La feline hyperesthesia, known as the Nervous Cat Syndrome, is a condition that many cats have. While it does not put its life in danger, The quality of the same can decrease quite a bit, and learning how to handle these situations can start by reading resources like How to approach a nervous cat.
Let's know what the hyperesthesia in cats, what are your causes and the most important, how to treat it.
What is hyperesthesia?
The word hyperesthesia means 'abnormal increase in the skin sensitivity'. It is a condition where the skin on the feline's back becomes undulates from the shoulders to the tail. Sometimes it is not visible to the naked eye, and other times it is not visible at all without the help of a veterinarian, but you will know if he has it if he suddenly starts running as if something had scared him or chased him, and if he licks or bites the area with great insistence.
Another thing I could do is start looking for things that are not actually present, having the dilated pupils during these episodes. In severe cases, damage can occur, biting and pulling off the hair. It is also known as rolling/rippling skin disease by the visible ones skin contractions from the back.
Most common symptoms and signs
The signs appear in short episodes (seconds to a few minutes) and can intensify over time if left untreated:
- Undulations from the skin of the back and spasms thoracolumbar muscles.
- Races and jumps sudden, with behavior of appearance hallucinatory.
- Licking/nipping compulsive back, tail and hind legs; in severe cases, self-mutilation.
- Vocalization intense, mydriasis, exaggerated tail movements, aggressiveness or disorientation.
- In some cats there may be loss of urinary control during the episode.
What are your causes?
The main causes are:
- Allergic dermatitis to flea bitesThese parasites can cause itching and irritation of the skin.
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder- You may be obsessed with grooming.
- Stress- When you live in a tense environment, unable to go anywhere to relax, you can start to hurt yourself.
- Injury to the muscles of the spine- If you have damaged muscles in your spine, you are likely to end up with hyperesthesia.
Furthermore, the exact cause It is not fully defined and is considered a disorder multifactorial in which they can intervene: phenomena epileptiform (focal seizures in some cases), orthopedic/neuropathic pain (arthritis, herniated discs, pinched discs), and dermatopathies with itching (fleas, lice such as Felicola subrostratus, scabies, fungi, food or environmental allergies). Possible causes have also been described genetic predispositions in breeds such as Abyssinian, Burmese, Himalayas o Siamese, although it can occur in any cat.
Diagnosis and recommended tests
There is no one specific test; the diagnosis is by exclusion and is based on the medical history and observed signs. Your veterinarian may prescribe:
- Physical exploration complete, neurological y orthopedic.
- Dermatological tests: scraped cutaneous, trichogram, cytology, antiparasitic flea/lice control.
- Analytics sanguine and urinary; assessment of allergies and elimination diets if applicable.
- Imaging tests when spinal pain is suspected: radiographs, tomography o resonance; in selected cases, LCR o EEG.
- Episode log in video y diario of triggers to refine the diagnosis.
How is it treated?
Initial treatment consists of Reduce stress level of the cat. To do this, you have to dedicate each day to play with him, to give him sweetie (without overwhelming him), in short, to make him company. But, in addition, it is highly recommended to give it a quality food, which contains high levels of animal protein.
If the cat still does not improve, then you could choose to treat it with antidepressants, anticonvulsants or with medications to stop the obsessive behavior. Always low veterinary prescription.
To enhance the results, it works on two fronts: technology y medication when necessary. At home, make sure the 5 pillars Feline welfare: high safe places and hiding places; duplicate key resources (water, food, litter boxes, scratching posts, rest); predatory game diary; positive human contact and predictable; and an environment that respects the smell (avoid harsh cleaners and consider synthetic pheromones). Avoid punishments and do not touch the hypersensitive area during episodes.
In parallel, it treats any physical cause identified: control strict flea control and other parasites, management of dermatitis/allergies (including elimination diet if food hypersensitivity is suspected), and relief of orthopedic/neuropathic pain. When stress or compulsion persists, the veterinarian may use tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline or clomipramine), SSRIs (fluoxetine, paroxetine), benzodiazepines (alprazolam) and, if there is a seizure component or neuropathic pain, gabapentin, pregabalin, levetiracetam o phenobarbitalIn some selected cases they are valued corticosteroids or anti-inflammatories according to professional criteria.
The forecast is variable: Many cats improve by reducing stress and treating the underlying pain/itch; others require combination therapy and follow-up. Record triggers, maintain routines and schedules stable and review the response with the veterinarian helps to control the episodes and recover their well-being.
