Introduction
Dermatitis in cats is a condition which causes inflammation and irritation of the skin. The most common causes of dermatitis in cats are due to flea bite allergies and reactions to (mostly seasonal) allergens in the environment. Dermatitis may also be a symptom of an underlying health problem.
Symptoms of Dermatitis in Cats
Dermatitis symptoms in cats include intense scratching, licking of the paws, base of the tail, and groin area, in addition to swollen and inflamed skin all over the body or in patches on the body. Hair loss may develop due to constant licking and scratching or injury to the hair follicles, and in some cases hot spot sores may develop on the cat’s body.
Diagnosing Dermatitis in Cats
Dermatitis in cats is diagnosed through a thorough physical examination which can include skin scrapings to examine the skin for any parasites, the cat’s symptoms and history, and complete blood tests. In some cases a patch test on the skin may be used to try to identify an allergen which could be causing the possible dermatitis symptoms.
Treating Dermatitis in Cats
Successful treatment of dermatitis involves tracking down the source of the condition through a physical examination, blood tests, history, and patch test, and then eliminating the source of the condition. To help reduce the severity of the symptoms, medicated shampoos can be used to soothe the skin, and anti-inflammatory medications in addition to antihistamines may be used to reduce itching and sore skin.
Outlook for Cats with Dermatitis
The prognosis for dermatitis in cats is good, as long as the cause of the dermatitis can be addressed. In some extreme cases, severe dermatitis can develop due to an underlying health problem and resolving the symptoms can be difficult.