How to Treat Skin Inflammation in Cats

Getting a Veterinary Diagnosis and Treatment

Take your cat to the vet. If you have identified areas of inflammation on your cat's body, you should have it looked at by a veterinarian. This is especially true if the areas of inflammation are obviously causing your cat pain or are open wounds. Call your veterinary office and tell them about your cat's symptoms. Ask for an appointment as soon as possible, so that your cat's discomfort can be soothed. However, skin inflammation is not usually a life-threatening medical emergency, so waiting a day or so for your cat to be seen is reasonable.

Discuss your cat's condition with the veterinarian. When you bring your cat to be seen by a veterinarian, they are likely to ask you all about your cat's symptoms. Give them all the information that you have, including when you first noticed the inflammation. Once the vet looks at the cat, gives it a thorough exam, and comes up with a diagnosis, you can discuss the case further and ask any questions you have. Some conditions that might be causing your cat's skin inflammation include: Flea infestation Seasonal Allergies Food allergies Eosinophilic granuloma complex (which is a skin issue caused by an abnormal immune response) Ringworm Environmental factors (for example, the chemicals used in your home)

Begin treatment with an antibiotic. Depending on what is causing the skin inflammation on your cat, treatments will vary. However, veterinarians will likely prescribe some sort of topical or systemic antibiotic to clear up any infections on the skin's surface. Follow your veterinarian's directions for how to and how long you should give this medication.

Give your cat an anti-fungal medication. Your veterinarian may prescribe an anti-fungal medication to treat your cat's skin inflammation if they think that it is caused by a fungus. For example, if your cat has a ringworm infection, your veterinarian will likely prescribe a topical anti-fungal medication, such as lyme-sulfur or miconazole. Anti-fungal drugs can be administered on the outside of the body, such as in the form of a dip or shampoo, or systemically, in pill form. Your vet may prescribe one or both, depending on the severity of the infection.

Apply an anti-parasitic medication. Parasites are also common causes of skin inflammation, so your veterinarian may prescribe a anti-parasitic medication to eliminate this kind of infection. For instance, if your cat has a flea infestation, your veterinarian will prescribe an anti-parasitic flea medication for the cat. Your cat's skin irritation could also be caused by other parasites, such as mites, which would also be treated with an anti-parasitic medication.

Caring for Skin Inflammation at Home

Don't allow the cat to touch the area. An area of skin inflammation needs to be left alone in order to heal. However, your cat will likely continue to lick and clean the area as long as it is allowed to. With this in mind, your veterinarian will likely suggest that a cone, otherwise known as an e-collar or Elizabethan collar, be put on the cat so that it cannot disturb the area while it is being treated. Keeping a cone on your cat can be very disconcerting but it is better for it to have a little temporary discomfort than an actual risk to its health.

Soothe irritation. If your cat has inflamed skin, there are ways you can soothe it at home. Your veterinarian may suggest using an oatmeal shampoo on the area or a medicated lotion that can relieve itching and irritation. Even a warm water compress applied to the irritated area can provide some relief. Follow your veterinarian's suggestions about treatment of irritation. Depending on the cause of the irritation, you may want to use different solutions.

Consider dietary changes. If your cat is suffering from inflammation due to food allergies, you may need to change its diet in order to get rid of its skin inflammation. Consult with your veterinarian about what type of food you should be giving your cat, and remember to transition your cat to new food slowly. Special diets for cats with food allergies can be more expensive than other types of cat foods. However, it is important to feed them to cats with severe allergies so that their symptoms can be reduced.

Recognizing the Signs of Skin Inflammation

Notice behaviors associated with skin inflammation. Many times a cat owner first notices a skin problem because their cat is itching or licking areas of its body incessantly. If your cat is doing this, you should have a closer look at the area your cat is focusing on. Your cat may also be chewing on areas still covered in fur. Even though there is still fur present, this does not rule out a problem underneath with the cat's skin.

Look for areas of skin inflammation. Skin inflammation can usually be spotted when petting your cat or giving it a home health exam. Take the time to inspect your cat's whole body, in order to locate areas of concern. Inflamed areas of skin may have: Redness Swelling of the skin Loss of fur Scabby, scaly, or flaky skin Bumps on the skin

Differentiate between skin disease and simple irritation. If you have identified that your cat has an area of inflamed skin, you should then assess its severity and whether or not it gets worse. Watch for healing in the area over the course of several days to determine if the inflammation is simply a random and temporary irritation or not. In order for any kind of irritation to heal, your cat needs to leave it alone. Consider putting a cone on your cat for a few days to see if the inflamed area clears up once it is no longer licked or gnawed at. If you don't, the cat can cause further problems by creating wounds or abrasions in the area of irritation.