Diagnostic approach to the pruritic cat
Clara Macfarlane
Friday, September 27, 2013
Managing cats with pruritic skin diseases can be challenging. Some owners do not believe that their cats are pruritic and they may present them to the practice for apparently spontaneous lesions such as eosinophilic plaques and alopecia. It is imperative to use a systematic approach to diagnosis. This article will describe the key points of the history and the clinical signs as well as the appropriate tests that can be used to rule out certain conditions and confirm the diagnosis. As a pruritic cat can take some time to reach a resolution, client communication is paramount. Regular contact during diagnostic food and flea trials with good follow up of treatment can substantially improve compliance, leading to better outcomes for the cat and their owner.
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