TO TREAT ASTHMA WASH YOUR CAT!

By Dr. W. Gifford Jones

August 5, 1990

Would any sane person try to wash a cat? Particularly when he or she may come off second best? There are exceptions to every rule. And a recent report from the University of Washington brings good news to asthmatics who are allergic to Felix. Researchers claim that giving the cat a regular bath helps asthmatics.

It's estimated that cats reside in 30 per cent of the 92.5 million homes in the U.S. This translates into 63 million cats in North America. And between 20 and 30 per cent of asthmatics are allergic to animals. No one knows why, but cats are more likely than dogs to send asthmatic patients into respiratory spasms.

But bathing a cat! Dr. H. James Wedner, Associate Professor of Medicine at Washington University, suggested this unusual treatment at the recent meeting of the American Academy of Allergy and Immunology in Baltimore.

Wedner claims it's a simple method for reducing allergic reactions to cats. It's less expensive than drugs and allergy shots that most doctors prescribe for cat-sensitive patients.

Dr. Wedner recommends a 10 minute monthly washing in lukewarm distilled water. He states this has a marked effect on reducing the production of Fel D1, the major allergen in feline skin.

The Baltimore researchers didn't set out to study the effects of bathing cats. Rather they were trying to determine the effects of two drugs, Acutane and Etretinate, for their ability to decrease the production of cat allergen. Neither of these drugs helped. But when they analyzed the used bath water for Fel D1 values they noted, much to their surprise, that washing produced a significant decrease in this allergen.

The study involved 10 cats. It showed a decrease in Fel D1 in one cat after just three washings. And in all 10 cats after seven baths. How much the Fel D1 level dropped varied from cat to cat. But the average decreased from 3031 milliunits per cat after one wash to 400 milliunits per cat at wash number nine. At the final bath three cats produced less than 10 milliunits and five others less than 375 milliunits.

Fel-D1 is a protein produced by the cat's salivary and sebaceous glands. It's deposited on the skin and hair either as the hair passes through the sebaceous gland or as the cat preens. It's the major component of cat dander found in a cat owner's home.

Wedner and associates are unable to explain why monthly washing decreases production of the allergen. He says, "While the washing procedure might be expected to alter skin production of Fel D1 we wouldn't expect it to have a significant effect on salivary gland production. The fact that washing is effective suggests the skin may contribute more to the overall production of Fel D1 than was previously thought."

How do cats feel about the monthly dipping? Wedner says cats can be trained to accept bathing as a standard procedure and it's easy to accomplish with kittens. How they react depends largely on their age and individual temperament. Wedner believes bathing is not harmful to them and, in fact, show cats and some exotic breeds require frequent bathing.

Sharon Curtis, a spokesperson for the American Veterinarian Medical Association, says ,"You always hear that cats take care of themselves, but I'm hearing more and more about people who do wash their cats." Curtis recommends consulting a veterinarian for advice about shampoos, if they are to be used, since cats can be allergic to certain chemicals. She also adds a vet may suggest tips for easing cats into a bathing routine.

I don't know what the vet told Dr. Wedner about convincing Felix he needs a bath. But it appears Wedner isn't a fool or about to take any needless risks. He admits in his study that cat washes were performed under light anesthesia! It appears that gauging a cat's temperament is easier said than done. And it's interesting to speculate how many people who accept his advice will end up with "cat scratch fever" following the exercise.

My congratulations to Dr. Wedner for this interesting and unique approach to treating cat-induced asthma. But the ideal therapy for cat-sensitive patients who experience weeping eyes, asthma or dermatological reactions to cats is to remove all felines from the household. Antihistamines, decongestants, asthma medications and allergy shots can attack the symptoms of asthma. But the presence of cats in the home obviously decreases the effectiveness of such treatments.

MEDICAL ALERT

Last year I cautioned readers that excessive use of painkillers could damage kidneys. The Mayo Clinic Health Letter reiterates this warning about Ibuprofen (Advil, Medipren, Motrin IB, Nuprin) commonly used for arthritis pain, headaches and menstrual cramps. Researchers at The John Hopkins University found that higher than normal doses of Ibuprofen led to worsening of renal function in 25 per cent of people whose kidneys were midly impaired. Patients who are currently taking this over-the-counter painkiller should check with their doctor to make certain they're not taking excessive amounts.

W. Gifford-Jones M.D is the pen name of Dr. Ken Walker graduate of Harvard. Dr. Walker's website is: Docgiff.com

My book, �90 + How I Got There� can be obtained by sending $19.95 to:

Giff Holdings, 525 Balliol St, Unit # 6,Toronto, Ontario, M4S 1E1

Pre-2008 articles by Gifford Jones

Canada Free Press, CFP Editor Judi McLeod