The information below is a general guide for treating allergies in cats. The instructions that are specific for your cat have been checked.
____Your cat has a flea allergy or has enough fleas to make another allergy problem worse. Flea control is very important and should include treating your cat and its environment. Bear in mind that flea allergies often accompany other types of allergies, especially inhalant allergy (atopy). Year-round monthly flea prevention is recommended for all cats, especially those with flea allergy dermatitis.
Recommended flea control protocol for your cat:
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____ Your cat was given a long-acting injection of corticosteroids. Relief should be apparent within twelve to twenty-four hours. If not, please call the clinic. Your cat should feel better and itch less for about two to four weeks. If an increase in water consumption or urination occurs, please report this to us right away. These side effects are common with steroid administration and usually go away in a few days without treatment.
____Return for further evaluation when the first signs of itching recur.
____Your cat has been started on oral corticosteroids. If this is not controlling your cat’s itch, please contact the hospital immediately. The goal is towean down the frequency of medication to once every 2-3 days for maximum safety.
Medication and dosage prescribed:__________________________________
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____Your cat has been started on an oral antihistamine.
Medication and dosage prescribed:__________________________________
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____Your cat has been started on oral cyclosporine. This medication can be bitter. If you are having difficulty medicating your cat, please contact the clinic.
Medication and dosage prescribed: _________________________________
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____Your cat has been started on allergy serum. The instructions are as follows:
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____Your cat is to be fed a hypoallergenic diet exclusively. We recommend gradually transitioning to a new diet by increasing the amount of the hypoallergenic diet mixed with the current diet over a 7-21 day period, starting with ¼ of the new diet mixed with ¾ of the old diet and gradually adjusting the proportions until you are feeding only the hypoallergenic diet. If your cat is not eating the new hypoallergenic diet, contact us immediately for an alternative plan. It is extremely important that you feed ONLY the hypoallergenic diet. Be sure to discontinue any other foods, treats, or vitamins. Human food is also not allowed.
____Your cat has a skin infection secondary to allergic dermatitis. The following treatments have been prescribed:
____Antibiotics are to be used for the next _____ days until your recheck appointment. These include:.
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____The medicated shampoo, __________________________, is to be used every _____ days. Allow the shampoo to stay on the coat for five to ten minutes before thoroughly rinsing the fur.
____The topical medication, _____________________________, is to be used ______ times daily for __________ days.
____A recheck appointment has been booked for your cat on _____________________________. It is very important that your veterinarian reassesses your cat to be sure that the prescribed treatment has been effective. This also allows your veterinarian to make adjustments to the medications to ensure it is being used as safely as possible.
