Learning More About Cat Dermatology at Georgia Veterinary Associates
What is the most common skin condition in cats?
The most common skin condition in cats by far is flea allergy dermatitis. This is easily prevented with routine flea and tick control.
The next most common skin issue that we see in cats is self-trauma and over-grooming, sometimes due to allergies or anxiety. While we do see ringworm in young kittens, it's not as common in adult cats as a lot of people think.
Do cat skin issues always require a specialist?
You don't necessarily need to see a specialist if your cat has skin issues. The most common skin conditions in cats are caused by underlying issues such as allergies or anxiety, which can be treated by your regular veterinarian. If your vet thinks that additional testing or specialist treatment is indicated, they can help you set up a referral to a dermatologist.
What should you do if you notice a skin lump or tumor on your cat?
If you notice any kind of skin lump or tumor on your cat, you should make an appointment with your veterinarian immediately. While skin cancers are not very common in cats, they should be ruled out. Lumps can also indicate things like infection or inflammation. Your vet can do in-house diagnostics such as cytology, which involves looking at a small sample of the lump under a microscope to determine the best treatment.
What is the most common cause of itching, scratching, or excessive licking and grooming in cats?
The most common cause of itching, scratching, or excessive licking and grooming in cats is flea allergies. Because cats are such fastidious groomers, they can be suffering from flea allergies without obvious evidence of live fleas on their skin. Other environmental or food allergies can cause itchiness in cats, but they're a lot less common.
How is dermatitis diagnosed in cats?
Dermatitis is any kind of inflammation in the skin and can occur with or without a secondary infection. Your veterinarian will diagnose this based on a physical exam and may take some small impression samples of the skin to look at under the microscope to rule out whether or not an infection is present.
How can skin infection present itself in cats?
Skin infection can present in a variety of ways, such as hair loss, rash, crusting, or hot spots. Skin infections in cats are almost always secondary to some underlying issue, which needs to be addressed to prevent recurrence of the infection. Your veterinarian may diagnose a skin infection based on a physical exam alone, and in some cases, they may perform cytology, which involves evaluating a small sample, either a skin scraping or impression smear, under the microscope to determine what type of infection is present. In severe cases or when antibiotic resistance is suspected, your veterinarian may submit a sample to the lab for a culture. This involves growing the sample of bacteria on a petri dish and then submitting it to antibiotic testing to determine the best type of treatment.
What are the signs of skin allergies in cats?
Signs of skin allergies in cats can range from a slight increase in grooming behavior to hair loss to widespread dermatitis or skin infection. Symptoms of skin allergies can often mimic other types of skin conditions, so it's best to consult with your veterinarian before assuming your cat has allergies.
How should skin conditions in cats be treated?
Treatment of skin conditions in cats depends on the diagnosis and should be discussed with your veterinarian. We have many different options for treating allergies and other types of skin conditions, and your veterinarian can help you develop the plan that is best for your individual cat.
How common are food allergies in cats?
Food allergies are not very common in cats but do occur in a small percentage of patients. Poor nutrition can also lead to symptoms like dry skin and a dull coat. However, most commercially available foods meeting AAFCO minimum standards should provide plenty of essential nutrients to keep your cat's skin and coat healthy and strong.
Are mange mites common in adult cats?
Demodex and sarcoptes, also known as mange mites or scabies, are pretty rare in normal adult cats with healthy immune systems. We do see these parasites occasionally in young kittens or adult cats whose immune systems are compromised due to stress or other illnesses. However, if you see symptoms such as hair loss, itching, or scratching in an otherwise healthy adult cat, some other issue like allergies or fleas is much more likely than mange.
What are the signs of flea allergy dermatitis in cats?
The most common sign of flea allergy dermatitis in cats is excessive grooming, licking, and chewing around the lower back, the base of the tail, and around the face and ears. We often also see a scabby, bumpy rash over the back and neck called miliary dermatitis. Since cats are such fastidious groomers, they often remove live fleas without the live flea ever being seen by the owner. However, your veterinarian can usually find evidence of fleas on a thorough physical exam.
What cat flea and tick prevention products do you recommend?
There are many products available to safely and effectively prevent fleas and ticks in cats. Here at Georgia Veterinary Associates, we primarily recommend Revolution Plus, which also prevents heartworms and intestinal parasites. In general, prescription parasite preventions are safer and more effective than over-the-counter generic products. It's very important never to use a product labeled for dogs to treat fleas in your cat, as products labeled for dogs can cause severe, life-threatening reactions in some cats.
What causes hair loss in cats?
Hair loss in cats can be caused by many different issues, but allergies and overgrooming due to anxiety are the most common causes. If you notice hair loss or bald patches on your cat, you should schedule an appointment with your veterinarian as soon as possible for appropriate treatment recommendations. If your veterinarian has ruled out allergies or other skin conditions, an omega-3 fatty acid supplement such as fish oil can be used to help treat dry skin in cats.
Are topical products recommended for cats?
Typically, topical products are not recommended for cats as they are likely to groom these products off quickly, which could cause GI upset or even toxicity. Most cats never require a bath. Their natural grooming behavior effectively cleans their fur and distributes the oils needed to keep skin healthy. Cats with medium and long fur do require regular brushing to prevent mats and maintain skin health. Owners of cats with longer hair often choose to have their cats groomed a few times a year and shave the coat down to reduce matting and shedding.
What should you do if you notice a hot spot on your cat?
Hot spots are typically areas of deep skin infection or moist dermatitis. If you notice a hot spot on your cat, you should schedule an appointment with your veterinarian immediately for appropriate treatment and antibiotics. Generally, topical treatments and medications are not effective in cats due to their grooming behavior, and some topicals can cause GI upset or toxicity if ingested through grooming.
Are antihistamines effective for cats?
Antihistamines such as Benadryl are not typically effective at reducing skin itch in cats. Caution should always be exercised when administering any over-the-counter medication to your cat. It's best to check with your veterinarian first.
Learning More About Cat Dermatology and Skin Issues
Most cats will scratch on occasion but if you notice that the occasional scratch and regular grooming turns into a cat who appears uncomfortable, cat skin problems may be present and you should schedule an appointment with one of the veterinarians here at Georgia Veterinary Associates.
Excessive scratching, hair loss and a mildly frantic cat are signs that cat skin problems may be present and your feline friend needs medical attention. While cat skin problems are rarely an emergency, an uncomfortable cat will have trouble enjoying daily life until those symptoms are under control.
In comparison to dogs, cats typically require less care for their coats and skin. Dermatologic treatments in cats are much less common than in dogs. By performing a weekly brushing, you will be familiar with your cat’s coat and skin and will be more likely to catch any potential cat skin problems early on and bring it to the attention of your veterinarian.
Recognizing Cat Skin Conditions
So how do you recognize cat skin conditions? Here are some key signs to look for:
- Hair loss is a common sign of cat skin problems. Have you noticed any bald patches? Is your cat shedding more than normal?
- Excessive grooming can also indicate cat skin conditions are present. If the grooming appears more frenetic and less relaxed than normal, it may be because your cat is pruritic (itchy) and uncomfortable.
- While brushing your cat, if you notice any red, scaly, patchy, or scabby areas, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian.
- Fleas and ticks are common parasites which may be found on the skin.
- If your cat shakes his head excessively, this could indicate he may have a skin problem or an issue with his ears.
Types of Cat Skin Conditions
The following are some types of common cat skin problems you should be aware of:
- External parasites such as fleas can cause itchy skin and cat skin allergies. The cat will then scratch and bite and potentially cause secondary infections.
- Ticks can attach to your cat’s skin causing a raised bump or cause localized swelling. The bump is the cat’s response to fight off the tick.
- Mites, or ear mites, can produce itchy ears. This is more commonly seen in kittens. The cat will hold his head sideways indicating discomfort. Cats can also have ear infections which need to be treated promptly by your veterinarian.
- Cats can also develop polyps in their ears. A thorough exam includes an otoscopic exam of the cat’s ear canals.
- Cats can also be prone to food allergies. Your cat can develop an “itchy face,” or itchiness all over. Your veterinarian will determine if you need to change your cat’s diet. This will generally include a food trial and may require several attempts to rule out food allergy.
- Contact allergies can also be present in cats. This is very similar to how people develop allergies to common substances in their environment.
- Cat skin cancer. As in humans, cat cancer is a potentially life threatening condition. If you notice new or changing skin spots, make a veterinary appointment ASAP.
- Cat acne. Some cats are prone to cat acne. While this may appear similar to a rash, the treatment of cat acne may involve prescription medication.
- Cat dermatitis. Typically cat dermatitis is due to an allergic reaction to grooming products, food or environmental irritants.
Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian as soon as you see any of these symptoms. Sometimes it takes a while to diagnose the problem, the sooner, the better.
Testing and Diagnosing Cat Skin Problems
Your veterinarian has many types of tests available when it comes to cat dermatology issues:
- One common test is to collect some of the material in the ear and look at it under a microscope.
- Your vet can also take a small scraping of the hair follicles or the debris on the skin and look at it under a microscope. They will be looking for mites, yeast or bacteria or certain types of cells to determine the cause of the discomfort.
- Ringworm is a common cat skin condition that can be transmitted to children or adults, so this is something that needs to be diagnosed and treated immediately.
There are many things your veterinarian will be looking at to determine what is the most appropriate treatment.
Treatments for Cat Skin Conditions
Getting a diagnosis from your veterinarian is the first step. It depends upon what we are dealing with and it may take time to get to the correct diagnosis and treatment.
- If you are dealing with fleas, your vet will treat for flea control.
- If you are dealing with food allergies, your vet may have to switch your cat’s food.
- Your vet may have to use an immune modulating medication to suppress allergic response in your cat.
- Anti-itch medications may be used to make your cat feel more comfortable.
- If ringworm is present, antifungal medication will be prescribed.
- Some medications must be injected by a veterinarian while other medication can be administered by you at home.
It is important that you work with your veterinarian to accurately describe the symptoms of cat skin conditions. Then, your vet will perform a thorough exam and recommend the appropriate treatment.
Schedule A Cat Dermatology Appointment
Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian as soon as you notice any changes in your cat’s grooming behavior, excessive itchiness, or if you notice red, scaly patches on your cat’s skin. Cat skin conditions can quickly worsen becoming more difficult and costly to treat. Early detection and treatment is key in the fight against cat skin problems. Schedule an exam with a veterinarian from Georgia Veterinary Associates by calling 678-407-0700.