Why do cats have scabs under their fur. Skin diseases in cats - photo and treatment. What are and how to treat skin diseases in cats

Every owner wants his pet to live happily ever after. Therefore, any disease is a small tragedy. But it is especially scary when the animal suffers, and you cannot help it. Many cat owners will understand what this is about. This is the moment when sores appear on the cat's neck, and with its clawed paws, it literally combs them to the meat. Areas that are particularly prone to this ailment are also the areas behind the ears. What is it, where does it come from, and what should the owner do? About all this in order in our article.

What is the problem?

It is very pitiful to watch when non-healing sores appear on a cat's neck. So the best option is to take her to the vet. However, it is good if you live in the city. True, in this case, a person also faces a problem: veterinary clinics bill for their services, which not everyone can afford. And in small towns and villages there may not be a veterinarian at all. Therefore, let's look at the main reasons why sores appear in a cat on the neck, and how to deal with them.

Indeed, it often happens that insects choose their neck as their favorite area for life. Therefore, the cat intensively scratches these places with its claws. As a result, if no action is taken, things will take a bad turn. Itching provokes itching, small sores appear on the cat's neck. But insects do not stop their activity and continue to bite the animal. As a result, scratching continues, dirty claws can cause infection and an abscess begins.

What should the owner do? Examine the animal. If he has fleas, then the places of their deployment should be visible on the neck and near the tail. You can find adult insects and their eggs. In this case, you need to treat the animal from insects, and then treat the wounds. You can use a special collar or drops at the withers. When the source of the itching is removed, it will be much more effective.

subcutaneous mites

If the cat itches to sores on the neck, but no fleas were found, perhaps the reason lies a little deeper. It can also be skin diseases, which are a reaction to the vital activity of subcutaneous mites. They can also be different, but most often they diagnose demodex or sarcoptic mange. In this case, it is also advisable to first conduct an examination by a veterinarian. If the scraping shows a positive result, then the doctor will prescribe the optimal treatment. Usually these are injections of "Ivermek", or taking it orally according to a special scheme. Intramuscular injections are given every 8-10 days. In total, you need to do three procedures, and you can forget about the problem.

If the cat scratches its neck sore, but there is no way to get to the vet, you can try Ivermek (gel). Just don't apply it on wounds or you may aggravate irritation. In addition, there are drops "Stronghold" and "Frontline" on sale. They are affordable and freely sold through a network of veterinary pharmacies.

If nothing helps

The most difficult moment for a loving owner is when he goes through different methods one after another, but nothing works. The cat has a sore on the neck, a blood scab, which also begins to rot. Until you find the cause, you need to fight at least with the effect, so as not to start the disease. In this case, it is best to choose either "Amidel". They are very good at helping to dry the wounds and relieve inflammation. But the effect will be temporary, since we still have not eliminated the cause. However, it is very important not to aggravate the situation with sepsis, so continue to look for treatment options, but in the meantime, constantly use a spray or ointment.

Allergic reaction

If a cat has blood sores on its neck, then you need to think about what this may be due to. Perhaps you recently introduced a new food into your diet, underwent a course of treatment, or purchased a vitamin complex. Then an allergic reaction cannot be ruled out. Only a doctor can make such a diagnosis, because the symptoms are too vague. Itching, hair loss and scratching can indicate dozens of reasons, including diseases of the internal organs.

However, food allergies are just one of the options. Pollen and house dust, mold or household chemicals, hygiene products can provoke such a reaction. Today, there are many allergens in the environment, and you will be looking for the true cause for a very long time. However, in order to diagnose, you can take a course of treatment with antihistamines. If as a result the condition begins to improve, then you are on the right track. Now it remains to find only the source of the allergic reaction, and the problem will be solved.

Miliary dermatitis

If the sores on the cat's neck under the coat look like a scattering of small pimples, then the doctor can make such a diagnosis. In fact, this will mean only one thing: you need to immediately look for a new, more competent veterinarian. The fact is that miliary dermatitis is not a disease, but only a symptom of it. And the reasons can be countless, the doctor should deal with. You need to start from the localization of the rash. In some cases, it covers only the neck, in others it spreads to the entire body.

This condition can be caused by allergic reactions. In this case, it is extremely important to determine the cause of its occurrence. This may be a reaction to fleas, to inhaled allergens, or to food. By the location of the rash, you can approximately say what exactly caused it. If pimples and wounds are concentrated in the neck area, then it is most often a food allergy.

How to help your pet?

What should the owner do if the cat has sores on the neck? How to treat this condition, because every day it only worsens. Diagnosis begins with a series of tests. It is by knowing the true cause that you can understand how to treat the animal. If miliary dermatitis is the result of a food allergy, then the rash will last as long as the pet receives one or another food.

To diagnose dermatitis, you need to put the cat on a special diet. She usually includes components that she has never received before. If the symptoms disappear, then the cause has been found. Now, the components of the old diet are being introduced into food one at a time. As soon as the first symptoms appear, the cause is found. Diagnostic feeding can last up to 12 weeks and is accompanied by veterinary supervision.

Getting rid of itching is not a solution to the problem

First of all, the owners seek to alleviate the condition of their pet. If you apply the standard treatment for allergies, then after a while the symptoms will return. It is necessary to use local remedies that dry the wounds and alleviate the condition, but this is not the main focus. Therefore, the main task is to find the real cause of what is happening. Only after diagnosis can effective treatment be prescribed.

Any skin diseases are treated for a long time, so do not be discouraged if there are no quick results. The most important thing is your attention and the support of an experienced doctor.

When a cat is bothered by itching, she scratches behind her ear, gnaws out shreds of hair, bites and constantly licks herself. With this behavior, the animal must be taken to the veterinarian. If this is not possible in the near future, then observation of the animal will help to establish the cause. It is worth remembering that this behavior is not always due to the presence of fleas in a pet. In addition, it is fraught with serious consequences, because a cat can infect with sharp claws.

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Diagnostics

If the cat meows, starts to itch and licks, it should be checked for fleas. In the event that the presence of flea larvae or adults is not observed in the animal's coat, you need to think about other possible reasons: a change in diet, replacement of hygiene products, the appearance of flowering plants in the house.

The cat must be shown to the veterinarian. He will take a scraping, conduct a microscopic analysis and analyze the bacteria in the animal's body. The study of these materials under a microscope will help to detect fungal spores (microsporia, trichophytosis) and mites (notoedrosis, sarcoptic mange, demodicosis). Hormonal disorders are diagnosed based on the results of a blood test and during an examination of the endocrine system.

Sometimes it is difficult to make an accurate diagnosis, since several diseases are present in the cat's body at the same time.

Allergy

This is a common disease, but it is not immediately diagnosable. The main signs include: hair loss, dandruff, otitis, an unpleasant smell from the mouth and from the hairline, scabies, sores, wet armpits. At the same time, the cat gnaws its paws, rubs its nose, and intensively licks itself.



Causes of allergies:

• dust, mold, plant pollen;
• Food;
• flea remedies;
• medical preparations;
• hygiene products;
• infection;
• insect bites;
• reaction after vaccination;
• low-quality material (toys, bedding, drinking bowl);
• breed propensity.

Only a veterinarian can correctly determine the allergenic factor and prescribe treatment.

A flea collar can cause contact dermatitis, in which hair falls out, itches, and the cat scratches the area around the neck.

When introducing a new product into the diet or skin and coat care products, it is necessary to control the behavior of the pet. Food allergies are manifested by inflammation around the head, anus, and ears. There is vomiting and diarrhea. Exposure to allergens can cause angioedema and lead to death of the animal. Under the supervision of a veterinarian, a product is introduced into the cat's diet and the reaction is observed. This method determines what kind of food a reaction occurs.



Increased secretion of glands

Pathologies in organ systems can cause scabies. For example, with an endocrine disease, a cat scratches its back, ears, and neck. With an increase in the secretion of special glands, hyperpigmentation, acne, dandruff begin, the skin becomes thinner, as a result of which the cat constantly itches, drinks a lot of water, urinates more often and his stomach swells.

When such symptoms appear, it is necessary to take the animal to a veterinary clinic and take an analysis for hormones.

Due to the lack of vitamins of groups B, E, A, the cat's epidermis becomes dry, covered with dandruff, and the animal suffers from itching.





scabies mite

The presence of a scabies mite under the skin causes severe itching. The disease is typical not only for cats, but also for people, so the owner can become infected from his pet. The first sign of the presence of a scabies mite is that the cat scratches its neck to sores.

In the neck area, the mite lays larvae and hides under the skin, causing irritation. The cat shakes its head, grows bald, scratches itself, the body is covered with crusts. The veterinarian does a scraping to correctly identify the type of tick and prescribe treatment.

Dermatomycosis

Fungus and infections cause ringworm. This group of diseases is little studied. A pet becomes infected from infected animals, products, household items. Rodents are often carriers of infectious diseases.

Only a veterinarian can identify a bacterial or fungal infection. The cat shows symptoms: deterioration of the skin and hairline, weakness and fatigue, passivity. The fungus can deal a decisive blow with a weakened pet immunity.

Common diseases:

• scab (favus);
• candidiasis;
• notoedrosis;
• pyoderma.

Crusts form on the body of the animal, muzzle and paws, the hairline becomes sparse, brittle and falls out. The skin is covered with scales and peels off. The cat gets irritated, combs itself vigorously and can become bald if not treated. Kittens can go completely bald.



Ringworm and trichophytosis are transmitted to a person, especially a small child who has a weakened immune system.

Accompanied by symptoms:

• hair loss in pieces;
• severe itching;
• an abundance of dandruff;
• sores in the affected areas.

Microscopic examination allows you to establish the type of fungus and prescribe the correct treatment.

Within 1.5 years after the cure for lichen, the cat is a carrier.

ixodid tick

A great danger to the health of a cat is the ixodid flare. It's hard to see him if he hasn't sucked blood yet. The animal combs the place affected by ticks, and there is a possibility of blood poisoning, disturbances in the functioning of the liver, kidneys, circulatory organs, and the immune system.

You can detect a tick visually, then you need to remove it: pry it off with tweezers, unscrew it counterclockwise and burn it. It is recommended to carry out the procedure in a veterinary office.

Eczema

The reasons for its occurrence: metabolic disorders, pathologies of the stomach, kidneys, nervous system, ovaries, liver and unacceptable care for the cat. The top layer of the skin becomes inflamed. The cat begins to comb the affected areas, and they become covered with crusts. The disease is accompanied by itching, exhaustion, gluing and hair loss.



If you do not start treatment, then the combed areas become covered with abscesses.

Granuloma

Accompanied by pain, itching, hair loss on the abdomen, feet, inner surface of the paws. The causes of the disease have not been studied. If you do not provide timely treatment, the animal will develop skin cancer. For treatment, they use a cortisone ointment that relieves irritation, but usually the cat licks it off, so you need to contact a veterinarian who will prescribe a complex of drugs.

fly larvae

In summer, the flies lay their eggs on the animal's fur, resulting in larvae appearing around the tail and causing itching. The cat becomes restless, her body temperature rises sharply, inflammation and ulcers may appear, causing pain.



Helminths

Worms eat nutrients in the cat's intestines and cause allergies, skin rashes. A pet licks its fur to get rid of itching, its skin becomes dry and covered with dandruff. Sometimes the cat fidgets on the floor, trying to scratch the area around the anus.

An adult animal transmits helminths to offspring and, if the kittens itch, then you need to check the feces for the presence of worm eggs.

Types of helminths:

• tapeworms;
• fluke worms;
• roundworms.

Fleas are carriers of worms, as the larvae of the worms travel through the host's body and enter the blood of the animal.



A pregnant cat infected with worms can lose offspring. Sometimes the disease proceeds without characteristic symptoms. Spreading around the house, fleas transmit helminthiasis to all pets, including humans.

Treatment

The course of treatment is based on a special diet and medication. Some drugs can cause allergies, so they must be given under the supervision of a veterinarian.



To speed up wound healing, externally use:

• silver water;
• coconut oil and lavender;
• tincture of calendula;
• vitamin E.

Infectious diseases of cats are secondary and are not transmitted to humans. On the contrary, people become a source of infection for cats.

When using the ointment, a collar or T-shirt is put on the cat so that it cannot reach the affected skin with its paws.

special diet

During treatment, dietary products are selected for the cat, the use of which reduces the intensity of itching and the likelihood of relapses. Your cat's daily diet should be balanced. It is not recommended to give smoked and sweet foods.

Adviсe:

1. 1. If the cat ate food before the onset of allergies, then they acquire a hypoallergenic variety.
2. 2. When a cat is fed regular food, pork, potatoes and cereals are removed from the diet. Give fish, butter and vegetables.
3. 3. Fish oil supplements (tuna, salmon, sardines, anchovies) help reduce itching

Timely adjustment of the diet and daily monitoring of the condition of the animal is required.

Prevention

Close attention of a pet to its coat is a sign of the presence of a disease.

Scratching in cats is not used to be considered a big problem, but only as long as the wounds are not bloody or have not covered a large area. The speed of events is also frightening, since most often, the cat itches a little, and after 10-12 hours, bleeding wounds appear on the pet's skin. Such a horrific picture does not pose a serious danger until the wounds are infected. The cat is in pain, nervous, eating poorly, worried, how to understand what to do?

Most often, the owner decides to observe the development of events, in the end, the cat may itch because of nervousness. If the cause is not correctly identified, the situation worsens and the scratching becomes painful. You can determine the progression of the disease by the reaction of the animal, which does not allow you to examine the scratches or simply hides.

There is another scenario for the development of events - outwardly the scratching is delayed, and the infection that "sat down" on open wounds goes into the deep layers of the skin. This happens for two reasons - the absolute ignorance of the problem or the treatment of the animal's skin at random.

Simply put, when you see a scratch or scratch, it should not be smeared with all the ointments that can help, it is better to stick to the standard treatment regimen or consult a doctor. With the formation and abscesses, you need to see a doctor, because for recovery you need to remove the infection from the deep layers of the skin as quickly as possible. If the veterinarian doubts that the cat's immune system is fully functional, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed.

Note! Scratches are called hot spots because the body temperature of the affected areas is usually above baseline.

If the inflammation does not seem extensive or painful, home treatment is reduced to preventive measures. If you do not allow infection, and the cause of scratching does not lie in the disease, the wounds will heal within a few days.

To disinfect and relieve discomfort, the wounds are wiped with a non-alcoholic tincture of calendula. It is best to buy a collection of herbs and make a decoction yourself. If you need to act quickly, and only an alcohol solution is at hand, you need to fill it with hot water or boiling water so that the alcohol evaporates as quickly as possible.

Local discomfort is successfully removed with cool lotions. For cooling, you can use decoctions of herbs - oak bark, calendula, chamomile etc. Care must be taken with lotions, because wounds must dry out to heal. By the same logic, combing should not be bandaged or sealed. If the cat actively licks wounds, use an Elizabethan collar or act according to the scheme prescribed by the veterinarian.

Note! If the cat has scratches on its head, the use of a collar is mandatory and the main danger is not in infection of wounds, but in causing a head injury during scratching with paws.

If you want to save a cat from scratching, you need to heal not the wounds, but the reasons for their appearance. The word comb comes from "to itch", which means that the cat is worried about itching. You need to understand that when the skin just itches, the animal does not tear the skin to wounds.

The appearance of scabs in the neck and head of cats is an unpleasant phenomenon. The pet loses its attractive appearance, in addition, the animal often suffers, as the affected areas often hurt or itch. The cat tends to comb out the sore spot, which leads to secondary injury, bleeding often occurs, the coat thins or completely falls out.

To alleviate the condition of your pet, you need to know the causes and methods of treatment of such diseases. It is impossible to determine them on your own and choose the right therapy without consulting a veterinarian, but you still need to navigate approximately in order to understand what kind of help a cat needs.

Allergy

If the factor that caused the appearance of scabs on the neck or head is an allergy, then the main task comes down to finding an agent provocateur. Irritants that cause an allergic reaction can be:

There may be one allergen that provoked the appearance of scabs, but there are cases of a combination of irritants. In this case, it is even more difficult to establish provoking factors.

With allergies, scabs first form on the head in front of the ears, later they move to the neck, and if treatment is not started on time, they can spread throughout the body.

Folliculitis

This pathology is caused by damage to the skin by staphylococcus aureus. With it, the scabs look hollow, and serous fluid accumulates inside them. The scabs are getting larger in diameter and thickness. They can be located on the muzzle, under the mouth, at the withers, on the tail of the body. Extremities are rarely affected.

Cats with weak immunity are most susceptible to this disease, often they suffer after serious illnesses or in the absence of normal hygienic care.

Ringworm

Scabs on the neck, head, withers and other parts of the body appear due to the vital activity of fungal organisms that often affect cats of any age. At the first stage, redness occurs in the lesion, soon it turns into scabs, and the redness shifts to the outer contour of the wound, which gradually grows. At the site of the wound, the animal feels severe itching and can comb the wound until it bleeds, which sometimes causes secondary infection of the injured skin.

The danger of ringworm lies in the fact that it is characterized by a high degree of infection, so not only other animals living in this house, but also people can become infected with it.

In most cases, ringworm responds quickly to treatment, but in immunocompromised animals, therapy may not be effective.

Eczema

Eczema is a skin lesion in which scabs appear not only on the head and neck, but also on the sides, back, near the tail or on the stomach. Most often, scabs develop on the muzzle: near the mouth or eyes. A characteristic feature is the small area of ​​the lesion.

This disease can occur for several reasons. The first and most common of these relates to the neurological field. Against the background of stress, scabs appear, sometimes their appearance provokes excessive licking. This condition develops after a beloved family member has left or died, or the cat has moved to a new home. Stress can also trigger the arrival of a new pet or newborn baby in the house.

Manifestations of eczema often occur after infectious skin diseases. Sometimes such scabs accompany chronic diseases of internal organs that require identification and therapy.

demodicosis

The main insidiousness of demodicosis is the possibility of relapse. Often the treatment is stretched for a long time, sometimes for years. Each time after weakening the immune system, the problem can return with renewed vigor, quickly spreading throughout the body.

Treatment for demodicosis always involves a whole range of procedures, the accuracy of which depends on the recovery of the cat.

Diagnostics

The veterinarian examines the cat's head and neck, paying special attention to the scabs and areas around them. Be sure to conduct a survey of the owner, during which they find out how long ago the first symptoms appeared, in what conditions the cat lives, what he eats and what he has been ill with lately.

Based on the clinical picture, the following diagnostic examinations are carried out:

• examination of the skin in ultraviolet light;
• biopsy of samples taken from scabs;
• general blood tests;
• bacteriological examination of smears or scrapings from scabs;
• allergy tests using special test strips.

Until the moment the diagnosis is established, it is desirable to isolate the animal or minimize contact with the household.

Treatment

Treatment depends on what caused the appearance of scabs on the neck and head. If it is an allergen, then it is urgent to stop its effect on the cat. It is often necessary to revise the diet and exclude unsuitable foods, replacing them with others. Sometimes you have to change your pet care products. In addition, antihistamines are used.

If the disease is caused by an infection, antibiotic drugs are prescribed. In parallel with them, immunomodulators and multivitamin complexes are prescribed, which will help restore the animal's immunity.

For any such disease, topical preparations are prescribed, which are applied directly to the scabs. They help reduce itching in the lesion and accelerate the healing of existing wounds. To care for a pet at the time of treatment, a keratomic (powder) shampoo is used, which involves dry use so as not to spread the pathogen to healthy areas.

Of particular importance during therapy is the disinfection of the cat's habitats. You need to process the place where she sleeps, and all the dishes from which the animal eats and drinks. If therapy begins to bring results, then the cause is identified correctly. The duration of treatment is determined by the veterinarian, it is not worth stopping it just because the scabs on the head and neck have disappeared, since this can cause a relapse, which will be even more difficult to overcome.

Many cat owners sooner or later notice that their pet has wounds or scratched areas on the skin. How to deal with such a problem? The cat constantly tries to lick or scratch the wounded part of the skin. In such a situation, only a veterinarian can deal with the cause of the appearance of wounds or irritation. Sores in a cat on the neck should be immediately shown to a specialist so as not to aggravate the situation with self-medication.
Most often, except for those situations when the sore appears due to injuries, any kind of rash, bulge, redness of the skin or inflammation is a symptom of a disease that can seriously affect the condition of a fluffy pet.

This disease, which has many varieties, is caused by fungi species Microsporum, Trichophiton or Epidermophiton and affects the skin and hair follicles - and not only pets, but also humans. Here are the most common and dangerous types: pityriasis, red flat, pink and ringworm.
The clinical picture in case of infection is deprived of the following: skin lesions of a rounded handicap or with jagged edges, accompanied by redness, itching, hair loss and peeling, occurring more often in the head, neck and extremities. Without properly prescribed treatment, lichen spreads to other parts of the pet's body, and the affected skin can become inflamed and fester, and as a result, sores appear on it - this is joined by a bacterial infection.
Only a correct diagnosis will help to cure the animal and prevent serious complications.

Name of veterinary services

Bumps on cats

Bumps in cats always indicate the presence of pathology. Of course, if we are not talking about bruises, injuries and mechanical stress. If your cat has not been exposed to the above factors, then, most likely, the bumps indicate the presence of a tumor in your pet.
Cones can be in large and small quantities, of various sizes and locations. If you find bumps in a cat, you should immediately show the animal to the veterinarian, since it is very dangerous to delay with such pathologies, untimely treatment may be ineffective and the animal will simply die.

Skin diseases in cats

Skin diseases in cats today are increasingly common. Approximately 30% of cats are affected by various skin diseases. Diseases can develop against the background of a general decrease in immunity, stress, infection, metabolic disorders, the action of chemicals and other factors.
It is worth noting that, unfortunately, not all owners of their pets rush to the veterinarian when signs of skin diseases are detected. If the disease is not so strong, then it may pass by itself over time, but you should not think that this is good.

Initial appointment with a dermatologist

The initial appointment with a dermatologist at the Bio-Vet veterinary clinic usually takes about an hour. A veterinary dermatologist deals with the treatment of the skin of animals, as well as claws and wool. As practice shows, more than 30% of the complaints of pet owners are related to problems with the skin or coat.

Treatment of various skin diseases in cats

Treatment of skin diseases in cats is selected individually based on the type of disease. General methods of treatment are special ointments, antibacterial powders, treatment of the skin and places where the cat lies for more time, medications, vitamins, and injections.

The most important thing in treatment is the correct diagnosis, and only a specialist can do this. Therefore, you should not self-medicate at home if you really want to help your pet.