Feline acne. It’s not just teenaged skin.
Acne in cats is common and, in most cases, not a terribly difficult problem to control. However, it can become a deep and serious infection.
Initial signs can be subtle, and are usually limited to the chin. Black debris, hair loss, scratching.
These can progress to redness and swelling of the skin of the area and spread all the way up to the lips.
Rarely does the patient feel ill, lose its appetite or change its behavior.
But! Is it really feline acne? It is important for your pet’s doctor to make an accurate clinical diagnosis, because other things can look like feline acne. Such as:
• Feline Demodicosis.
• Dermatophytosis.
• Other parasites.
TREATMENT OF FELINE ACNE
If the correct diagnosis is made and it is feline acne, treatment begins by addressing the primary problem (acne) and any secondary problems, such as bacterial infection of the pores and hair follicles of the chin. And, possible yeast infection.
Your veterinarian may prescribe topical and/or systemic antibiotic therapy for the bacterial infection. If yeast is a complicating factor, treatment may be oral, topical, or a combination of the two.
Many patients benefit from a staple of dermatology: Essential Fatty Acids.
For patients who are particularly itchy or whose skin is particularly inflamed, oral or injectable corticosteroids can help.
Response to topical therapy may be enhanced by clipping hair from the region for easier access to the skin.
Maintenance topical cleaning agents are usually prescribed for prevention of relapse.
See you next week, Dr. Randolph.
MMFACNE
