Cat Allergy Vaccines

You love your cat, but if you have allergies he may cause you to sneeze and wheeze until you are on the verge of looking for a new home for your cat. There is good news for those who suffer with cat allergy symptoms. It can be a long process but for cat lovers, allergy shots may just be the ticket to a long and happy life with a cat.

  1. Cause

    • Cat dander, saliva and cat urine may be the cause for your itchy, watery eyes; sneezing; and asthma-like symptoms. Cat dander or flaky skin is most likely the culprit, although mold, pollen and dust can collect on cat hair and be a contributor. According to VetInfo.com, proteins from cats' dander from the sebaceous gland and saliva to be the major causes of allergies in humans.

    Symptoms

    • Symptoms of cat allergies include sneezing, itchy, watery eyes, coughing, skin rash, sinus headache and cold-like symptoms, hives and upper respiratory infections. Cat dander can become airborne and enter the lungs and cause shortness of breath and may trigger an asthma attack. New allergy vaccines may help relieve most of the symptoms for those who have a mild form of cat allergy.

    Diagnosis

    • Blood tests, skin tests and family medical history can be used to diagnose cat allergies. Allergists or immunologists perform skin test, making a small prick in the skin with different types of allergy candidates. These tests are generally safe for adults and children and the results can be seen in as little as 15 minutes. Once the tests have been run, the allergy vaccines could become a part of a weekly routine.

    Treatment

    • Immunotherapy or allergy shots can help control the symptoms of cat allergies, by desensitizing the patient with a series of allergy injection shots under the skin. Although allergy shots may be expensive and treatment can be a long process (taking up to three years), after six months of weekly visits less medication will be required. After initial treatment, patients can phase in a maintenance schedule. The patient will likely have built up a tolerance and will be able to be around their furry feline friends.

    Vaccines

    • Vaccines traditionally have used water with the cat dander and pollens but in recent years newer vaccines that take effect within weeks instead of years by directing new vaccines to specific immune cells in the body. The new vaccines will decrease the number of injections needed.