Effective Treatment for Feline Malassezia Fungus: Top M

Malassezia, a common fungus, resides on the skin surfaces of many animals, including our feline friends. Normally, these microorganisms are harmless. However, when they overpopulate, they can lead to a range of skin issues such as redness, hair loss, and itching. For cats with sensitive skin or weakened immune systems, a Malassezia infection can result in more severe skin inflammation.

1. Causes

The primary reasons for the overgrowth of Malassezia are often damp, unclean environments, and cats with weakened immunity. Additionally, the following factors may also trigger an outbreak:

Parasite infections

Food allergies

Endocrine disorders

Imbalanced skin oil and moisture

Longterm use of antibiotics

2. Diagnosis

How can I tell if my cat has a Malassezia infection?

After a cat is infected with Malassezia, the symptoms can vary depending on the affected area:

Ear infection: The ear canal becomes red, moist, and produces a large amount of yellow to dark brown discharge with a strong odor. The cat may frequently shake its head and scratch its ears.

Foot pad infection: The hair between the toes and on the pads turns brown, the skin becomes red and swollen, and hair may fall out.

Skin infection: The skin shows redness, scales, itching, and oil leakage. The cat will continuously scratch the affected area, leading to hair loss and skin damage.

In clinical settings, these symptoms can be confused with other diseases. A definitive diagnosis requires a microscopic examination, which can reveal a high number of ovalshaped Malassezia fungi.

3. Treatment

The treatment methods vary depending on the affected area.

Ear infection:

Clean the cat's ears with Erfei Fen (pet ear care solution) and then apply a combination of econazole nitrate ear drops or itraconazole ointment twice a day.

Put an Elizabethan collar on the cat to prevent it from scratching its ears.

If the ear canal is particularly inflamed, consider giving the cat a few days of antiinflammatory medication, such as amoxicillinclavulanate potassium or Edasu (cefadroxil tablets).

Skin or foot pad infection:

If the cat can tolerate bathing, use a 2% miconazole/2% chlorhexidine medicated bath once or twice a week.

In cases of severe infection, oral itraconazole may be required, at a dose of 5 to 10 mg/kg, taken every 24 hours.

Feed the cat Shivibi (vitamin B complex solution) to enhance skin immunity and promote the repair of the epidermis and mucous membranes.

4. Daily Care

Maintain a light diet and avoid feeding the cat highsalt or greasy foods that may irritate its skin.

Keep the environment wellventilated and dry, and regularly clean the cat's belongings.

Ensure that the cat is thoroughly dried after a bath, especially checking that the hair in the ear canals and on the foot pads is completely dry.

Regularly deworm the cat to prevent infections from external parasites such as mites, fleas, and lice.

Caution: Although boric acid and menthol have a good therapeutic effect on Malassezia infections, they can be quite irritating. Therefore, they are generally not recommended and should never be used longterm.