Cat Allergy (Inhalant Allergy/Atophy)-Causes, Symptoms, Treatment |
Overview:Inhalant allergy (also known as atopy) allergic reaction caused by breathing pollens, dust, moulds & other allergens in the environment. It is under diagnosed in cats. [1] Symptoms of inhalant allergy:- Symptoms can be seasonal or non seasonal & often begin in young cats, worsening with age.
- Miliary dermatitis (red & crusty rash around the head, neck & back, often with intense itching)
- Eosinophilic granuloma complex
- Head, ear & neck pruritus (intense itching)
- Facial crusty, scabby lesions
- Symmetrical alopecia (hair loss)
Diagnosis of inhalant allergy:- Your veterinarian will obtain a complete medical history from you & perform a physical examination. He will want to rule out other possible conditions such as mange, flea allergy, contact dermatitis, ringworm & food allergy.
- Skin scrapings & fungal cultures to rule out some of the conditions above.
- Intradermal skin test: A small amount of allergen is injected through the skin, which is then observed to determine if elicit an allergic reaction. Certain medications such as antihistamines may interfere with results.
- Blood test: This tests for antibodies to specific antigens in the blood. There are two tests used in cats, radioallergosorbent test (RAST) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). [2]
Treatment of inhalant allergy:Treatment may include; - Avoiding the cause of the allergy if possible is the ideal method to treat inhalant allergy but is often not possible because of an inability to identify the allergen or halt exposure.
- Hyposensitisation (allergy shots/allergy desensitization). This involves injecting gradually greater amounts of the allergen in question in the hope that it will re-programme the immune system so it's not hypersensitive to the antigen.
- Corticosteroids are beneficial in relieving symptoms but are not a cure.
- Essential fatty acid supplements have also been effective in some cases of inhalant allergy.
References:[1] Cat Health Encyclopedia - Lowell Ackerman (p 14)
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