Allergies

Causes

Allergies are caused by an excessive reaction of the body to certain molecules (allergens) that can come from a variety of sources, including:

• Environment: grass, pollen, dust mites, household or garden chemicals
• External parasites: fleas, ticks, or mosquitoes
• Food allergies: protein sources

It can be quite a challenge for your veterinarian to determine the allergen that is causing the problem.

The skin barrier is essential to protect the body from allergens and allergic cats exhibit skin barrier defects. That's why it's essential to care for and protect the skin barrier. DOUXO^®  can help restore the skin barrier.

Signs

Some common signs of allergies include excessive itching, over-grooming, dandruff, crusts, lumps or infected or irritated areas.

Cats may exhibit miliary dermatitis, a feline condition where seed-sized crusts are distributed over the back of the cat. A particular type of lesion unique to the cat is eosinophilic plaque: it's a localized skin erosion. They are often observed on the abdomen or inside the thighs, and constantly licked by the cat.

Cats are experts at covering up health problems! Any change in your cat's general behavior, like over-grooming, may be the first indicator of an allergy. Regular brushing, especially long-haired cats, can help you spot problems early.

1. Consult your veterinarian to identify and treat the problem.                                                                                                                                                     
2. Help control the skin condition by using a high-quality shampoo, mousse or micro-emulsion spray to help soothe the irritation and to restore the skin barrier ecosystem. Many cases will benefit from special topical products for irritated, itchy, and sensitive skin.
3. Feed your cat a high-quality, balanced diet.
4. Keep your cat free from external parasites by treating against fleas, ticks and other pests with a topical product such as Vectra^® for Cats and Kittens or Catego^® for Cats.
5. If your cat seems anxious or stressed, ask your veterinarian about Feliway, a stress-relieving feline pheromone product. 
6. Schedule regular check-ups with your veterinarian to monitor your cat's skin condition. Use the scorecard below to monitor your cat's improvements. Download the scorecard here!

For more information on pheromones, visit the Feliway^® website.