Flea Allergy Dermatitis

Flea Allergy Dermatitis is the most common cat skin disease. Cats that have the disease experience an allergic reaction caused by the chemicals in a flea’s saliva. Antigens in the flea’s saliva are the chemicals that aggravate the skin. Your cat does not have to be flea infested in order for this illness to appear. A SINGLE flea bite can cause an allergic reaction. The severity and spread of a cat’s reaction to a bite will vary, but it is a highly painful and itchy skin condition.

Flea Allergy Dermatitis is a seasonal illness that is most prevalent during the summer and early fall because fleas are more active and widespread during this time. In countries with warmer climates, flea allergy dermatitis is prevalent all year long as they thrive in the heat.

Symptoms of Flea Allergy Dermatitis

Common symptoms of this illness are itching, rashing and scabbing. Pus filled bumps may also appear on the affected areas. If the reaction is more severe, the cat may experience problems such as feline eosinophilic granuloma (redness and swelling) and miliary dermatitis (crusty skin). These problems make the cat feel very uncomfortable and they will constantly groom themselves to try and fix it. This over-grooming often leads to varying levels of self-inflicted alopecia (hair loss). The hair loss is often focused on the cat’s lower back. The grooming is also the cause of any damage to the cat’s skin that may appear.

Ongoing cases of FAD that are not treated often result in yeast and bacterial infections. If you notice any strange smell that you don’t recognize coming from your cat, it could be due to an infection.

Flea Allergy Dermatitis Treatments

The first and most important thing you need to do is to get all of the fleas off of your cat. If you miss even one flea, the symptoms will continue. Unfortunately, fleas can live on places other than your cat. You must thoroughly clean your entire living area and anywhere your cat stays to ensure that the fleas are completely wiped out. The best flea treatments for cats are Advantage and Front Line. They all wipe out fleas a few hours after application. These products can be found at your local pet shop. Other products such as flea collars and special shampoos do not get rid of all the fleas and are a waste of money if you are treating your cat for Flea Allergy Dermatitis. In order to solve your problem, you must be completely dedicated to the job of killing all of the fleas from your cat and your cat’s living area. The key to success with this project is to treat your pets and your entire house at the same time. (Within 24 hours of each other)

When to Contact Your Vet

If you notice a strange smell coming from your cat and you suspect that it could be a bacterial or yeast infection due to flea allergy dermatitis, consult your veterinarian. They can prescribe antifungal medication and antibiotics to heal the infection. They may also suggest that you give your cat prednisone or antihistamines to treat the cat’s inflamed skin. If your vet suggests desensitizing shots, ask for an alternative treatment. They do not tend to work well with this illness.