Why does my cat have red, open skin sores? Could it be allergies?

Itchy skin like this is often due to one of the following things: 1) Allergies - this can happen suddenly and is usually due to an environmental (i.e pollen) cause. Allergies need to be diagnosed by a veterinarian, because other problems can look similar and the treatment would be different. 2) External parasites - fleas, lice and mites can all cause intense itching. It's best to have a vet check him for mites, because these are microscopic and can cause intense itching. 3) Over-bathing, or using the wrong product for bathing - Bathing too often can cause the skin to get dry and irritated. Cats should normally be bathed no more than once a month with a shampoo that is labeled for cats. If you bathe more than that, or use a shampoo or soap that is meant for people, then you could be damaging the normal protective barrier of the skin. One thing you can do for itchy skin, is give a bath with cool water using an oatmeal or aloe shampoo. You can get these shampoos at the pet store. Do not apply shampoo to the sores - it's better to just flush them with cool water. Considering he is scratching to the point of having open sores, I recommend taking him to the vet for an examination. We can usually discover the cause quickly and provide the most effective treatment. For more information about allergies and itching, I recommend you read the information at the links below. https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-tell-if-your-pet-has-allergies/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/4-great-strategies-for-relieving-your-dog-s-allergies/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/skin-allergies-vs-food-allergies/ I hope that helps and Tito gets better soon.

Hi and thank you for posting your question on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sight unseen, it is hard to say exactly what the cause of the spots are, but I can certainly offer a few possibilities. Red sores and spots can have many causes. Food allergies being one of them! It is possible she was allergic to the food she was eating. If you switched foods and she is now better with no sores or spots any longer, then perhaps a food allergy was the cause. However, there are other causes such as a flea allergy, other environmental allergy, fungal infection (ringworm), bacterial infection. The feline herpes virus causes on and off upper respiratory symptoms like sneezing, coughing, and ocular infections. Sores are not typically caused by the feline herpes virus. If the sores are not getting any better or appear to be getting worse, you may want to take your cat into a veterinarian so she can be properly diagnosed. If the sores looks very red and infected, your vet may prescribe an antibiotic. I hope this has helped and I wish you and your cat the very best!

Hi. It sounds like you doing a great job. Allergies, food sensitivity, or external parasites are all possible. If it's not improving and you're frustrated, I would recommend seeing a dermatology specialist. In meantime, try oatmeal bathe, and try another protein source ( venison, fish, duck, etc).

This is probably due to a severe allergy, although it could also be fleas or mites. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat her with a high quality flea treatment (e.g. advantage), then get her to the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveal an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try discovering the cause of the allergy. Some medications can be given by the vet in order to repair the skin lesions (steroids and antibiotics). simultaneously you should start her on a prescription hypoallergenic diet for at least 2 months. Hopefully you will see some results after all this, if not you and your vet should consider putting her on a long term allergy treatment (Atopica).

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This may be due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing her allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. 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!

Your cat could have allergies and these are commonly seen in cats that are vomiting or have skin issues like this. He may need to be on allergy medication like steroids, or benefit from a strict prescription food allergy diet trial with a food like Royal Canin hypoallergic or Hills z/d.

Ouch! Poor Sable! From the looks of those open areas Sable could have allergies (food or environmental), flea allergy dermatitis, a contact allergy or even an issue with her immune system. I recommend using a good quality flea preventative like Frontline or Revolution to ensure this is not being caused by fleas. I would also suggest you get Sable to your veterinarian because it looks like those areas may be infected and require antibiotics. Your veterinarian will also be able to take samples from the area and see what other treatments may be necessary. I hope Sable is feeling better soon!