The fleas they are parasites that like summer very much. High temperatures and a dry environment cause them to multiply extremely quickly. Although our cats never leave the house, we have to be careful, especially if we go to the field since It could be the case that some of them used us as a means of transport and sneaked into the house.
If they succeed, they will not hesitate for a moment to jump on the furry ones. By doing so, they could cause allergies, which is known as flea allergy dermatitis in cats. It is a more common problem than it seems, so it is important to know what the symptoms are and their treatment so that you can breathe easy as soon as possible.
What Causes Flea Bite Allergy Dermatitis?
When a furry dog is exposed to some type of allergen, either to pollen or in this case to the saliva of fleas, the immune system can overreact to the aforementioned substance. It is, therefore, an animal hypersensitive to the saliva of the parasite.
It may be the case that this problem has been inherited from your parents, but the most common causes are over-exposure to the allergen and improper diet. Thus, whether it is a cat that goes outside or that is being fed a food that is not biologically appropriate (remember that it is a carnivorous animal that must eat meat and not cereals or derivatives), its immune system can be weaken to the point of causing allergies.
What are the symptoms and their treatment?
The symptom are the following:
- Excessive licking and scratching
- Hair loss on the neck, legs, head and / or abdomen
- Crusts
- Peeling
- Intense itching
- Inflammation of the skin
If we suspect that he has allergic dermatitis, we should take him to the vet as soon as possible. There They will put an antiparasitic treatment that will eliminate the fleas, such as pipettes, collars or insecticide sprays. In addition, you can recommend a cream to relieve the itch.
Can it be prevented?
The truth is that yes. If we give it a high quality food, which does not contain cereals or by-products, and we are putting an antiparasitic treatment during the hot months, the feline will not have to worry about fleas.
External parasites can cause a lot of discomfort to our furry little ones. Let's treat them with deworming medications so they can be calm.