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Although feline atopy was fi rst decribed more than 25 years ago, the immunopathogenesis of this disease is still not entirely understood. It is thought to be similar to that of canine atopy. Cats can develop a variety of pruritic skin conditions including self-induced alopecia, cervico-facial pruritus and eosinophilic dermatosis (miliary dermatitis, eosinophilic plaques, eosinophilic granuloma and indolent ulcer). Feline atopy can also present as a respiratory disease similar to human atopic asthma. Establishing a diagnosis of atopy is difficult and requires exclusion of other cutaneous diseases such as flea bite allergy, food hypersensitivity, parasitic diseases and dermatophytosis. Evaluating the allergic status in cats with intradermal allergy testing or in vitro methods remains a challenge. Here is a diagnostic approach for identifying cats with atopic dermatitis.
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