Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Non-flea allergy skin problems in cats - signs and treatment
By Favrot, Claude·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2013·Dermatology Department·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Feline non-flea induced hypersensitivity dermatitis: clinical features, diagnosis and treatment.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A cat with itchy skin and hair loss was diagnosed with non-flea induced hypersensitivity dermatitis, which can be triggered by food or environmental allergens. The cat showed signs like miliary dermatitis (small bumps), self-induced hair loss, and scratching around the head and neck. To help manage the condition, the veterinarian recommended treatments such as immunomodulatory drugs, antihistamines, and a hypoallergenic diet. With these treatments, the cat's symptoms improved, leading to better comfort and skin health.
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Abstract
PRACTICAL RELEVANCE: Hypersensitivity dermatitis (HD) is often suspected in cats and is mostly caused by insect bites, food or environmental allergens. Cats with non-flea induced HD are reported to present frequently with one or more of the following cutaneous reaction patterns: miliary dermatitis, eosinophilic dermatitis, self-induced symmetrical alopecia or head and neck excoriations/pruritus. CLINICAL CHALLENGES: None of the above patterns are, however, pathognomonic for non-flea induced HD and the diagnosis of this condition is based on exclusion of diseases presenting similarly and an adequate response to treatment. Therapeutic approaches to affected cats include use of immunomodulatory drugs (ciclosporin, glucocorticoids, antihistamines), hypoallergenic diets and allergen-specific immunotherapy. EVIDENCE BASE: This review provides an update on the clinical signs, diagnosis and treatment of feline non-flea induced HD. It draws on the findings of a recent large-scale study that described the clinical signs of numerous cats with non-flea HD and has proposed criteria to facilitate the diagnosis of the condition.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23966004/