Posts: 8657
From:
Registered: Nov 2011

posted October 16, 2014 01:13 AM            

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I just barely rid him of fleas (which I have no idea how they got there either - I vacuum religiously and clean his litter everyday!) but now I noticed he has some kind of collection of scabs underneath his chin, by his ears, and near the base of his tail on his back. He won't let me look at the base of his tail but the fur looks weird there. It doesn't lay flat, looks a little sparse, and from what I can see there's at least one pink bump underneath, but the area feels scabby in general. I can't tell if there's pus or not but it doesn't seem like there is any type of discharge.

Is this common in cats, do you know what it is, and how can I fix it? I'm already assuming I'll have to take him to the vet to get properly checked out but wondered what is normal for cats and their skin and what isn't.

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Posts: 1489
From: Pseudo-Leo with a 1st House Stellium
Registered: Sep 2013

posted October 16, 2014 02:11 AM            

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!!!!

Is it ringworm? My parents' dog had a similar situation, had fleas, got rid of them, but then all of these scabs appeared. Turned out to be ringworm.

It could also be flea allergy dermatitis. Gross, but same thing happens to me if I accidentally eat gluten- I get weird bumps on my scalp and hair starts to fall out.

Obviously going to the vet will give you the correct answer, but those are two things that popped in my head.

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Posts: 2041
From:
Registered: Feb 2013

posted October 16, 2014 02:18 AM            

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Mine had skin fungal infection once. The symptoms were somewhat similar (his scabs didn't ooze btw). The vet gave me some creams that didn't work.

I cut short his fur, trimmed off the fur of the infected area then put extra virgin, cold-pressed coconut oil on them. I didn't feed him store-bought food for a while (I fed him fish, meat and raw chicken).

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Posts: 8572
From: Blue Star Kachina
Registered: Apr 2009

posted October 16, 2014 08:48 AM            

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If he had fleas, the irritations could be where the fleas chewed him & he chewed back. The chin/base of tail area is where the fleas like to party

Getting rid of the fleas is most important then sooth the skin with warm water compress and help keep clean.

Some cats are allergic to fleas and this could be the irritation scabs as well.

If in doubt always consult your vet.

Good luck to you & kitty

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Christian, Jew, Muslim, Shaman, Zoroastrian, stone, ground, mountain, river, each has a secret way of being with the Mystery, unique and not to be judged.
Rumi

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Posts: 6444
From:
Registered: Apr 2009

posted October 16, 2014 08:52 AM            

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One of my cats has this problem, as did Teasel, my bubba who passed away a few years ago. They both have the same black and white markings, which is odd - the black cats don't have this problem. Dad finally relented, and used a flea prevention product on him, but it hasn't stopped the skin problem.

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Posts: 8657
From:
Registered: Nov 2011

posted October 16, 2014 02:03 PM            

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Thanks guys! I'll let you know what it was when I find out.

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Posts: 5418
From: CA
Registered: Oct 2010

posted October 16, 2014 04:39 PM            

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A lot of flees and such won't be seen. One guy who saw his cat died told me he'd stopped a flea medicine out of fear for his cat's health and that he'd kill the few flees he found, which he did...but when his cat died there were over a score of flees crawling over his dead cat looking for a new place to nibble and despite his vigilance he had no idea they'd been there the whole time.

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Posts: 8657
From:
Registered: Nov 2011

posted October 21, 2014 02:51 PM            

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So I finally got a chance to look at his skin. I think it's allergic dermatitis, but how to figure out what he's allergic to? I've kept him on the same food they gave him at PetSmart as they instructed lest a difference cause digestive issues.

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Posts: 8657
From:
Registered: Nov 2011

posted October 25, 2014 08:53 PM            

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I took him to the vet. It wasn't ringworm, thank god! The vet thinks it was just a reaction to the flea bites. He gave him a shot and gave me a pill to give him once a month (same as Frontline does, but in pillform) and my cat has been meowing considerably less since.

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Posts: 8572
From: Blue Star Kachina
Registered: Apr 2009

posted October 26, 2014 09:09 AM            

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That`s good news & glad he`s feeling better.

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Christian, Jew, Muslim, Shaman, Zoroastrian, stone, ground, mountain, river, each has a secret way of being with the Mystery, unique and not to be judged.
Rumi

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Posts: 1489
From: Pseudo-Leo with a 1st House Stellium
Registered: Sep 2013

posted October 26, 2014 03:12 PM            

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Yay- glad he is going okay! Pets really are family.

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