My cat has dry skin and flakes. Should I change her GI diet or add supplements?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to skin allergies mostly due to the fact that it started after moving. Adding fish oil can be considered regardless to help with the dry skin. You can use the commercial kind for dogs. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

Hmmm. Not sure the train of thought your vet was on. I commonly recommend fish oils, any fish oil supplement will work. There is no specific amount, though the biggest side effect is greasy stools. If you notice that, then you decrease the dose. It can take several months for you to see a change after starting fish oils. You can find a pet product at a pet store, or just use one from the human supplements section of a pharmacy or other store.

I think your best option is to have Rubby examined by the veterinarian. Dry skin can be a sign of parasites, inappropriate diet or endocrine disease. At home you can try giving her an omega 3 fatty acid supplement for pets but it may not correct the underlying cause. This can however improve over all skin health. There are two brands of food, Royal Canin and Nutro, which are aimed at skin health and they may help as well but again, they may not affect the underlying problem. Also, I'm not sure what you mean by rude behavior. Please try reposting with what is happening. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Cat don't really like baths so I can suggest these things: 1. A [fish oil supplement](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/wild-alaskan-salmon-oil-cat-food-supplement) that can be mixed into their food. 2. Use a [waterless shampoo](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/tropiclean-waterless-cat-shampoo-deep-cleaning) product instead of traditional bathing. 3. Daily brushing. Brushing helps to stimulate the normal oils in the skin. Hope this help. Best wishes!

HI, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! A lot of times older cats have harder times grooming themselves, whether it be from arthritis, obesity, or underlying medical problems. I think it is important to be sure she isn't suffering from fleas, ringworm, mites or a skin infection. Since she is almost 15 years old I recommend having some blood work done. Be sure she isn't pulling her own hair out which can be a sign of allergies or behavioral issues. I think scheduling an exam with your Vet is the best thing since this is a new medical problem. If all things check out normal then you can try an Omega 3 fish oil supplement to see if that improves her coat. I hope this helps and I wish Lilabit the best!

Those spots on your kitty could be just dry skin causing itching bad enough to lose hair (do know that dry skin alone should not cause hair loss) but there are several things including fleas, allergies, skin mites, bacterial infection or endocrine disease which could also look the same way. There are a couple things you can do at home and they can help but they may not address the underlying cause. That's great that you are using an omega 3 fatty acid supplement this can help improve the skin health. Make sure it is a formula for pets (better absorption) and you may need to squirt it directly in his mouth. You may also try changing his diet to something like Royal Canin or Nutro as they are aimed at skin health. Also protect the area from trauma by having your kitty wear an elizabethan collar at all times. If the skin does not start improving within 2-3 weeks or if it is getting worse, have him examined by the veterinarian to look for other causes. Unfortunately, lotions and sprays don;t tend to moisturize as well as supplements and diet. There are some moisturizing sprays and your cat will need to wear an elizabethan collar at all times because otherwise he will lick the product. Moisturizing shampoos and conditions for pets are also an option but not all cats enjoy baths and may bite and scratch their owners. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Jinx is adorable! I can see the scales on her coat in the picture. You can try giving her an omega 3 fish oil supplement to see if these fish oils will improve her coat condition. Personally, I find Welactin to be both safe and effective ( https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=19121 ). However, if the scaling continues despite this supplement or if she becomes excessively itchy, it may be worth taking Jinx to her vet for further evaluation to assure that there are not any other underlying health issues. Be sure that she is eating a high quality food (i.e. Royal Canin, Hill's Science Diet, or Purina ProPlan), as skin issues often develop with lower quality diets. I hope this helps and that all goes well for Jinx!