My cat has miliary dermatitis. Can I treat it without a bath?

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.

Khafraa is very cute! Miliary dermatitis indicates inflammation in the skin. It is most commonly an allergic reaction to something like fleas, food or environmental contaminants such as pollen or dust. I would not recommend starting antibiotics without having her examined by a veterinarian. Oftentimes antibiotics are not needed. The best way to resolve her signs is to figure out what the underlying causes. I would make sure you're using a high-quality flea preventative. An examination with your veterinarian will be helpful to determine if an infection is present and what the best course of action is for determining the underlying problem. They may recommend a food trial or allergy testing to get a better idea of what's going on.

Hi there and thank you for your question on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! When you are petting her and your feel little seeds or what feels like little millet seeds, then it is very possible she could have miliary dermatitis. The #1 cause of military dermatitis is actually an allergy to fleas. It is only takes one flea to induce a flea allergy and the adult fleas can be hard to spot! Eggs and larva can be hard to see as well. Fleas find cracks and crevices to enter your home making household cats susceptible to acquiring fleas. If going to a vet is not an option, you can try bathing her in dawn dish soap (that will get rid of the adult fleas). You can then purchase an OTC flea treatment and preventative product such as Frontline Plus or Advantage to use monthly to ensure your are taking care of the entire life cycle of the flea. If the itching does not subside in a few weeks with the flea preventative, then it may be possible she has another environmental allergy or a food allergy, but I would rule out an allergy to fleas first. :) Thank you so much for your question and I wish you and Ishiban the very best!

It could mean either, most skin problems always get a little worse before they get better. If an infection occurs in the hair follicle, then clumps of hair fall out. Most military dermatitis causes are complex and involve the immune system so you typically need something besides topical to fully treat it.

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.

The most common problem causing Milly's symptoms is a severe flea allergic dermatitis. Regardless I recommend brushing her to remove the old fur and skin, giving a bath with a hypoallergenic shampoo and using Advantage flea prevention on her. You can purchase it at PetCo. She may need antibiotics to heal the skin and your veterinarian will do an exam to determine the cause of her problems. They may run a blood panel in addition to determine if she is anemic or has a metabolic problem. Once they have a diagnosis they will give her the appropriate treatment and hopefully she will recover quickly. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Milly.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I think at this point it seems like your veterinarian has tried symptomatic therapy to try to help. I would consider taking a culture of the lesion and using the indicated antibiotics. Also, it would be important to ensure that he is unable to chew or lick at it as that will continue to worsen it. You could consider an e-collar which you may get from your local pet store. If it does not resolve, a biopsy of the lesion should be considered. Good luck and have a good day!