Top 3 Cat Skin Diseases: Symptoms Explained in Pictures

Hello everyone, welcome to Oxygen Pet Doctor~

Cats can suffer from a wide variety of skin diseases, including fungal infections, bacterial infections, parasitic infections, endocrine skin diseases, and immunerelated skin diseases, among others.

There are three types of skin diseases that 98% of cats have experienced: fungal infections (ringworm), folliculitis (black chin and greasy tail), and ear mites. Cat owners must be patient and read through this note carefully!

Fungal Infections (Ringworm)

Symptoms:

These often appear on the cat's face, trunk, limbs, and tail, presenting as circular or elliptical lesions covered with gray scales. The fur in these areas becomes rough, and the hair may fall out in clumps or break off.

Treatment:

1. Isolate the affected cat, put on a collar, shave the affected area, apply medication, and clean the local scales with iodine.

2. Apply antifungal ointments such as Dasatin (ketokonazole ointment) or terbinafine hydrochloride cream to the lesions twice a day.

3. For systemic infections, oral itraconazole capsules can be given once a day, with a dosage of 510mg per kilogram of body weight, for a treatment period of 48 weeks.

Note: These medications are not recommended for longterm use or for use on young kittens, as they can cause liver damage. Adult cats with small affected areas should also avoid using these medications without consulting a vet.

4. Supplement with Vitamin B to boost the cat's immunity. Petspecific Prenatal multivitamin tablets are recommended to promptly provide the kitten with B vitamins, aiding in the healing of skin wounds.

5. Regularly clean and disinfect the home to avoid fungal residue. Also, ensure your cat gets plenty of sunlight, which can act as a natural杀菌 agent.

Folliculitis

Symptoms:

The chin or tail of the cat may develop small black spots resembling coal slag. In severe cases, there may be redness, papules, and hair loss.

Management:

1. Use an Elizabethan collar to prevent the cat from scratching and worsening the condition.

2. For mild black chin: Dampen a cotton ball with Betadine (povidoneiodine solution) and gently wipe the affected area.

3. For severe black chin: Apply erythromycin ointment to the lesions once or twice a day.

4. If the cat has inflammation, first shave the area and use a pet shampoo containing benzoyl peroxide for bathing and treatment, which can penetrate deeply and should be used continuously until improvement is seen.

5. If the cat has boils or bleeding ulcers, it is advisable to consult a veterinarian, who will typically select the best antibiotic based on a drug sensitivity test.

It is recommended to perform early spaying or neutering to prevent folliculitis caused by excessive hormone secretion.

Ear Mites

Symptoms:

The ears may have dark brown secretions resembling coffee grounds, which are dry and hard. The cat's ears will be extremely itchy, and the cat will frequently scratch and shake its head. Simple ear mites usually do not smell bad.

Management:

1. First, fit the cat with a suitable head collar to prevent scratching and interfere with treatment.

2. Treat the ear mites externally (a key step!); this should be done once a month for three consecutive months.

3. Use Ear Clear Care Solution to drop into the cat's ear canal, gently rub the base of the ear for one minute to soften the earwax, then release the cat to shake out the debris. Clean the ear canal with a cotton ball, removing any dirt from the ear flap and wiping away any remaining liquid.

4. Then use EarFlex to kill the ear mites. The applicator tube can be inserted directly into the cat's ear canal, as the structure of the ear canal in dogs and cats is Lshaped, preventing damage to the eardrum. Squeeze in a small amount of ointment, massage the ear to ensure absorption, and then wipe away any excess medication that is shaken out.

Ear cleaning and medication should be done twice a day; wash and apply medication in sequence for 1828 days, or until the cat's symptoms disappear.