subject: Cat Allergy Medicine [print this page] Diagnosin and Recognizin Feline Allergies
Feline allergies could be attributable to particles in the air, by parasites or by certain foods. Depending upon the reason for the allergy, your pet may suffer from a number of of these symptoms:
Cold-like symptoms (runny nose, sneezing, coughing or other related signs)
Excessive scratching
Irritated skin
Discolored mucous membranes
RashesIf
your pet displays any of those symptoms for quite a lot of days at a time, have him examined by a veterinarian. An allergy diagnosis may be a process of elimination and would require tests against specific allergies to rule out possible affecting allergens. For food allergy diagnoses, your vet may ask you to alter your pet's diet in order to isolate the particular ingredient that causes the negative reaction.
Treating Allergies with Prescription Allergy Medications
The treatment to your cat's allergies is also dependent upon the nature of his reaction along with the offending allergens. In some cases, like food allergies, removal of the ingredient from the cat's diet could possibly be sufficient to control his allergy symptoms. If he's allergic to fleas or other parasites, similarly removing these organisms from his environment is going to be helpful in reducing his allergic reaction.
For atopic allergies (allergies because of dust and particles in the air), your veterinarian may prescribe a number of medications to combat the effects of the allergen. Antihistamines like diphenhydramine or clemastine are commonly used to control allergic reactions and symptoms in both cats and dogs. Similarly, steroids and other allergy shots might be helpful to reducing the negative effects of a feline allergy.
Generally, antihistamines lose their effectiveness against allergies after a few months. Your pet's body builds up a resistance towards the antihistamines, reducing their beneficial effects. Allergy shots are typically longer lasting and overall more effective than antihistamines.
Medicines like those listed above do not eliminate your pet's allergies. They are effective to some degree at controlling your pet's allergy symptoms, but the underlying allergic reaction itself cannot be treated. As such, there are other ways of helping to control your pet's allergies besides prescription medications. For instance, air purifiers and hypo-allergenic pillows and fabrics may help to control your pet's allergies.
Between environmental and lifestyle modifications and appropriate, vet-prescribed allergy medicines, most pet owners are able to reduce their pet's allergy symptoms dramatically. If your pet suffers from allergies, do not hesitate to speak with a veterinarian for advice specific to your situation.
