Cats with Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome (FHS)

Cats with Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome (FHS), also known as Rippling Skin Disorder, may act normally bonkers. 

It is a neurological illness, though, therefore therapy might be necessary. You and your veterinarian can determine the necessity for medical treatment by paying attention to the signs, such as skin twitching, unusual vocalizations, and unpredictable behavior.

Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome: What Is It?

Rippling or shuddering skin is the hallmark neurological sign of the neurological condition known as Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome (FHS) (particularly on the back, near the base of the tail). 

Even more alarming behavioral disorders associated with FHS include anxiety and generalized agitation.

Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome signs

Consider writing down the frequency of twitching or strange behaviors, such as those described below, to track signs that may point to feline hyperesthesia syndrome.

The disorder's symptoms all point to a single neurological etiology that triggers both internal and external hypersensitivity, leading to anxious behaviors like restlessness and agitation that are difficult to calm down with affection. 

Even though they are rare FHS symptoms, seizures can be a sign of a significant underlying brain disorder.

Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome causes

A neurological disruptor in the environment or a medical ailment is both potential causes of feline hyperesthesia syndrome.

 Although it can afflict any cat, Siamese, Burmese, Abyssinian, and Persian cats tend to have diagnosed more frequently than other Asian breeds. Most felines with Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome begin to show symptoms between the ages of one and five. Potential catalysts include:

• Pansteatitis: This condition results in painful abnormal fatty deposits under a cat's skin and is brought on by an excess of unsaturated fatty acids from a high-fish or unbalanced homemade diet. The uncomfortable fatty deposits in the thorax and abdomen cause hypersensitivity, which can cause a cat's skin to itch or ripple.
• Brain Activity: A cat with FHS may develop seizures for brain-related reasons. A veterinarian should look into any tumors, infections, or head injuries.
• Exposure to toxins: FHS can be brought on by dietary or environmental heavy metals like arsenic or mercury-containing foods or substances. Considerations should also be given to flea dips, flea collars, and pesticide and household cleaner ingestion.
• Asthma from fleas: Examining the skin beneath the coat should make it relatively simple to rule out the possibility that itchy skin from flea bites is the cause of the cat's erratic behavior. 

Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome will probably be diagnosed as OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) or as an unidentified stress-related condition if all of the causes listed above have been ruled out.

Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome in Cats: Diagnosis

FHS diagnosis frequently involves a procedure of exclusion. A veterinarian will search for factors such as nutrition (abnormal fat consumption and deposition) or trauma if no external stimuli or hazardous exposure can be found.

 Your doctor might advise dietary changes to improve weight and nutrition as well as the removal of environmental stressors to address FHS before choosing to utilize additional diagnostic procedures like x-rays because this ailment is frequently idiopathic (has no known cause). Of course, additional tests might be necessary if seizures have been detected.

Prevention and Treatment

At home, a cat with FSH can benefit from activities that promote activity and stress reduction, like interactive play with wand toys. To increase a cat's activity level and reduce anxiety, try clicker training, a very successful and enjoyable behavioral modification technique.

It can be beneficial to eliminate harmful exposures and influences, such as other aggressive pets or loud noises. A healthy therapy option is to alter your diet to enhance nutrition and promote weight loss (if necessary).

For the FSH cat who has seizures, anti-convulsant medication, such as phenobarbital, may occasionally be prescribed. Low doses of mood-stabilizing medications may also be prescribed to help calm a cat. 

With changes or medication, a cat with Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome may never be completely "fixed," but you can work with a pet behaviorist to make your cat feel happier and more at home.

Cats with Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome have a good prognosis.

The prognosis for a cat with FHS is based on the underlying etiology of the illness. Most of the time, dietary or environmental modifications can make a cat feel more at ease. 

Even though toxic exposures can result in long-lasting brain damage, many cats can recover after they are no longer exposed to the substance. Depending on the kind and degree of the problem, the prognosis for brain issues is more uncertain.