Introduction
Successfully treating skin allergies in cats requires pinpointing the cause of the allergy and then eliminating this allergen from the cat’s environment. In cases where allergen cannot be removed from the cat’s environment, or the allergen is never identified, medical treatments can be used to control the skin allergy symptoms.
Treating Skin Allergies in Cats
Parasite Allergies
When a cat is experiencing skin allergies as a result of parasites, keeping these parasites away from the cat will treat the skin allergy. Due to the fact that most parasite skin allergies occur from the bite of the parasite, the cat should be in a parasite free environment. Treatment options can include monthly anti-parasitic medications that are applied to the cats skin, and treating all other animals in the cat’s environment for parasites as well. In severe parasite skin allergy cases, a cat may have to be kept indoors during spring and summer seasons.
Food Allergies
If a food allergy is the suspected cause of a skin allergy, then a veterinarian will prescribe an elimination diet to try to pinpoint the ingredient that is causing the allergic reaction to occur. This is a time consuming process, however once the food allergen is discovered the skin allergies can be controlled through diet alone.
Medication for Skin Allergies
When skin allergies cannot be controlled through environment and diet, medications can be used to control the allergic symptoms and help the cat to feel much more comfortable. Short term relief can be provided through medicated shampoos and topical anti-itch creams. Antihistamines, such as hydroxyzine and diphenhydramine, can also be administered when symptoms become severe; however, antihistamines may cause the cat to become lethargic and tired.
In cases where skin allergies are causing severe symptoms which cannot be controlled, injectable or oral steroids may be used to calm the allergy. This type of treatment is normally only used in severe cases as long term steroid use can cause debilitating side effects to develop. While steroid therapies can be frightening to pet owners, if used correctly, short-term steroid therapy can help to calm severe skin allergies in cats with minimal risks of side effects.