Cat Dermatitis: Types, Symptoms and Treatment

Dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin that occurs under the influence of any irritants. At its core, this is not a disease, but a symptom of some kind of ailment, therefore it is important not only to treat itching, rashes and sores, but to find the reason for their appearance. Depending on which problem in the body an illness signals, several types are distinguished.

Types and signs of dermatitis in cats

All types appear in a similar way. The most common symptoms are itching, redness, rash (the so-called urticaria), blisters, scratching and scratching the skin, swelling and peeling, creases, tarnishing and hair loss. Moreover, in different animals, the degree of manifestation may be different. With the same disease, one cat, for example, simply itches slightly, and the other balds and becomes covered with blisters, which it subsequently tears.

Depending on the cause of this symptom, the following dermatitis are distinguished:

Allergic - occurs in response to any substance foreign to the body. This can be food, household chemicals, cosmetics or perfumes of the hostess, plant pollen, medicines, etc. Since most often the body does not accept any food, they often talk about food dermatitis in cats.

Atopic - dermatosis caused by allergens in food and converted into a chronic form.

Flea - redness and irritation of the skin cause flea bites.

Tick-borne - provoke ixodic or subcutaneous (eg, ear) mites.

Bacterial - develops as a result of the vital activity of bacteria.

Fungal - the “culprit” is the fungus. A common variety is malassesiosis (the fungus Malassezia settles in the folds of the skin).

Infectious - a response to an infection that occurs in the body.

Parasitic - the result of colonization of the body with parasites (worms).

Seborrheic - manifests itself as dandruff, which means that the sebaceous glands do not work properly.

Contact - appears when in contact with an irritant (for example, a collar or clothing).

Medication - the body rejects drugs.

Miliary (feline eczema) - small, itchy bumps resembling millet grains pop up. This can be a consequence of both food allergies and absolutely any disease.

Cat dermatitis treatment

External remedies will help remove itching and flushing, but these symptoms will appear again soon if you do not eradicate the root cause. Therefore, to determine the diagnosis, you must consult a veterinarian.

It is not so easy to identify the provoking factor, especially in the case of allergic dermatosis. To find out what a cat is allergic to is possible only by carefully observing his condition after eating different foods, as well as through laboratory blood tests. When an allergen is established, it is often sufficient to exclude this product from the diet of a mustachioed pet.

For severe symptoms, give your pet an antihistamine. With severe intoxication, the doctor may prescribe droppers.

Skin ailments can pass by themselves, but it is better to completely wipe the affected areas 2 times a day with any antiseptic and treat with a softening or soothing ointment (for example, based on chamomile or tea tree essential oil). So that the pet does not lick the medicine and does not bring the infection into the wounds, put on it a tight medical blanket.

If redness of the skin occurs at the point of contact with any object, remove it away. Also, with any dermatosis, special therapeutic shampoos and diet food rich in vitamins A, E and polyunsaturated fatty acids (Omega-3 and Omega-6) help.

With dermatoses caused by internal or external parasites, treatment is carried out using insecticidal or anthelmintic agents.

Animals are susceptible to dermatoses to varying degrees. Some individuals have never encountered this disease in their entire lives. If your four-legged friend turned out to be very sensitive, then try to protect him from possible sources of the disease. And remember: treat dermatitis in a cat should be under the supervision of a veterinarian.