Cat (or dog) Scratch Fever

Every year in the spring when the weather starts to warm, flowers and trees start to bloom, and pet owners everywhere call their veterinarians with the same complaint: “My pet is driving me crazy with their scratching!”  Allergies and scratching are common complaints among pet owners, but there are a lot of misconceptions about the cause of their pet’s discomfort. 

                Many times we hear from clients that their pets seem to be itchy, but they do not appear to have fleas.  If the pet is on a monthly prevention, this could mean a couple of things.  If the pet is allergic to fleas and is then susceptible to a condition called Flea Allergic Dermatitis, they can be bitten by a flea once and feel the effects for up to two weeks.  In that instance, it is important to have them on a flea prevention that helps to prevent the fleas from being able to bite, like Vectra or Trifexis. 

                The other thing it could mean if Fluffy is still itching despite your flea prevention application is that he or she is allergic to something with which they are coming in contact, be it grass, trees, food, or one of many other things that can be allergenic in our tropical climate.  It’s also important to know that, just like humans, animals can suddenly become allergic to something later on in life that they have never been allergic to before.  We each have a threshold for certain allergens, and sometimes we can hit that at an older age even if we’ve never had a problem with it previously.  “Allergies are due to the immune system overreacting, NOT a weakened immune system, a common client misconception” (Ghubash, 2011). 

                The first steps in treating for allergies involve giving the animal medicated or anti-itch baths, topical sprays on affected areas, and an over the counter antihistamine such as Benadryl, Zyrtec, Claritin or Allegra.  Dosing is specific to the size of the animal, so if you are planning to try one of these, please ask your veterinarian what dose to give your pet.  It is also very important when giving any of these to give only the antihistamine without any added decongestant (such as Zyrtec-D, which can be very dangerous for your pet).  However, plain antihistamines are very safe, and can be used long term. 

                Sometimes, after trying all the available over the counter antihistamines (we usually recommend trying a different one if, say, Benadryl isn’t effective), we find that an animal is still experiencing persistent allergies.  In this case, we have options for more aggressive treatment, including steroid-based allergy injections, a food trial to determine whether it is a food allergy, and prescription medications.  Solving allergy problems can be a long process, and sometimes the only way to alleviate the frustration is with a full allergy blood screen to determine exactly what the animal is allergic to, and then treating with those allergens through immunotherapy.  “Animals with environmental allergies, or atopic dermatitis, can be desensitized to what they are allergic to through the use of allergen-specific immunotherapy.  Immunotherapy ‘retrains’ the body’s immune system, but, even when it works, animals usually require it for the rest of their lives to control the disease” (Ghubash, 2011).

                Just remember when dealing with allergies in your pets that it makes them just as miserable as it makes you when you’re suffering from them, so be patient.  Even when the process is long, more often than not we are able to find a solution. 

Ghubash, R. (2011). Top 5 dermatology questions clients ask technicians.  FIRSTLINE