Cat skin disorders
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 | It has been suggested that Feline acne be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since September 2009. |
Cat skin disorders are among the most common health problems in cats. Skin disorders in cats have many causes, and many of the common skin disorders that afflict people have a counterpart in cats. The condition of a cat's skin and coat can also be an important indicator of its general health. Skin disorders of cats vary from acute, self-limiting problems to chronic or long-lasting problems requiring life-time treatment. Cat skin disorders may be grouped into categories according to the causes.
Types of disorder
Immune-mediated skin disorders
Skin disease may result from deficiencies in immune system function. In cats, the most common cause of immune deficiency is infection with retroviruses, FIV or FeLV, and cats with these chronic infections are subject to repeated bouts of skin infection and abscesses. This category also includes hypersensitivity disorders and eosinophilic skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis, miliary dermatitis and feline eosinophilic granuloma and skin diseases caused by autoimmunity, such as pemphigus and discoid lupus.
Infectious skin diseases
The most important infectious skin diseases of cats is ringworm or dermatophytosis. Other cat skin infections include parasitic diseases like mange and lice infestation.
Other ectoparasites, including flea and tick infestations are not considered directly contagious but are acquired from an environment where other infested hosts have established the parasite's life cycle.
Another common skin infection is cat bite abscess. A mixture of bacteria introduced by a bite wound cause infections in pockets under the skin and affected cats often show manic depression and fever.
Hereditary and developmental skin diseases
Some diseases are inherent abnormalities of skin structure or function. These include skin fragility syndrome (Ehlers-Danlos), hereditary hypotrichosis and congenital or hereditary alopecia.
Cutaneous manifestations of internal diseases
Some systemic diseases can become symptomatic as a skin disorder. In cats this includes one of the most devastating cat skin disorders, feline acquired skin fragility syndrome, which can come from starvation or over-treatment with cortisone-like drugs or with diabetes.
Types of diseases
Feline acne is a problem seen in cats primarily involving the formation of blackheads accompanied by inflamation on the cat's chin and surrounding areas.In many cases symptoms are mild and the disease does not require treatment.[1] More severe cases, however, may respond slowly to treatment and seriously detract from the health and appearance of the cat. Feline acne can affect cats of any age, sex or breed. Advanced feline acne
Sebaceous glands are mostly found in the skin of the chin, base of the tail, eyelids, lips, prepuce and scrotum. They are connected to the hair follicles. In acne, the follicles become clogged with black sebaceous material, forming comedones (also known as blackheads). These comedones can become irritated, swollen and infected, leading to pustules. The cats may experience itching and discomfort due to swelling and bacterial growth inside infected glands.[2] Secondary fungal infections (species Malassezia) may also occur.[2]
Other conditions that can cause similar-appearing conditions include skin mites, ringworm, yeast infection, or auto-immune diseases such as eosinophilic granuloma complex ("rodent ulcers").
Causes
The main causes of feline acne include:
* Hyperactive sebaceous glands
* Poor hygiene
* Stress
Treatment
Topical treatments such as warm compresses to the chin area may be sufficient for mild cases.[3] A veterinarian may be required for treatment if the area becomes secondarily infected with either bacteria or a fungus.[2] Treatment may begin with clinical drainage of the pustules along with a course of oral antibiotics.[2]
References
a b c Gross, Thelma Lee; Ihrke, Peter J.; Walder, Emily J.; K., PhD. Affolter, Verena (2005). Skin Diseases of the Dog and Cat: Clinical and Histopathologic Diagnosis. Ames, Iowa: Oxford. pp. 437-439. ISBN 978-0-632-06452-6. a b c d e Muller, George H.; Kirk, Robert Warren; Scott, Danny W.; Miller, William L.; Griffin, Craig E. (2001). Muller and Kirk's Small animal dermatology. Philadelphia (Pa.): Saunders. pp. 1042-1043. ISBN 978-0-7216-7618-0. D. Norsworthy, Gary; Crystal, Mitchell; Grace, Sharon; Patrick Tilley, Larry (2006). The feline patient. Ames, Iowa: Blackwell Publishing. pp. 339. ISBN 978-0-7817-6268-7.
