We want to wish you a happy Labor Day weekend.
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Thursday, August 29, 2013
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Cats get chin acne?
By Zoe Forward, DVM, Dipl. ABVP (canine/feline)
SIGNS: Early clinical signs include crusts
and plugged hair follicles forming "blackheads" on the chin and lower
lip. Some cases stay in the blackhead
phase, while others progress to form infected, draining pustules, nodules, or
cysts. In severe cases, a cat may
develop painful swelling of the chin and lips.
Cats that develop the infected pustules will often act itchy and rub or
scratch the chin. The problem often
recurs in susceptible cats and seems related to the hair growth cycle.
Notice any black debris on your cat's chin, or maybe even pimple-like lesions? Then your cat has chin acne. This is not a hormonal problem. Actually, we are not entirely certain why some cats get these lesions. Some cats only experience one
episode in their life, while others may have cyclic or near-constant disease. There are several suspected causes,
including poor grooming habits, abnormal hair follicles with overproduction of
sebum, virus infection (calicivirus, herpes virus), stress, chin trauma (due to
excessive scent marking by rubbing the chin on vertical objects, or from
scratching the chin due to underlying allergy), plastic food dish contact
allergy, underlying immunosuppressive disease or bacterial contamination from
rubbing the chin in food (especially in old dried canned food).
TREATMENT: Treatment varies according to the severity and
extent of lesions, and how much the condition is bothering the cat. Cats with only a few blackheads often require
no treatment, but may benefit from cleaning the chin once a day with a
medicated antibacterial wipe, changing to a dry diet, and feeding out of
ceramic or stainless steel bowls that are washed with soap and water daily,
rather than plastic. In more severe
cases, antibiotics may be necessary for 4 – 6 weeks to clear a bacterial
infection.
Call us if you are worried about this problem in your cat: (704)220-0226.
Pictures courtesy of Cat World: http://www.cat-world.com.au/feline-acne
Pictures courtesy of Cat World: http://www.cat-world.com.au/feline-acne
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Top 3 Dog Allergy Questions We Hear
By Zoe Forward, DVM, Dipl. ABVP (canine/feline)
Carolina Pets Animal Hospital
Why can't my dog's allergies be cured?
Allergies, whether due to fleas, food or something in your pet's environment are caused by the immune system overreacting, NOT a weakened or "sick" immune system. With flea allergy dermatitis, allergy shots (immunotherapy) doesn't work. The only treatment is avoidance, which means keep your pet on monthly flea control year round. The same is true for food allergies (your pet needs to stay on a prescription hypoallergenic diet).
For environmental allergies (atopic dermatitis), pets can be desensitized with allergy shots (immunotherapy). This type of treatment helps down regulate the body's overreaction to items in the environment, but even if it works these dogs require treatment for the rest of their lives. In rare cases after years of therapy, the dog may no longer need to be treated.
Why does my pet need such a high dose of antibiotics for such a long time to treat his skin infection?
Most pets, especially dogs, with skin infections have pyoderma (or bacterial folliculitis) which means bacteria have colonized the hair follicles. This is not a classic "hot spot" an allergic dog may create after hours of scratching at one location where the infection is usually superficial. These pyodermas are deep infections. This is why topical therapy alone does not work well and antibiotics are needed. For a pet with standard pyoderma, at least 3 weeks of antibiotics are needed, and the rule is to treat at least one week beyond resolution of clinical signs (rash, itching).
Is my pet's condition contagious?
This depends on what type of infection your dog has. If your dog has an infection secondary to allergies such as yeast (Malassezia) or bacterial infection, then this is probably not contagious. We have rarely identified methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus infections in dogs, usually only those with very long-term recurrent infections; these do have potential to be contagious. But with these resistant infections there is some newer information to suggest the dog may have contracted it from a person.
There are certain skin conditions, such as sarcoptic mange (caused by Sarcoptes scabiei) that can cause lesions in people. The canine Demodex mites are not contagious to people, but Cheyletiella mites can be. Some ringworm infections can be contagious.
If you have any questions, give us a call: (704)220-0226!
Information for this article provided by Veterinary Medicine, June 2013 Vol 108, No. 6, p.13.
Carolina Pets Animal Hospital
Why can't my dog's allergies be cured?
Allergies, whether due to fleas, food or something in your pet's environment are caused by the immune system overreacting, NOT a weakened or "sick" immune system. With flea allergy dermatitis, allergy shots (immunotherapy) doesn't work. The only treatment is avoidance, which means keep your pet on monthly flea control year round. The same is true for food allergies (your pet needs to stay on a prescription hypoallergenic diet).
For environmental allergies (atopic dermatitis), pets can be desensitized with allergy shots (immunotherapy). This type of treatment helps down regulate the body's overreaction to items in the environment, but even if it works these dogs require treatment for the rest of their lives. In rare cases after years of therapy, the dog may no longer need to be treated.
Why does my pet need such a high dose of antibiotics for such a long time to treat his skin infection?
Most pets, especially dogs, with skin infections have pyoderma (or bacterial folliculitis) which means bacteria have colonized the hair follicles. This is not a classic "hot spot" an allergic dog may create after hours of scratching at one location where the infection is usually superficial. These pyodermas are deep infections. This is why topical therapy alone does not work well and antibiotics are needed. For a pet with standard pyoderma, at least 3 weeks of antibiotics are needed, and the rule is to treat at least one week beyond resolution of clinical signs (rash, itching).
Is my pet's condition contagious?
This depends on what type of infection your dog has. If your dog has an infection secondary to allergies such as yeast (Malassezia) or bacterial infection, then this is probably not contagious. We have rarely identified methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus infections in dogs, usually only those with very long-term recurrent infections; these do have potential to be contagious. But with these resistant infections there is some newer information to suggest the dog may have contracted it from a person.There are certain skin conditions, such as sarcoptic mange (caused by Sarcoptes scabiei) that can cause lesions in people. The canine Demodex mites are not contagious to people, but Cheyletiella mites can be. Some ringworm infections can be contagious.
If you have any questions, give us a call: (704)220-0226!
Information for this article provided by Veterinary Medicine, June 2013 Vol 108, No. 6, p.13.
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