×

Due to our current Staffing Situation we have made the following schedule changes:

*We will be closed on Saturday May 21st, and Saturday May 28th.
*We will have someone in the office to process boarding drop offs and pick-ups from 9:00am – 10:00am only on those Saturdays, but we will not be doing any veterinary services or walk-in technician services. No one will be available to answer phones.
*We will be closing early on Wednesday May 18th, Thursday May 19th, and Friday May 20th. Our hours will be 7:30am-12pm those days.
*****We will not be having daycare those days due to closing early*****
*We are not doing daycare on Mondays or Fridays, and limited daycare Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (only 15 daycare patients).
*We will not be doing any baths until further notice!
*Our front office is extremely short staffed. To avoid wait times on phone calls... We would recommend reaching out via text or email. You can text us at 865-401-9966 or email us at [email protected] and we will get back to you as quickly as we can.
*If you have any emergencies, contact the Animal Emergency and Specialty Center at 865-693-4440 or The University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine at 865-974-8387
*This is all temporary!! We know and understand that this is inconvenient!! We really appreciate everyone's patience and understanding as we navigate this unique situation. We are doing the best for our clients/patients as well as our staff!
Thank you all for being patient and working with us!

Close
Bluegrass Animal Hospital

(865) 694-8387

Menu
  • Home
  • New Patient Center
    • Online Forms
    • What to Expect
    • Veterinary Resources
    • Payment Options
  • About Us
    • Meet Our Team
    • Careers
    • COVID-19 Response
    • Our App
  • Conditions Treated
    • Itchy Skin & Ear infection
    • Kidney Failure in Cats
    • Kidney Failure in Dogs
    • Pet Diabetes
    • Pet Eye Infections
    • Asthma
    • Arthritis in Pets
      • Pet Arthritis FAQs
  • Services
    • Pet Dehydration and Heatstroke
    • Pet Grooming
    • Boarding, Bathing & Grooming
      • Boarding FAQs
      • Patient Monitoring
      • Boarding, Bathing and Grooming Requirements
      • Boarding Rates
    • Comprehensive Veterinary Care
    • Coughing & Sneezing
    • Core Canine and Feline Vaccinations
    • Dental Care
      • Pet Dental Care FAQs
    • Dermatology
    • Digital Radiography
    • Digital Ultrasound
    • End of Life Services
    • Eye Injuries in Pets
    • Flea and Tick Prevention
    • Heartworm Prevention
    • Hospital Laboratory
    • Housecall Services
    • Laser Therapy
    • Microchipping
      • Microchipping FAQs
    • Orthopedics
    • Parasite Control
    • Pet Allergy Relief
    • Pet Eye Infections FAQ
    • Pet Emergencies FAQs
    • Pet Nutritional Counseling
    • Pet Parasite Prevention
    • Pet Surgery
      • Spay & Neuter
      • Spay and Neuter FAQS
    • Parassite Contol
    • Pet Vaccinations
    • Pet Wellness Exams
    • Senior Pet Care
    • Ultrasound
    • Vomit and Diarrhea
      • Why Is My Dog Vomiting?
  • Veterinary Topics
    • Pet Health
      • Chronic Conditions
      • Digestive and Oral Health
      • Diseases and Viruses
      • Pests and Parasites
      • Orthopedics
    • Today's Veterinarian
    • Choosing Your Pet
      • Finding Your Pet
      • Cats
      • Dogs
      • Exotics
        • Amphibians
        • Birds
        • Reptiles
          • Lizards
          • Turtles
      • Small Mammals
        • Ferrets
        • Rabbits
        • Domesticated Animals
          • Prairie Dogs
        • Pocket Pets
          • Chinchillas
          • Guinea Pigs
          • Hamsters
          • Hedgehogs
          • Rats
      • Livestock
        • Cows
        • Donkeys, Horses & Mules
        • Goats
        • Pigs
        • Poultry
        • Sheep
    • Living With Your Pet
      • Bringing Your Pet Home
      • Children and Pets
      • Providing Care
      • Travel
      • Saying Goodbye
    • Newsletter Library
      • Tips for Pet Owners
      • Seasonal Topics
      • Nutrition & Food
      • Recognizing Illness
      • Visiting the Vet
      • Equine
      • Cats
      • Keeping Pets Healthy
      • Fleas & Parasites
      • Pet Dangers
      • Behavior & Training
      • Newsletter Archive
        • Fun with Pets
        • Unbelievable Pets
    • Video Newsroom
      • Health Topics
      • Technology and Science
      • Other Interests
    • Client Survey
    • Pets4Kids
  • Testimonials
  • Contact Us
  • AirVet - Virtual Pet Care
  • Blog
  • Home >
  • Articles >
  • Newsletter Library >
  • Feline Skin Allergy Symptoms and Care

Feline Skin Allergy Symptoms and Care

  • Created in Newsletter Library

Cat with itchy skin allergy

Does Your Cat Have a Skin Allergy?

Are you concerned about changes in your cat's skin or coat? Hair loss, sores, or red spots could be signs that your pet has an uncomfortable skin allergy. Your favorite feline's veterinarian offers treatments that will stop itching and inflammation and prevent future allergy flare-ups.

What Are Skin Allergies?

Skin allergies happen when your cat comes in contact with, eats, or breathes in an allergen. Allergens aren't inherently dangerous or toxic. In fact, they're harmless things like pollen, saliva, dust, or food. Unfortunately, your pet's immune system mistakenly treats allergens as dangerous threats to your cat's health. Once an allergy is detected, your cat's immune system produces antibodies that attack the substance. Histamines, natural chemicals released during an allergy attack, cause allergy symptoms ranging from itchy skin to watery eyes.

Signs of Skin Allergies in Cats

Itching is a common skin allergy symptom in cats. In an attempt to stop the itch, your cat may resort to scratching, frequent grooming or biting the itchy areas. Eventually, grooming and scratching can lead to hair loss and bald spots.

Scratching and biting may also cause open sores on your pet's body, which can be difficult to see through your cat's hair. Does your cat flinch when you pet it? You might have accidentally touched an open sore or scab. Sores and inflamed red skin can occur anywhere on your pet's body but are most obvious on the face.

Common Causes of Allergies

Feline skin allergies can be caused by:

  • Fleas: Allergies to flea saliva cause crusty bumps that usually appear on your cat's back, neck and face. Flea allergies have become more common in cats in recent years, according to Banfield's 2018 State of Pet Health Report. Over the course of 10 years, flea allergies in cats increased by 67%, according to the report. Fleas aren't just a problem if you have an outdoor cat. The insects can catch a ride on your clothing and jump onto your pet as soon as you walk through your front door.
  • Seasonal and Environmental Allergies: These types of allergies are also becoming more common in cats. The Banfield report notes an 11% increase in 10 years. Your cat can develop skin symptoms if it's allergic to pollen, mold, dust, dander, or even the products you use to keep your home clean. Seasonal allergies can affect both indoor and outdoor cats, as allergens can easily enter your home through an open window or on the bottom on your shoe.
  • Food Allergies: Your pet's skin issues might be caused by an allergy to a pet food ingredient. Proteins like chicken and fish are most often responsible for allergic reactions in cats, according to PetMD.

How to Treat Your Cat's Skin Allergy

Treatment for skin allergies depends on the type of allergies. If your cat has a flea allergy, your vet can recommend or prescribe shampoos or topical medications that kill fleas and flea eggs. You'll also need to use sprays or other products to kill the fleas in your home and yard. If your cat has fleas, it's safe to assume that your other pets have them too. Treating all the pets in your home for fleas offers a simple way to prevent skin allergy symptoms. Monthly topical flea treatment will keep your pets free of fleas.

If food is the suspected culprit, your pet's veterinarian may recommend an elimination diet to determine which foods are responsible. Your pet will start by eating a special type of food that's less likely to cause allergy symptoms. Over the course of several weeks or months, you'll gradually introduce new proteins and ingredients one by one. If a particular ingredient causes the symptoms to recur, you'll know to avoid foods with that ingredient in the future.

Environmental and seasonal allergies can be controlled with allergy medication. Both shots and oral drops are available to treat allergies.

No matter what the cause of the skin allergy, soothing your pet's itchy skin is a priority. Your pet's veterinarian will prescribe medication that relieves inflammation or decreases itching by stopping the allergic reaction. Infected sores may need treatment with antibiotics.

Are you concerned about your cat's skin allergy symptoms? Give us a call to schedule an appointment.

Sources:

Merck Manual: Flea Allergy Dermatitis, 4/2021

PetMD: Cat Skin Allergies

Merck Manual: Allergies of Cats

Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine: Feline Skin Disorders

Banfield Pet Hospital: Misunderstood Pet Allergy, 5/29/2018

  • Pet Health
    • Chronic Conditions
    • Digestive and Oral Health
    • Diseases and Viruses
    • Pests and Parasites
    • Orthopedics
  • Today's Veterinarian
  • Choosing Your Pet
    • Finding Your Pet
    • Cats
    • Dogs
    • Exotics
      • Amphibians
      • Birds
      • Reptiles
        • Lizards
        • Turtles
    • Small Mammals
      • Ferrets
      • Rabbits
      • Domesticated Animals
        • Prairie Dogs
      • Pocket Pets
        • Chinchillas
        • Guinea Pigs
        • Hamsters
        • Hedgehogs
        • Rats
    • Livestock
      • Cows
      • Donkeys, Horses & Mules
      • Goats
      • Pigs
      • Poultry
      • Sheep
  • Living With Your Pet
    • Bringing Your Pet Home
    • Children and Pets
    • Providing Care
    • Travel
    • Saying Goodbye
  • Newsletter Library
    • Tips for Pet Owners
    • Seasonal Topics
    • Nutrition & Food
    • Recognizing Illness
    • Visiting the Vet
    • Equine
    • Cats
    • Keeping Pets Healthy
    • Fleas & Parasites
    • Pet Dangers
    • Behavior & Training
    • Newsletter Archive
      • Fun with Pets
      • Unbelievable Pets
  • Video Newsroom
    • Health Topics
    • Technology and Science
    • Other Interests
  • Client Survey
  • Pets4Kids

  • Services

    We strive to provide complete care for our patients. Learn more about all the services we provide.
  • Make an Appointment

    We will do our best to accommodate your busy schedule. Schedule an appointment today!

  • Online Forms

    Our patient forms are available online so they can be completed in the convenience of your own home or office.

Office Hours

Monday:

7:30 am-6:30 pm

Tuesday:

7:30 am-6:30 pm

Wednesday:

7:30 am-6:30 pm

Thursday:

7:30 am-6:30 pm

Friday:

7:30 am-6:30 pm

Saturday:

9:00 am-1:00 pm

Sunday:

Closed

Connect With Us

Location

  • Copyright © 2022 MH Sub I, LLC dba iMatrix.
  • Admin Log In
  • Site Map