My kitten has bald, bloody patches from scratching. Should I go to the vet?

Hello. It is a little tough to tell exactly what is going on, so if you have a chance to let your vet take a look, that would be best. Are you having problems with fleas? That might be one reason he is so scratched up. Bathing in Dawn will help to control the fleas until he is old enough for a flea preventative. If not, then I would pick up a skin cleanser like Hibiclens at any pharmacy, dilute it about 50:50 with water & clean the irritated areas twice daily. Hopefully, this will clear up quickly. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

This is very suspicious of ringworm (a fungal infection of the skin). This could also be due to a yeast or bacteria infection, but it's much more likely to be ringworm. . It's best to get it diagnosed by a veterinarian, because ringworm can spread to different parts of the body and can spread to other animals and people. Also, the more involved the infection, the longer it will take to clear. Ace will need prescription antifungal medication in order to clear this and will also need medicated baths. For now, I recommend separating Ace from your other animals and washing your hands anytime you touch him. Your veterinarian will be able to get you some more info at the time of exam. I hope that helps and Ace gets better soon.

It's good that the area has stopped bleeding. I would keep an eye on it for now. I would gently clean the wound with warm water and antiseptic soap. Keep the wound clean and dry, and monitor it for signs of infection. If you see redness, swelling, warmth to the touch, or pus, then it is infected and Nick will need to see the vet for antibiotics to treat it. I hope this helps!

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.

This presentation could be due to a trauma or localized spot of skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria). A check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) are needed to solve the problem. Disinfection can eventually 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. 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 Tupelo had a flea infestation recently it's possible she is still healing from the flea bites. There may also be a secondary infection of the skin if she was itching or scratching a lot from the mites and fleas. If the area isn't clearing up, or appears to be worsening, having a vet take a look and take a potential sample of the skin is best. They may recommend antibiotics or a medicated shampoo to help the area heal.

This sounds like a reaction to fleas or some other allergen. Fleas are the most likely. Fleas don't live on the animals so make sure you treat your house and yard for fleas as well. Make sure you have them both on a high quality flea preventative like frontline plus or comfortis or cheristan. The over the counter flea preventative like hartz don't usually work and can cause bad reactions. Finally, since you are seeing scabs and swollen bald areas, they likely have secondary bacterial infection. I would have your vet do an exam. They will be able to determine if they need an antibiotics or even an injection to help with the itching. I hope this helps.