My cat has crusts on her skin that bleed. Should I see a vet?

These could be crusts from scratching injuries from fighting with other cats. Keep observing your cats skin. If this does not stop over the next 3-4 weeks (when she is not outside and spends all her time inside) , then this may be a skin condition that will need to be examined by a veterinarian.

This presentation could be due to a trauma or localized spot of skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria but fungal infections are possible as well). A check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) are needed to solve the problem. Disinfection may be started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths. Buster collar may be useful as well to avoid any scratching (if any). Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

Hi there! What you're describing sounds more likely to be a skin problem of some kind (allergies, etc.) vs. an actual wound or something more serious, although of course it's always hard to say without being able to see her in person. It does sound like this is something that should be seen by a vet, since skin issues in cats that are severe enough to cause hair loss and raw spots will virtually always need prescription meds to treat effectively. But if she's acting normal otherwise (eating and drinking, relatively active, no other obvious symptoms), then I wouldn't consider it to be an emergency. It should be okay to call your regular vet's office and get an appointment scheduled for her when you're able to, hopefully within the next week or two. :)

I would recommend having Sharon examined by your vet and have your vet do some simple skin tests to determine what might be going on with Sharon. We do sometimes see some different types of mites (I have attached a link to a handout below with more information on one type of mite) that can cause skin problems in cats as well as bacterial or fungal infections. so your vet will need to determine the cause of the crusting in order to determine the best treatment option. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=512 Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

There could be a couple of things causing these scabs such as mites, allergies, ringworm, or fleas. I think Miran should see a vet before Friday. The vet can diagnose what is causing this skin problem, and can treat him. Best of luck.

Hello and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. While I don't think this is an emergency, I would get Nemo in to see a veterinarian as soon as you can. I strongly suspect that there is an infection in his skin and he is probably very uncomfortable. Until you can take him to the vet I would clean the area with an antiseptic solution such as dilute betadine (to the color of weak tea) or hibiclens. Both of these should be available at your local drug store. Then dry it well and apply a thin layer of topical triple antibiotic ointment. Do this twice daily. I hope that Nemo feels better soon!

If you were able to post a picture of this skin abnormality it would be very helpful. But based on what you are describing it sounds like either a large scab or eschar that has formed covering up a wound of some sort. Watch your cat closely to see if she is licking the area excessively. You may need to find someone to help hold her so you could more closely examine the skin. You may also want to try putting some Neosporin on it to see if that helps it heal. Without knowing what exactly it looks like it is hard to say what exactly it could be. My best guess is that she has some type of infection that is making her skin abnormal and is making her painful and uncomfortable. If you are unable to look at it yourself I would recommend taking her into a veterinarian where she can be fully examined. If the infection is severe she may need a systemic antibiotics to help clear it up. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.