There will always be a need for vets. That idea, plus my huge love of animals, has led me down the path of becoming a veterinarian. I have not graduated from my course yet, but the reason behind this blog is to share my learning journey. I intend to write blog posts on subjects like the veterinarian education path, my thoughts on whether to be a general or specialist vet and how I wish to use alternative treatments like acupuncture in my practice. If you too have a love of animals and want to make this your job, then my blog will be interesting to you.
Is Your Cat Allergic to Its Flea Collar?
If your cat has regular problems with fleas, then you may have decided to try putting a flea collar on your pet. However, your cat doesn't seem happy wearing the collar, and it seems to be giving your pet problems. How can you tell if your cat is allergic to its flea collar, and what should you do if it is?
How Is Your Cat Behaving?
Some cats don't like wearing a collar at all. They may pull at it and act out when they wear it. This doesn't necessarily mean that your cat is allergic to the flea treatment in the collar. It may simply not want to wear it. However, you should look out for signs that your cat's flea collar is affecting its health. Some cats don't react well to chemicals that kill fleas. They may get skin irritations around their neck or have symptoms in other parts of their body.
So, your cat may have an obvious itch that it keeps scratching. This can be on its neck around the collar or on other parts of its body. If your cat is having a more serious problem, it may have some swelling on its face and sore areas on parts of its body, like its ears. It may even have stomach upset problems like vomiting or diarrhoea.
How Should You Handle a Suspected Allergic Reaction?
If you think that your cat is having a reaction to the chemicals in the flea collar, take the collar off immediately. You should do this even if your cat is just scratching a little too often. If the collar is irritating your cat's neck and it scratches at itchy areas, then it may lose fur and damage its skin. It could end up with blisters and sores. Removing the collar could help prevent these problems.
If your cat has more serious problems like swelling or stomach issues, then call your vet to see if you need an emergency appointment. While some cats get over their allergic reaction once the collar is off, some may need treatment. If the chemicals from the collar are in your cat's bloodstream, then they might not be able to shake off the problem without some medical help from a vet clinic.
In either case, your vet can give you advice on how to deal with your cat's flea problems more effectively. For example, it may be better to use drops or treatments that use natural ingredients rather than chemicals.