What can I give my cat for fleas and to heal their skin sores?

Fleas and allergies to fleas can set-up an environment for infection. It's possible that this is complicating the recovery process. The skin will often start to heal once the fleas are gone, but it's worth treating for infection by giving a bath with a medicated cat shampoo (can get this at the pet store). I recommend discontinuing the use of the other products (except the flea control) for now, because overuse and misuse of certain products can actually delay healing or make the problem worse. For instance, I worry about the use of the coconut oil, because fungal and bacterial infections will thrive in the coconut oil. It's best to just give a bath with the medicated shampoo once every 2-3 days, until the skin starts to look normal. It's expected that it will take a month or more until the cats start to look normal again, so stick with it and they should get through this fine. Treating for fleas is not just restricted to the host, because fleas can reproduce and nest in the environment and continually cause an issue. Below is a link to a short article that explains treating the cats and environment for fleas: https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-tips-to-get-rid-of-fleas/ If the skin problems are not getting better, or are getting worse in the next two weeks, then it's best to have your cats evaluated by a vet, because they may need additional treatment. I hope that helps and the kitties get better soon.

I'm sorry your cats (and you!) are dealing with you. Unfortunately, once a cat has a flea dermatitis, the itching and skin problems can continue even once you get rid of the fleas. The degree of which really depends on the severity of their sensitivity to flea bites. Often, we have to use antihistamines or steroids to resolve the inflammation. Sometimes we also have to incorporate antibiotics if there is an infection. For dogs, there are topical shampoos we can use, but those are often not a good option for cats. So, I would recommend having your veterinarian examine your cats' skin to determine if there is a secondary skin infection or just inflammation in order to help you determine the best treatment. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

I think the best option would be to give your cats an oral flea medication like Comfortis. This medication is very effective and will get the problem under control fairly quickly. This will also be helpful so you won't have to apply anything else to the skin since it sounds like they have some skin issues already. I would also recommend to vacuum well throughout the house and clean all the cat's bedding (this will help remove flea eggs). I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

See your veterinarian for an exam. Sky may need antibiotics to prevent or treat infection of the sores. A short course of steroids followed by antihistamines may provide relief from the itching. Your vet can also dispense Capstar to kill any adult fleas on Sky. Follow up with a topical preventative such as Revolution or Frontline. Either should be applied monthly for at least 3 consecutive months, preferably year round. Vacuum your home/apartment. Clean everywhere Sky has been. Dispose of the bag outdoors. Wash all bedding in the hottest temperature allowed by the fabric. To prevent reinfestation, use an environmental treatment such as Knockout ES.

Hello, thank you for using PetCoach! Here is a link explaining more about miliary dermatitis. I cannot tell if that is exactly the problem based on that one photo. ( https://www.petcoach.co/cat/condition/feline-miliary-dermatitis/ ) For a cat, I would use this leave on mousse product as treatment. I would apply it once a day in the beginning and once the clinical signs start to dissipate you can then go to every 2 or 3 days. Continue use until all the bumps on the skin are gone. ( https://www.allivet.com/p-6673-douxo-chlorhexidine-climbazole-mousse-for-dogs-and-cats-68-oz.aspx?SearchTerm=duoxo%20mousse+Auto ) A good over the counter flea prevention for cats is Cheristin. I would apply the Cheristin and then wait 24 hours before bathing or using any topical products. If the miliary dermatitis is from fleas, you need to apply this EVERY month. If you are having a flea problem then you definitely should treat the environment for fleas as well, otherwise you have a major infestation in your house. I think this product is the best. ( https://www.allivet.com/p-1389-knockout-es-area-treatment.aspx?SearchTerm=knoc+Auto ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Hello, my name is Dr. Shines and I am happy to help. I agree that does look suspicious for flea dirt. It could also just be environmental debris or sometimes the skin will produce dark pigmentation from general irritation. First test it to see if this is flea dirt. Collect a few of those dark colored flakes on a clean white paper towel and apply a few drops of hydrogen peroxide. Then gently rub it around. If the towel turns reddish or rusty colored, it's flea feces (flea dirt). If it is, switch products. I recommend Revolution or Cheristan. If you must use something OTC, stick with name brand Frontline or Advantage. This could also be miliary dermatitis. Here's a link about the condition: https://www.petcoach.co/article/feline-miliary-dermatitis-in-cats/ If Hugo is licking more than normal, it could be causing the lesions to get worse. Plus it means they bother him. I recommend to make an appointment to have him examined. In the mean time, prevention the licking by having Hugo wear an elizabethan collar at all times. Start Hugo on an omega fatty acid. I like one called Welactin. You might also consider changing his diet to one that is good for over-all skin health. The two brands I recommend are Royal Canin and Nutro. Note it will take about 6 weeks for the supplement/diet to fully kick in. I hope this helps and please feel free to reach out any time.

Hi there. I would recommend getting all pets in the home started on a good quality prescription flea control medication like Nexgard or Bravecto for Ollie, and Revolution or Bravecto for the cats. Once you've done this and had your home treated to get rid of any fleas or flea eggs still remaining in the environment, you should be in good shape as long as you keep everyone current on their flea treatments going forward.