The effect of antihistamines on allergic inflammation and anxiety in dogs and cats

Abstract

At first, the terms "allergy" and "hypersensitivity" were equivalent, but with the progress of knowledge in the field of immunology, the hypersensitivity reactions were classified into two categories: immunological and non-immunological hypersensitivity. Today, the term "allergy" is used to describe allergic-type hypersensitivity reactions. Anxiety is a state of mental discomfort, a disorder of affectivity, manifested by anxiety, unmotivated fear, anxiety. These changes of psychological nature lead to behavioral alterations which increase over time and often result in the social exclusion of the affected person. This study looked at the efficacy of antihistamine medication in the pathology of dog and cat allergy reactions, as well as in the increasingly frequent anxious manifestations of these species. In order to identify and diagnose allergic reactions to dogs and cats, 5 cats and 11 dogs were examined which showed a specific symptom such as: pruritus of different intensities, depilation, skin erythema or edema. For the examination of the animals, working methods were used in the following sequence: anamnesis, clinical examination, dermatological examination. Wood examination for skin lesions was performed in a dark room after the lamp had been heated beforehand. The otoscopic examination, in case of impaired auditory conduction, was performed with the otoscope that was connected to a computer allowing a better visualization of the images. Of the total of the animals examined, 37.5% were diagnosed with flea allergy, 31.25% with food allergy, 12.5% with an allergic reaction from other insects, and those diagnosed with tickle allergy, atopic dermatitis and dermatitis Contact represents 6.25% of the total. In cases of intense pruritus-induced allergies, diphenhydramine was used as antihistamine therapy precisely for its anti-anxiety, sedative effect in order to prevent auto-implantation in susceptible animals.