Common Symptoms of Skin Diseases in Cats

Hello everyone, welcome to Oxygen Pet Doctor~

Just the other day, a cat owner in our group asked, "What are the common symptoms of skin diseases in cats?"

Oxygen Pet Doctor: "The types of skin diseases in cats can vary, and so can their symptoms."

For instance, the symptoms of fungal infections (ringworm) include:

Appearance of circular or elliptical lesions covered with gray scales, with roughened fur. The hair in the affected areas may fall out in clumps or break off. These lesions are commonly found on the cat's face, trunk, limbs, and tail.

How to treat ringworm?

Shave the affected area and apply medication, using iodine to clean the local scales.

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

For systemic infections, oral itraconazole capsules can be given, administered once a day. The dosage is based on the cat's weight, 510mg per kilogram, and the treatment course is 48 weeks.

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

Supplement with Vitamin B to enhance the cat's immune system.

For example, the symptoms of feline folliculitis include:

Small, black, coallike spots on the cat's chin or tail, with redness, swelling, papules, and hair loss in severe cases.

How to treat feline folliculitis?

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

For severe black chin, apply erythromycin ointment to the lesion, once or twice a day.

If the cat's chin or tail shows inflammation, first shave the area and use a pet shampoo containing benzoyl peroxide for bathing. This can penetrate deeply and should be used continuously until improvement is seen.

If the cat has boils or bleeding ulcers, it is advisable to visit a veterinarian. The vet will usually choose the best antibiotic based on a drug sensitivity test.

And here are the symptoms of feline ear mites:

Blackishbrown secretions in the ear, resembling coffee grounds, dry and hard. The cat's ears will be extremely itchy, leading to frequent ear scratching and head shaking. Simple ear mites usually do not have an odor.

Cats often confuse ear mites with ear malassezia infections.

Here are the symptoms of feline malassezia infection:

Blackishbrown secretions resembling mud, wet and often malodorous. The frequency of scratching is lower than with ear mites. Malassezia infections are particularly smelly in dogs but usually odorless in cats.

The treatments for these two conditions are different.

How to treat feline ear mites?

First, focus on external treatment! Perform this monthly for three months. First, clean the ear with an ear cleanser, then apply EarFlex. Ear cleaning and medication should be done once a day; repeat the cleaning and medication process for 710 days until the cat's symptoms disappear.

How to treat feline ear malassezia infection?

For malassezia, treatment involves using both ear cleansers and ear medications. Clean the ear once a day, followed by medication, for 710 days. The cleaning helps dissolve and remove earwax, allowing the medication to be more effective.

Here are the symptoms of feline eczema:

Commonly found on the abdomen and inner thighs, the affected skin may show erythema, petechiae, blisters, and erosions. It may also be accompanied by itching, pain, and heat.

How to treat feline eczema?

If the cat has long hair, consider trimming or shaving it to prevent the affected area from remaining moist and hot.

Apply Fusant (zinc oxide ointment), which is specifically designed for cat eczema, skin redness, and hair loss. It helps promote skin repair and has antibacterial and astringent properties.

Orally administer Newmen (chlorphenamine maleate tablets) to relieve itching.