Spring Tips: Prevent Fleas & Parasites in Pets

Understanding Allergies in Cats and Dogs

One of the most common ailments affecting cats and dogs is allergies. When an allergy occurs, the immune system identifies the substance causing the allergy and releases histamines, which can trigger allergic reactions.

What Triggers Allergies?

There are numerous triggers for allergies in cats and dogs, beyond parasites. These include food, mold, pollen, smoke, and dust, among others.

ParasiteInduced Allergic Dermatitis in Cats and Dogs

The most common clinical symptoms of allergies caused by parasites are patchy papules and persistent itching. These lesions are often found in areas with less fur, such as the abdomen, knees, chest, armpits, face, and limbs. Animals may suddenly develop allergies, but they can also present with chronic, latent episodes.

FleaInduced Allergic Dermatitis

Flea allergies are one of the most common types of parasitic allergies. As temperatures and humidity rise in spring, it becomes an ideal environment for fleas to thrive. When fleas bite and feed on the blood of dogs and cats, they inject their saliva, which can cause an allergic reaction involving type I IgE and type IV T cells. If the stimulus from the flea saliva exceeds the allergic threshold, the animal may experience severe itching.

Characteristics of Flea Allergies in Cats and Dogs

1. Dogs

Flea allergies typically occur in dogs aged 3 to 5 years. The clinical symptoms are most prevalent in the rear third of the body, starting with papules and swelling, which can progress to secondary lesions, such as scabs. As the condition worsens, symptoms like hair loss, skin hardening, scab formation, and hyperpigmentation may occur due to itching and dandruff. Additionally, dogs may develop eczema (a red, moist, and exudative dermatitis), which is a common complication of flea allergies.

2. Cats

Cats do not seem to have a specific age group prone to flea allergies. The clinical symptoms in cats are more variable, including papules, scabs, hair loss, dandruff, and scaling. Symptoms are distributed in similar areas as in dogs. Some cats may also experience more specific symptoms, such as granulomatous dermatitis.

Flea allergies may be accompanied by bacterial infections, flea bites causing skin irritation, allergic reactions to flea saliva, and animals scratching and biting at affected areas, leading to hair loss and skin damage. Skin damage may also result in secondary bacterial infections.

Diagnosis

Animals with the following symptoms are more likely to have flea allergies:

Itching

Confirmed flea infestation

Typical alopecia, hyperhidrosis, saliva staining, or skin lichenification with pruritus

Not seeing fleas but visible flea feces

Regular visits to parks or walks, or urination and defecation

Not performing regular flea prevention

Neighbors with pets and frequent visits

When animals exhibit symptoms resembling parasitic allergies, it is essential to carefully rule out causes and conduct effective diagnosis. While some cases may occur immediately, most are longlasting. Flea allergies are typically easy to diagnose without needing to differentiate from other diseases, although they can coexist with atopic dermatitis and food allergies.

Treatment

For dogs and cats with flea allergies, it is crucial to eliminate fleas from the animal's body and regularly treat the environment. The HanPet Shampoo and Spray combination can effectively kill fleas on pets and in their environment.

If the animal has developed an allergic reaction to a bite, antihistamines (PetSens) or corticosteroids can be used to relieve itching and suppress allergic reactions.

In cases where itching leads to secondary bacterial infections, appropriate antibiotics may be prescribed.