Does your cat constantly lick, scratch, or lose fur? Are you struggling to figure out what’s causing their discomfort? In this episode of Your Vet Wants You to Know, board-certified veterinary dermatologist, Dr. Brittany Lancellotti, dives into feline allergies, explaining the most common signs, how veterinarians diagnose allergies, and the best treatment options to help your cat find relief.

Join us as we discuss real-life cases, including Otto, a cat who lost all the fur on his back legs and belly due to allergies—but with the right treatment, he got his pants back! Learn how to recognize allergic skin disease, what tests can help pinpoint the cause, and what treatment options are available, including steroids, cyclosporine (Atopica), and allergy immunotherapy.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

✅ The 4 most common ways cat allergies show up on the skin

✅ Why overgrooming is often mistaken for stress when it’s really allergies

✅ How flea allergies, food allergies, and environmental allergies affect cats

✅ What eosinophilic granuloma complex is and how it impacts feline skin health

✅ How allergy testing and immunotherapy (allergy shots) can help cats long-term

✅ The role of secondary skin infections and why treating them is essential

✅ The best steps to take if you think your cat has allergies

Resources & Links:

📌 Struggling to medicate your cat? Check out the Calm and Cozy Cat Wrap.

📌 Find a veterinary dermatologist near you: https://www.yourvetwantsyoutoknow.com/resources

📌 Full transcript with pictures of Otto and other allergic cats: https://www.yourvetwantsyoutoknow.com/allergiccatsigns

📌 Schedule an appointment at Veterinary Skin and Ear in Los Angeles with Dr. Lancellotti: https://www.vetskinear.com

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Share Your Thoughts: 💬 Have you dealt with cat allergies? Share your experience in our Facebook Group or tag us on social media @YourVetWantsYouToKnow!

Scratching the Itch: Each episode, we highlight something that brings you joy or makes life easier. This week, we’re featuring Smarter in Seconds, a viral web series by educator Blair Imani, making complex topics accessible in bite-sized videos. Check it out here.

Tune in next time as we explore allergy testing and treatment options for cats, and hear more about Otto’s journey back to a happy, healthy life!

 

Our vision is for Your Vet Wants You to Know to be a resource for veterinarians to improve client communication by introducing a discussion about a common topic during the vet visit, then directing the client to a reliable source of engaging, understandable, and accessible information. 

By doing so, we strive for:

1) increased pet health literacy among pet owners, 

2) improved partnership between clients and the veterinary team, 

3) improved medical outcomes for pets, and 

4) improved quality of life and efficiency for veterinarians.  

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