Why does my 8-week-old kitten have bruise-like skin and hair loss?

It is most likely ringworm but it could also be skin mites - those are the two most common dermatological problems in kittens. It is impossible to diagnose either of those just by looking at photos. I suggest you try to get her to a vet when you can so they help figure out what is going on. For now, continue with the Ketoconazole.

I recommend to have your kitten examined by the veterinarian. The hair loss could be related to ringworm which can spread to humans. Other causes include poor nutrition or heavy internal parasites (some of which can also spread to humans). You veterinarian will treat for any parasites or ringworm and get your new kitten started off on the right foot. Make sure to feed a high quality kitten food such as Royal Canin or Science Diet. I hope this helps.

Based on the picture it appears that she may have had a lot of clumping debris on her fur? If her skin was irritated from debris encrusting the underside of her belly then it could cause enough irritation to cause hair loss. Also skin infection and ringworm are also possible causes. I would encourage you to monitor her closely for any other changes. If You feel the shelter vet if too busy then I would encourage you to consider having a second opinion. Best of luck and I hope she improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

The picture is not very clear, but I see some crustiness and possibly some hair loss. I worry about ringworm (a skin fungus) with that type of lesion, because this is also a very common location for ringworm in kittens. It could also be some other infection or due to a scratch or bite. It is not normal though and to determine the cause, you would have to bring her into the vet for an exam. They can take a sample (if needed) and look at it under the microscope to find out what it is. For now, it's best to consider it contagious, because ringworm can be transmitted from cats to people. This is usually self-limiting (will go away on its own), but may need treatment if you start to see more lesions. You can wash it once a day with medicated shampoo labeled for cats (can be found at the pet store). This will help if it is an infection.

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.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Oreo. Skin and hair coat problems can be caused by a variety of things including external parasites (fleas, ticks, mites, etc), nutritional problems including loss of nutrition/blood by intestinal parasites, other dietary issues, bacterial/fungal infections, among many others. I don't think the food is causing a problem unless you are not feeding kitten food and I have never heard of the litter causing a problem like this unless it is getting caked onto the hair and skin. They are definitely old enough to be dewormed and I would highly advise that. Deworming should start at 2 weeks of age and be done every 3 weeks for at least 3-4 times. If these areas of concern worsen and persist, I would highly advise you have your vet evaluate Oreo to try to figure out what is going on. It doesn't seem like it's something contagious but sometimes not all kittens are affected. Your vet can advise some tests if needed (skin scrape, skin cytology, fungal culture, woods lamp exam, etc) to try to determine what is going on. Once a diagnosis is made or suspected, a sound treatment plan can be put into action. Your vet can also advise you on a sound preventive health care plan including deworming, testing, vaccines, flea/tick control, etc. Good luck with Oreo.

With this breed and the signs I would be worried about ringworm. Persian cats and other long-haired breeds are prone to this type of fungal infection and in fact the mother may have it and be what's called an asymptomatic carrier. I recommend practicing strict hygiene protocols with handling the kittens and discussing with your veterinarian if they feel they should be testing for ringworm. I agree with your veterinarian that this is unlikely to be a side effect of the medication previously given.