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Ask a Vet (Pet Health) (Expert Forum)
cat sores and hair loss
Answered by
Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M. - Small Animals, dogs, cats
Randolph - NJ
This forum is for pet health questions! Dr. Cheng's interests include: Small animal medicine & surgery, Veterinary Acupuncture and Veterinary Chinese Herbal Medicine and Veterinary NAED, Allergy diagnosis & treatment
cat sores and hair loss
by amandamc, May 12, 2008 01:43PM
My mom has a cat that is 16 and lives on her farm in a old milk house. I took the cat out and noticed that it had not been brushed in a very long time (YEARS) and had mates. I cut off the mates and then brushed her forever. The hair never stopped coming. I do not know if it is from not being brushed or pet or if it is a sign of something. After awhile I started checking for smaller mats and found small sores all over her back (around 10). They looked as though they were little skin tags that had pus that had came out and then dried. I scratched over it and the dried pus like stuff came off and then some of them actually bleed a little. She seemed so happy that I just kept working on her. My step father refuses to take his animals to the vet and actually got upset when I mentioned it. He told me to leave her alone and stop going over there. He thinks because she has lived as long as she has, he is doing everything right. I am very worried about what this could be. I already have 5 cats and 1 dog from this farm. I have rescued so many and they will not let me take her. Please help, I can't sleep. What is wrong with her?
Doctor's Answer
by Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., May 12, 2008 05:19PM
, May 12, 2008 05:19PM
It could be flea allergy dermatitis, or other ectoparasite (skin parasite) with a secondary bacterial pyoderma. Or, it could be a bot or maggot infestation, which is an infestation of fly larvae. To determine if there is an infestation please gently squeeze the skin around the hole to see if larvae or maggots comes out of the holes.
There are many, many possibilities and unfortunately a vet is really necessary to sort this out, since a vet could do diagnostics, such as biopsies. I must put this in even though I know this is not possible, since you are unable to take the cat to the vet.
If the cat will allow you, it might be a great help if you could at least try scrubbing the affected area with Betadyne, and than apply triple antibiotic ointment once per day.
Also try to apply Revolution, Frontline, or other anti-flea and tick topical. I know that you are unable to much more than this. Hope this helps!
There are many, many possibilities and unfortunately a vet is really necessary to sort this out, since a vet could do diagnostics, such as biopsies. I must put this in even though I know this is not possible, since you are unable to take the cat to the vet.
If the cat will allow you, it might be a great help if you could at least try scrubbing the affected area with Betadyne, and than apply triple antibiotic ointment once per day.
Also try to apply Revolution, Frontline, or other anti-flea and tick topical. I know that you are unable to much more than this. Hope this helps!
Member Comments (2)
by amandamc, May 12, 2008 07:17PM
To: Aleda
I called and asked my mom if I could have her again. My mom is going to talk to my step dad to see if he will let me have her. Keep your fingers crossed
