Dermatitis in cats

What is dermatitis?

The term dermatitis is used to refer to any inflammatory condition of the skin. As such it is not a single disease, but can be part of many disease processes.

What are the signs of dermatitis?

The most consistent signs of dermatitis are itchiness and a degree of reddening of the skin. Apart from this the signs will depend somewhat on the severity and cause. There may be scabs, sores, crusting, pustules, flaking, oily discharge, serous discharge, thickening, colour changes (usually darker or redder), hair loss and in extreme cases bleeding.

What are the causes of dermatitis?

There are a great number of causes of dermatitis in cats & dogs. The general groups of causes and some specific causes are listed below.

1. Parasites

Fleas – either by number of bites in bad infestation or flea allergy, ·

Mange mites – Sarcoptic Mange (also known as ‘Fox mange’) is very itchy,

Harvest Mites.

2. Allergies 

Flea Allergy – if an animal is allergic to fleas, it only requires very small number to cause a bad reaction,

Food Allergy – dogs in particular usually show dermatitis if they are allergic to something they eat rather than any signs affecting the gut, 

Seasonal Allergies – the animal is sensitive to something that is only around at certain times of year – usually the summer months. Pollens are often responsible, ·

Atopy – this is a condition is which the animal has an immune system which is prone to developing allergic reactions to all kinds of things

3. Infections ·

Pyoderma – bacterial infection of the skin. This is often a secondary part of skin disease rather than a primary cause. Scratching damages the barriers that normally prevent bacteria from invading the skin. ·

Juvenille Facial Pyoderma – a bacterial infection of the follicles of the face and chin in young dogs of certain breed – particularly Boxers, Bulldogs and Staffordshire Bull Terriers. ·

Ringworm – a fungal skin infection ·

Malassezia – a yeast-like fungus that can infect warm, moist areas of skin. ·

Poxvirus – a viral infection that causes skin lesions in cats. ·

Mycobacterial granulomas – a nodular skin disease in cats that can break out into dermatitis

Seborrheoa – an abnormal condition of the production of oils on the skin that can be very greasy or cause lots of dry flakiness. Either form can cause irritation and a tendency to skin infections.

How is dermatitis treated?

Treatment of dermatitis is a very large area and will vary greatly dependent on the cause of the problem. Typical treatments will include antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drugs in tablets and/or creams and dietary management, accompanied by skin washes and shampoos. Anti-parasitic treatments are used where parasites are involved. There are also treatments that will influence the immune reaction in allergic dogs.

Disclaimer

This article is for reference only.

If your pet is showing any symptoms or distress, and you suspect your pet is ill CONTACT YOUR VET IMMEDIATELY.