My cat has skin lesions, scabs, and new black spots. What is it?

Poor Missy. If the scabs improved at first then it is likely you were on the right track with the antibiotics. You may have to give the antibiotics for a longer period of time. Some pets require 2 weeks or more consecutively to clear up infections on the skin. You can also add in a topical treatment. I highly recommend the Duoxo seborrhea shampoo, if this appears to be a sebborhea problem. Duoxo also carries other medicated shampoos for different skin conditions. The component Chlorhexidine is a good overall antiseptic. If you suspect a fungal component, then you want to go with an anti-fungal ingredient such as Ketoconazole. You can also look into low cost clinics in your area, if you are still unable to control the skin well. http://petvet.vippetcare.com/ Here are some financial resources that also may prove helpful for you so that you can get Missy the care she needs: www.carecredit.com redrover.org Best of luck to you!

If you have ruled out fleas/skin mites. I recommend to have him tested for hyperthyroidism and if that's not the cause, have him on a 12 week food trial with a hydrolyzed protein diet. You must start moving down the list of potential causes of the skin lesions. Atopy is still on the list but is harder to test for so rule out these other causes first. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Sylvester. I am glad that he is seeing his veterinarian. I suspect that he will require treatment. He could be experiencing an allergy to something in his diet or environment. Infections are also common. For example, cats can develop ringworm. This is especially common when a new kitten is brought home. Fleas are frequently seen in cats, but obviously of an issue in the winter. Mites are also possible. The veterinarian will examine him and may test samples from his skin. This will help to reach a diagnosis and guide treatment. If he is licking the lesion, then place an E-collar on him until your appointment. I hope this information helps!

Hi, I think one of the first conditions to rule out here would be eosinophilic granuloma complex (EGC) which refers to a group of inflammatory skin problems in cats. The skin lesion on the picture may be an eosinophilic plaque. Common sites are the hind legs and the stomach. The lesions can be large and may be itchy, and the cat may frequently tries to licks and even bites at the affected site which can make it worse. Most cases of ECG are due to allergies ( fleas /food/ atopy=environmental). Flea control is very important in the treatment. Most cases respond well to medical treatment with corticosteroids (prednisolone commonly) and antibiotic if infected. She will need to be checked by a vet to confirm and to be treated. Hope this helps

Ouch! Those are some major hot spots in that photo. I would recommend having Lili seen by your vet so the area can be clipped and cleaned and any medications such as pain or antibiotics can be given to help it heal a bit faster. I'd also keep Lili from scratching or pawing at it as this can introduce bacteria and more inflammation which can slow healing. If only Lili is affected and you're not noticing other issues like parasites, etc, it is possible there is an allergy underlying. She could be rubbing up against something causing the itchiness, or could have an ingredient allergy to something in her food (or a treat if the spots correspond with intermittent feeding of a treat or wet food). Other issues such as an underlying illness like an immune or metabolic issue can also cause scabbing and skin issues that affect only one cat in the household. A vet visit is a good option at this point both to treat the current scabs and to see if a food trial, allergy meds, or additional testing such as bloodwork to rule out any underlying health issues may be beneficial in finding the cause.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Skin lesions like you are describing can have a variety of causes, including skin parasites (fleas or mites), an infection (bacterial or fungal), allergies, or another underlying medical issue. I would recommend he be evaluated by his regular veterinarian to determine the underlying cause for his skin lesions, so he could start any treatment (antibiotics, anti-itch medications, parasiticide) that he may need. In the meantime, I would clean the area will diluted betadine if possible and then keep it dry, and trim his nails back as much as possible to keep him from scratching at it. Good luck!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Callie. When she had her dental cleaning, did she have dental x-rays or any teeth extracted? It is in the correct location to be a tooth root abscess. If the whole tooth was not completely extracted meaning that a portion of the root was left behind, the infection will not resolve. X-rays should be taken to ensure all of the tooth was appropriately extracted. If this was done and the lesion is still present, then I would recommend a skin biopsy. This will ideally tell the origin of the skin disease such as autoimmune disease or skin cancer. You may also condiser submitting a sample for culture to identify any infection. I hope this information helps!