Milliary dermatitis, also known as eczema, is one of the most common diseases of the skin in felines. It is characterised by a skin reaction against allergies, infections and even inflammation. It is one of the main causes of hair loss in cats. We bring you some tips to combat this nuisance condition in your pet. On OneHowTo we tell you how to treat dermatitis in cats.
There are allergens such as pollen, plants, disinfectants and deodorants that can create skin problems in cats and which even may be the case of food intolerances. Dermatitis may occur as a direct result of direct contact, ingestion or inhalation.
The most common symptoms are redness, rashes and inflammation. Often dermatitis can cause an itching feeling which is very uncomfortable for your cat. The cat may not want to stop scratching and licking itself.
Most importantly, try to find the underlying cause of the inflammation by paying close attention to see if the symptoms intensify. You will have to observe the cat's habits and any possible allergen with which the feline has come into contact. In addition to observing its movements and customs, you must feed your pet with high quality feed which is fresh and free of nasty artificial colours, preservatives or any toxic component which could damage your pet's defences.
If your cat has eczema, it's natural that your vet has put them on treatment with an anti-inflammatory medicine to calm inflammation and reduce any pain. It will also be crucial that you prevent your feline friend from scratching or licking the affected area because that will worsen the condition.
You can put a cone collar on your cat so they do not reach the area that is infected with eczema. However, some cats might find the collar uncomfortable and they might remove it instanctly. If this happens to your cat, you could put silicone covers over the nails of your cat to prevent them from scratching. If it scratches the area the remaining healthy skin could become contaminated and this would delay the healing process.
The most common cause of dermatitis is flea bites. Therefore, it's very important to remove any fleas from your cat's fur and constantly monitor the status of its skin to see how things are developing. You'll have to make sure to prevent further occurrences of the parasite to avoid this and other allergic diseases that may occur.
It is highly recommended that you treat your cat's skin with creams and natural remedies to relieve the discomfort of dermatitis. Although feline eczema is not fatal, if not treated early it can lead to serious complications.
It will be necessary, apart from everything else, to thoroughly clean the environment in which your cat spends time as well as to cleanse the cat's skin deeply. You can wash your feline's body with natural decoctions made with chamomile, calendula and mallow to enjoy the soothing, refreshing and antibacterial properties that give some relief to your pet and above all favour the healing of nasty injuries. You could also add to the diet of your cat some echinacea which serves to increase their defences, including sunflower oil in their diet.
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- Consult your veterinary if you see any strange behaviour in your cat. He/she will make a diagnose of the problem and explain you the best solution.