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Common Skin Problems in Cats


common_skin_problems_and_cats.jpgSkin diseases are one of the top ten reasons that cats end up at the vet. They are the fifth leading diagnosis amongst pets. Cats can have rashes, lesions, cysts, even acne. Hairless and white furred cats can suffer from severe sunburns. Symptoms of skin problems tend to include a dull, dry coat, hair loss, irritated and red skin, flaky dry skin, bumps and lumps, scabs, scaly patches and excessive scratching. They can affect both the skin and beauty of your pet.

Top five most common skin diseases are:

Abscess: A collection of puss at the site of a bite or puncture wound that is painful. They are a firm swelling that becomes soft over time and eventually ruptures; they are often accompanied by pussy discharge. Many abscesses are fight related and found on ears, forelegs and abdomen; however they can appear at the base of the tail or on the tail if the cat is bitten while fleeing. They are best prevented by keeping your cat indoors and require veterinary attention to cure.

Ear Mites and other parasites: The symptoms of ear mites include shaking the head and scratching the ears, as well as excessive and dark colored wax. They are diagnosed by your vet using an otoscope to look into the canals. They will appear as small, off-white specs moving on the ear wax. If left untreated, mites can cause a secondary bacterial infection. Your vet will clean the ears and then prescribe medicated ear drops.

Scabies, chiggers and walking dandruff are three more parasites that can cause skin problems. Their symptoms include: itching and irritation between the toes with red, yellow or orange spots, intense itching around the head, face, neck and ears; severe hair loss, thick gray or yellow crusts, and dry, scaly, flaky skin on the back, neck and sides. All of these require vet treatment. Scabies is transferable to humans so you will want to get your cat to the veterinarian as soon as possible.

Ringworm is also a problem. It is a fungal infection that is highly contagious to both animals and humans so it is important that it is treated quickly and efficiently. It is characterized by round patches that show hair loss with a red ring around them. It may show as only broken spots of hair on the face and ears. It requires veterinary attention as soon as possible and is treated with antifungals and sterilization of the home.

Contact Dermatitis including Feline Acne: Symptoms include red, itchy bumps, inflamed skin, and blackheads on the underside of the chin and edge of lips. There may also be scales and hair loss. This can be caused by contact with a chemical or other irritant as well as rubber or plastic food dishes. The best way to prevent contact dermatitis is to keep cats away from chemicals. Consider switching your cats to glass, stainless steel, or lead-free ceramic dishes. Acne may require an antiseborrheic shampoo such as those that contain benzoyl peroxide. Check with your Vet if you suspect your cat has either condition.

Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD): FAD is characterized by small pimple-like bumps near the base of the tail, back of the rear legs, and inner thighs. They are very itchy and irritating. Though many cats can have fleas and never experience a problem, some cats need only a single bite to suffer days of itchy bumps. The best way to prevent FAD is to prevent fleas. Your Vet will be able to suggest the best preventative.  Flea allergies can also cause miliary dermatitis which is characterized by small bumps and crusts around the head, neck and back. These can be felt beneath their coat.

Food Allergy Dermatitis: Some cats are very sensitive to ingredients in their food. If they develop a food allergy, the symptoms can be as small as reddened ears or include severe itching of the head, neck and back, welling of the eyelids, and can be complicated by hair loss and oozing sores from constant scratching and biting. Treatment usually involves eliminating things from the diet to see what stops the symptoms. Some vets may treat with steroid injections as well to give the cat some relief and a chance to heal.

Other skin diseases include atopic dermatitis, lice, maggots, ticks, stud tail (predominantly in un-neutered males). If you think your cat is suffering from any one of these you should take them to the Vet as soon as possible. Skin conditions can also be a sign of a serious internal problem as well. There is more to the cat than their coat and problems under the skin can affect the fur on top of it!



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