My kitten's nose is rough and crusty after neuter. What's wrong?

It is difficult to tell from the pictures exactly what could be going on. However, crusty skin lesions can be due to parasite (skin or mite) infections, bacterial infections or even fungal infections. Your veterinarian can perform a skin scraping to determine the cause of the crustiness and prescribe appropriate treatment.

Hello. I am a bit concerned about this kitten possibly having a ringworm or other fungal infection. This is something you should let your veterinarian take a look at. The nasal congestion could be an upper respiratory infection that may have come on from the stress of the surgery. We do not always put these kitties on medication, especially if they are acting normal & eating well. But do try to have the pictured kitten seen soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Some cats get very stressed in the hospital and they may rub the face until the skin is damaged. However, it would be worth the check Kitty's skin for bacterial infection or ringworm as the skin should not peel off like this. Please, take Kitty back to your vet as he will likely need antibiotic / anti-fungal ointment. Your vet will probably want to examine the skin scrapes under the microscope or take a skin swab to confirm the diagnosis first.

Your kitten may have an upper respiratory infection, which is common in stray cats. The nasal discharge can form as black crusty discharge in the nostrils. If it is eating and drinking well and seems to be growing, you can clean the crusty discharge with a warm washcloth. At some point it needs to be examined, vaccinated, and dewormed when you can afford to do so.

It looks like he may have a dermatitis on his nose which could be secondary to a bacterial infection, trauma, allergic reaction, or possibly a fungal infection. He should be examined by a vet to determine the cause. Your vet can do a culture, if needed to help diagnose.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Gijs. If the wound is just minor trauma, it should begin healing within 48 hours. If it continues to look smaller, then I would not worry about it. However, if it is not resolving or certainly if it spreads, she will need to see her veterinarian. Ringworm is a fungal infection that is common in kittens. It can start in the nose. It is diagnosed by plucking hairs and performing a fungal culture. I hope this information helps!

I would recommend taking Snow White to a veterinarian. This can be anything from a bacterial infection to a fungal infection (like ringworm). They can take a woods lamp (it is like a black light) to see if it glows green. If it does it is ringworm, if it does not it still could be. Only 50% of all ringworm shows up positive with this test. Your veterinarian will prescribe medication to help resolve the lesions. I hope Snow White feels better soon and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!