Treatment Of Cat Demodicosis
Topical medications like lime sulfur dip are effective against feline Demodex, but bathing cats is stressful for both cats and humans. Luckily, oral medications work well, too. Oral medications include ivermectin and milbemycin. Some of the newer anti-flea medications like Bravecto may work, but youll want to get your vets help with this.;
What Is Stud Tail
Although stud tail can occasionally affect neutered males and both spayed and unaltered females, the excess oil that results in stud tail is generally caused by the raised hormonal levels that occur as a young unneutered male cat experiences puberty, becoming sexually mature and capable of mating with a female. Whereas in human beings the excess oil usually clogs pores on the face and back, on cats it clogs the pores where the back and the tail meet and, at times, spreads down the tail. The cat appears to have blackheads in between the hairs on the tail, the fur in the area becomes very greasy, and the area can become infected, raw, and very sore. A mature unaltered male cat is called a stud, and this condition affects the tail. A cat that is experiencing stud tail is very likely quite uncomfortable and should be seen by a veterinarian.
Stud tail is a fairly rare skin condition that occurs mainly on the base of the tail in cats. It is similar to acne in humans and results from excess skin oil, which is referred to medically as keratosebaceous debris, in the rear area of the cats body.;
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How Skin Allergies Are Diagnosed In Cats
Two options vets use to diagnose skin allergies in cats are blood allergy tests and intradermal allergy testing. Blood tests are easier and less costly, but they might not be as accurate as intradermal testing. Intradermal testing is usually done by a veterinary dermatologist, so youll need a referral from your regular veterinarian.;
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Cat Coat Care: Why Isnt Your Cats Coat Shiny
Lots of things can cause kittys coat to be dull, or its skin to be dry and flaky. A few of the most common causes include:
- Poor nutrition. For healthy hair, skin, and body, your cat needs a diet with a good balance of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, just like you do. And also just like you, if your cat eats nothing but poor quality food that is more difficult to digest, kitty may end up short on vital minerals and vitamins.
- Weight problems. As many as 57% of U.S. cats are estimated to be overweight or obese. When some cats get fat, they stop being able to reach their whole bodies for cleaning. This can lead to a dull, unkempt coat.
- Age. When cats get old they can become less flexible or arthritic. Then they just cant twist and turn the way they used to, says Arnold Plotnick, MS, DVM, a veterinary internist and feline specialist in New York. So, age or pain could leave your normally fussy feline with a dull, bedraggled coat.
- Bathing too often. In an effort to control dander or foil fleas, some people bathe their cat. Bathe kitty too much and you could be the cause of kittys bedraggled coat.
These are just a few of the reasons your feline may have dry skin or a dull coat. ;Diabetes, parasites, skin infections, allergies, autoimmune diseases, dry winter air, or more serious issues can also be responsible. To get behind the reason for your cats skin or fur problems, its important to have kitty checked out by a veterinarian.
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All Cats Are Susceptible To Clumping
The luxurious coat of long-haired cats requires more grooming. You have to maintain their lustrous locks with regular brushing and combing. Excessive shedders are susceptible to hard, clumpy hair, and short-haired cats are not exempt from matting. Senior cats also have difficulty grooming themselves due to stiffness that naturally comes with advancing age. The coat and skin health in senior cats deteriorates as, and their skin produces excess oils. Overweight cats are prone to matting because they cant reach most parts of their bodies.
Health issues are another big factor that impedes a cats ability to self-groom. Sickness can make your cat lazy and not have enough energy for grooming. Fur clumps may be your first indicator that your cat is suffering.
Stress can also influence your cats grooming habits. Sometimes your cat will hyper groom when stressed and create bald spots. This helps release endorphins in their brain to reduce their anxiety. In other cases, stressed cats feel too scared to groom. These cats have severe anxiety and are constantly surveying their environment for danger signs. They cant take time away from over-analyzing their environment to attend to their grooming needs.
Grooming is essential for your cats health. Matting can occur despite their ability to self-groom. Any cats with oral injury may resist grooming themselves. Its important to groom your cat regularly to avoid matting.
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Good Nutrition Is Your Cats First Line Of Defense Against Skin And Coat Issues
A well-balanced diet is the first line of defense for your pet when it comes to overall health as well as coat and skin problems.
Dr. Ivy and all the vets at Cherished Companions Animal Clinic believe that one of the most important nutrients for your cats skin is omega-3 fatty acids. They are the building blocks for healthy skin and hair, and you can easily add an omega-3 supplement to your cats diet.
The good news is that, regardless of the reason behind the untidy appearance of your cats coat, there are solutions that we can work through together so that you can get back to doing what you really want to do: snuggling with your furry friend.
Part 1 Of 3: Watching For Signs Of Stud Tail
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Can A Cats Nutrition Make It Look Separated
A cats nutrition can make their fur look separated because the skin is the largest organ on the body and skin cells replenish fast. For cats, hair covers almost every inch of their skin that sheds and grows back several times a year.
So for a cats skin and hair to stay healthy, it needs a well-balanced diet with minerals, vitamins, fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. This includes the correct amount of calories according to their particular stage in life. Poor food quality can cause kidney and liver issues as well as dull, dry fur with separation and excessive shedding.
Sign Of Thyroid Disease
Cats can suffer from both underactive or overactive thyroid conditions, each of which can affect their coats. A greasy or matted coat could signal an overactive thyroid. A matted or unkempt coat in the presence of lethargy, weakness, mental dullness, and weight gain could signal an underactive thyroid. Thyroid conditions in cats are serious but are medically treatable. Early intervention is best, so if you suspect thyroid disease in your cat, see your vet as soon as possible.
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Diagnosis Of Underlying Health Conditions
When we dont have a lot of specific symptoms, we usually start with a basic blood panel that will include a blood chemistry profile, a complete blood count, a thyroid level and a urinalysis. We can learn a lot with this handful of tests. Sometimes your vet will also want to take x-rays to see if any organs inside the body are abnormal. If an answer isnt uncovered with the basic tests, more specialized tests like ultrasound imaging and biopsies are required.;
How To Prevent The Foul
The best way to control these types of odors is by offering them a well-balanced controlled diet. Just like humans, even for cats, every problem starts with what they eat. Look out for the balanced diet that they can have. When the digestive tract is under control, other problems are going to be resolved easily.
When you are feeding them, check ingredients that have only digestive proteins. The non-digestive elements not only lead to the cause of lousy smelling but also other major health problems like kidney stones. If you are not sure about what you should be feeding them, it is always recommended to consult the doctor. Purina has launched a Pro Plan Dry cat food;that is specifically made for the feline that has sensitive skin. They have all the nutrition necessary to keep the cats in balanced health condition.
Based on your cats weight, the doctor can suggest you the best cat food along with some supplements. If your cat lacks any nutrition, then that becomes balanced with these supplements. The;Greenies Smartbites supplements;are one of the options that you can look for. You will see the difference in the smell after a small interval.
If you think everything is right, but still your cat smells terrible, then there is dedicated medicine for that. These medicines are made of extracts that have the potential to break down the odor-causing proteins in cats. Consult the vet & ask for the dosage and other precautions.
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Why Is My Cat’s Fur Looking Clumpy And Matted
Healthy cats spend many hours licking and biting at their fur to remove dirt and debris. So, if a cats coat is greasy and clumping up, something is wrong. Health concerns, either physical or emotional, will be behind the problem.
An obese or arthritic cat will be physically incapable of grooming, leading to greasy and clumpy fur. Dental pain will also leave a cat unwilling to groom itself. Medical explanations include hyperthyroidism, diabetes, and skin conditions. Also, a lack of self-grooming can be an early symptom of cognitive dysfunction.
An unkempt coat will be unsettling for your cat, so you should assist with its daily grooming. Youll also need to find out why your cat has oily and clumpy fur so that action can be taken to resolve the issue.
Why Is My Cats Hair Oily And Clumping Together?
Greasy and clumpy fur is caused by the natural oils in a cats coat. When a cat grooms, it redistributes these oils evenly throughout its fur. This is how cats retain a sleek, elegant appearance.
Cats spend up to 50% of a typical day grooming. Cats groom to retain a neutral scent. This is an instinctive survival behavior. It means that potential predators will not be able to smell a cat. This appeals to a cats survival instincts.
If a cat has stopped grooming, check that it is still physically capable of doing so. Even senior cats do not stop grooming by default. Lack of grooming is often a case of cannot, rather than will not.
1/ Obesity
2/ Arthritis and Joint Pain
Seborrhea
Common Reasons For Oily Or Greasy Cat Fur
A cat with greasy or oily fur could be generally healthy, or there could be some underlying health issues that need to be considered. A cat who has stopped grooming could be overweight, says Schwartz. Overall lethargy or laziness may stop an obese cat from grooming, or it may actually be physically difficult for him to reach certain areas to maintain his normal state of cleanliness. We generally would feel greasy fur along with scales and dandruff along the top of the furthermost area of the back, Schwartz says.
Besides obesity, other medical reasons for unkempt or greasy fur in cats can include arthritis, dental disease and oral conditions, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, or a spectrum of internal medical issues. Any one of these medical conditions can make it difficult or uncomfortable for your cat to contort himself into a normal grooming position. Pain from any of those conditions might make him too tired overall to maintain a traditional grooming routine.
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My Cat Has Greasy Fur
When a cat has greasy fur, getting to the bottom of why is critical. The following are common reasons for abnormal grooming habits:
- Overgrooming caused by stress or anxiety can lead to secondary issues like hair loss, skin irritation, and infection.
- Arthritis;can also make self-grooming painful as it limits motion and flexibility.
- When a cat is overweight or obese, they have a harder time reaching otherwise accessible areas on their body, like their back.
- Cats with periodontal disease may also find that grooming is painful, and those with kidney disease or diabetes simply dont have the physical energy to groom themselves.;
- Some cats simply produce more oil on their skin, a condition called seborrhea. Our groomers can help you manage the extra build up.
Fungal Infections Cause Fur Loss And Dandruff
The most common skin fungal infection we see in cats is from ringworm. Its not a worm, but a microscopic fungus that causes symptoms in this disease.;
Ringworm organisms like Microsporum and Trichophyton are present in the environment, but most cats pick it up from another infected cat. The fungus infects the hair follicle and the top layer of the skin. Hair changes including increased dandruff, oil and mats, are common in ringworm infected cats.;
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Greasy Fur Dandruff From Poor Nutrition And Food Allergy
Have you ever seen an alley cat who lives his life outside, snatching food wherever he can find it? Most alley cats have greasy, clumpy hair coats with excessive dandruff and its due in part to an unbalanced, insufficient diet.;
If youre feeding your cat a high-quality, balanced cat food and she still has greasy, clumpy fur, its possible the diet is not right for that particular cat. Some cats do better with different proteins, different levels of fat and different mixes of vitamins and minerals.;
Top Tips To Manage Seborrhea
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Why Does My Cat Have A Greasy Coat
Obese or Arthritic catsFlea and tick preventativesSome other causes of hair coat greasiness in cats include:HyperthyroidismPrimary SeborrheaAllergic ReactionsThings you can do at home to help prevent an oily coat
- Brush his/her hair coat when needed, this can even be daily so be prepared to brush your cat a lot.
- Your veterinarian may recommend that you bathe your cat with a medicated shampoo. Make sure to follow the recommendations for the treatment to avoid causing the skin to dry out, or become irritated and inflamed.
- Feed your cat a high quality diet that meets his nutritional requirements, age, activity level and heath condition.
- You should monitor their hair coat for lumps, or tangles that can alert you to a more serious problem.
- Make sure your cat is not overweight.
- Take your cat to the vet to make sure their bad hair coat is not health related.
What Are The Most Common Health Issues You See That Cause Hair And Coat Problems In Cats
Parasites and allergies are really the #1 cause. While Colorado is lucky in that our climate is dry and fleas arent as severe here, they do exist. Along with mites and lice, these parasites can give your cat an allergic reaction that results in hair loss, itchiness around the head and neck, and inflamed skin. Bacterial and fungal infections are also frequent in cats with allergies.
The second most common issue involving poor skin and coat is when a cat has dry, flaky, or oily skin. Usually a feline with these problems isnt grooming itself because it is not feeling well. The cause could be an internal systemic illness, such as:
- kidney disease
- autoimmune problems
- cancer
Cats will often also lick an area that is in pain, causing hair loss or a skin lesion. They may lick at a sore joint, or even their belly as a sign of a bladder infection.
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