Kitten scratching face, rashes, head shaking. Is it food or shampoo?

With itching in the face I would be worried about parasites or a food allergy. You can try changing to different formula if fiodbthat contains a different protein source or a hypoallergenic diet. There a promising allergy medicine called Apoquel that can be helpful in cats now. You can apply cortisone cream to the red area until you can talk to your vet about the new options

Hello! Sounds like you are doing a great job trying to sort this out! What I usually do in these cases, is treat for mites and fleas regardless of whether we are seeing them (sometimes pets are allergic to a certain parasite, so they itch like crazy with just a few fleas, which could be hard to find on exam). Not sure which products you have in Australia, but your vet would know what is safe for your cat! (here, I would use something like Revolution!). Beyond that, I'm not sure! Some sort of allergy really fits well, but with the new symptoms of head shaking and sneezing, a virus could be brewing as well. Would you be able to call your vet today and ask about a topical flea/mite treatment? (Just make sure it is something your vet recommends-they know your cat best!)

In an older pet who is just now experiencing allergy type symptoms, I would definitely suspect that it could be either the new litter, new food or a combination of both that is causing this. I would start with changing the litter back to the normal litter that you used to use. As for the skin, you can try bathing Billy in a hypoallergenic shampoo (Duoxo calm shampoo) or oatmeal based shampoo. However, Billy may need a steroid shot by your vet to calm things down. If the change in litter doesn't cause resolution of the skin, then I would suggest changing the food back. I hope you can get Billy's skin back to normal soon!

Hi there! If all else has been ruled out, then the itchy skin and hair loss around the neck and face could be caused by a food allergy. Food allergies are commonly caused by an allergy to a protein in the food such as chicken or beef. I would recommend a food trail or food allergy testing. The itching can lead to a secondary bacterial infection. I would discuss with your veterinarian about conducting a food trial or doing allergy testing (requiring a blood test). Bobby Jack may need antibiotics for the skin infection as well. I hope this helps and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

This is probably caused by an allergic reaction. first of all make sure you de-flea Bleu regularly every month with a high quality spot on (ex. Advantage) as fleas are by far the most common reason for these reactions. If the fleas are not the problem, it could be an allergic reaction to food or an environmental factor. this is more complicated to treat and will sometimes require medications such as Steroids, anti histamines or cyclosporin in order to stop the allergy.

This is probably due to an allergy, although it could also be infection or mites. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat with a high quality flea treatment (advocate or advantage), then ask the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveal an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try to discover the cause of the allergy. Three main type of allergies are usually affecting pets: food allergies, flea and parasite related ones and environmental type (allergens coming from trees, pollens, dust etc etc). Some medications can be given by the vet in order to repair any possible skin lesions (like steroids and antibiotics). Having said that, in terms of diets, exclusion diets are probably the best way to rule out certain allergens (what triggers the allergic reaction). Exclusion diets are made with one source of proteins (turkey, venison, salmon etc etc) and one of carbohydrates (usually potatoes or peas). These diets and ABSOLUTELY nothing else must be given for 4 weeks at least. I would recommend to discuss their use with your vet rather than try an home made diet (which is very difficult to be effective). 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.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Mouse! Thanks for the pictures! The most common reason for an itchy red rash in that location is allergies from the environment or from food. It isn't an emergency so he can be seen when ever you can get him in and your Vet is free. Steroids and antibiotics tend to clear it up as long as the underlying cause is found. Sometimes changing the food protein really can help if it is a food allergy. I wish you and Mouse the best!