the animal.

How to remove fleas from a cat at home using folk remedies: myths and reality

Myth #1: Wormwood repels fleas. This is certainly true. You can pick up several armfuls and place them in different corners of the house. There will be fewer fleas, but the effect will only last until the plant dries out. In addition, the smell of wormwood is specific even to humans. So there is a risk of not only fleas leaving the house, but also guests and household members.

Myth No. 2: Essential oils will save you from fleas. Peppermint, pine, eucalyptus and lavender are safe for cats. As a rule, you can find advice on the Internet that says that you need to dilute a few drops in a glass of water and treat the animal with the resulting solution. Next, the oil concentrate is dripped onto sponges or napkins, which are laid out in different places in the house. However, it is worth considering here that essential oils do not kill insects, but only repel them. So there can be no talk of complete deliverance. In addition, odors disappear quickly: the animal will need to be treated daily, as will the napkins.

Myth #3: Let there be salt and soda. The saline or soda solution is safe for kittens and pregnant and lactating cats. It is prepared like this: 100 grams of the substance are diluted in 1 liter of warm water. It is used according to the following scheme: the animal must be kept in the resulting solution for 10–15 minutes, after which it is washed with baby soap, dried and combed. You can also wash the floors in your apartment with this solution and wash your pet’s bed. However, there are controversial points here too. You can’t keep the whole animal in the solution: the head will still be above the water, which means insects may well run across it. Washing a room with salt is associated with stains, so washing and re-washing is still necessary afterwards. And such solutions are effective only for 3-4 days, and then require repeated use.

Which method of fighting fleas deserves attention is determined by everyone for themselves. However, it is worth understanding that traditional methods either simply repel insects or act for an extremely short time. Therefore, you can resort to them only if the animal is allergic and categorically cannot tolerate the effects of chemicals. However, after this, it is advisable to temporarily transfer the pet to friends and disinfect the home with chemicals.