Our advice for easing seasonal allergies in cats
February 7, 2019
Help your cat beat hay fever
It’s one of the most common illnesses in cats, yet many owners aren’t aware of it. Hay fever, which is at its worst during spring and summer, does in fact plague both humans and animals alike.
At Edgewood Veterinary Group in Purleigh, we’ve seen many cats with a grass or tree pollen allergy. It affects the skin more than it does the sinuses and can make your pet chronically ill. Fortunately, there’s plenty you can do to help, so please do feel free to drop in at one of our practices in Purleigh, Maldon or Burnham and ask us for some further advice on how we can help you.
There are signs you can look out for that will help you determine if your cat is a hay fever sufferer, and the measures you can take.
Know the symptoms
Excessive licking and scratching are signs often associated with fleas. But they can also be brought on by an allergic reaction to pollen, which can make the skin, ears and bottom very irritable and itchy. What’s more, if your cat has bald patches around the lower back, groin, tail or paws, there’s a high chance it’s suffering.
Exclude fleas
So you don’t confuse hay fever with fleas, check your pet’s fur for flea dirt and ensure you’re up-to-date with treatments. If you use a spot-on product (eg Frontline or Advocate for cats), remember to apply it monthly.
Treatment
If you’re concerned your cat may have an allergy, bring it in to see us. We can run tests to help us pinpoint the problem and, if needed, subscribe treatments such as antihistamines and anti-allergy vaccines.
Preventative measures
It’s hard to avoid pollens, as many hay fever sufferers know. In addition to anti-allergy injections or natural antihistamines, evening primrose oil can be effective in reducing a reaction.
Rather than waste money on the wrong form of prevention, why not ask us first?
