As the famous phrase says, we are responsible for those who have tamed. Pets, especially when diseases occur, are directly dependent on the owners. These nice furry friends are not able to help themselves, so if you see suspicious signs of illness, you need to take measures or seek advice from a veterinarian. One of such manifestations can be dandruff.
Symptoms
Symptoms of seborrhea in cats include:
1. The presence of peeling, ubiquitous or localized.
2. Increased nervousness of the animal.
3. A pronounced desire to scratch oneself.
If you find dandruff on a cat on your back, then you should first rule out other diseases that are characterized by similar symptoms. This can be infection with parasites or fungi, allergies and other dermatological pathologies.
What is dandruff in cats?
Cats can have different causes of dandruff . Its appearance can provoke both external and internal factors. First you need to find out what this dermatological disorder is. There are sebaceous glands in the skin that secrete a secret that forms a microscopic coating on a smooth surface and coat. The sebum layer has a protective function. When skin regeneration is within normal limits, exfoliation of keratinized scales occurs continuously, but in an amount invisible to the human eye. As soon as exfoliation becomes apparent, pay attention to the health of the animal.
Dandruff in a cat. Reasons and treatment
Inadequate or improper care, dry air in the room, violation of sanitary standards for keeping an animal, infection with fungi and parasites are external factors. But they can provoke dandruff in the cat on the back. The most common causes of peeling are just the last option. In the presence of parasites, irritants of the skin are toxins, which are activated as a result of the release of waste products. Of course, the conditions in which the pet is located depend on the owners, and it is in their power to make the environment comfortable without much work.
Keeping an eye on the cleanliness of the surfaces of the cat and the entire housing as a whole, maintaining hygiene in the sanitary zone is not difficult at all. After all, it is easier to prevent an ailment than to then deal with its consequences, such as, for example, dandruff in cats. The causes, diseases that provoke its appearance can be very different. These include: disruption of the gastrointestinal tract and the excretory system of the body, changes in the hormonal background in the animal, allergic manifestations due to medication, stress, hyper- or hypovitaminosis, violation of the feeding regimen. For example, even introducing a new product into the diet can cause dandruff in a cat. It is almost impossible to determine the causes and treatment of the animal owner independently. It is better to show the pet to the veterinarian, who, first of all, will ask many questions about the conditions of detention, care products and a detailed diet of the cat.
Do not self-medicate!
Self-diagnosis and subsequent treatment can often aggravate a pet’s health status. For example, when flaky skin areas appear, it is often recommended to enrich the diet with vitamin A and polyunsaturated acids. But if the excess of these substances became the cause of the disease, then the situation will only worsen.
Sometimes the manifestation of dandruff is quite unusual, and the animal’s coat has a greasy appearance a couple of days after washing, and peeling itself is implicitly expressed. It is also an alarming symptom, signaling violations. In no case should you diligently wash the cat more often, since the used detergent can serve as the cause of skin disease and increased oiliness of the coat. Often, an allergic reaction manifests itself on the components of the shampoo. Or the product simply overdries the skin, which makes it vulnerable and susceptible to parasites, fungal diseases, etc.
Parasites
Often owners of pets with black hair, having found dandruff on a cat on the back of the corresponding color, consider this phenomenon to be the norm. However, dark flakes are more likely the result of infection with parasites, fungi that irritate the skin with waste products. Almost imperceptible exfoliation of particles of light, transparent or grayish, yellowish colors is considered normal.
How to help?
The owner should not despair if he has identified dandruff on a cat on his back. How to help a pet? First you need to carefully examine the animal in good light, pay special attention to the affected area. If bites of fleas, ticks and other parasitic insects are found, then it is necessary to first conduct antiseptic processing of these places. After a period of time, skin hyperemia should subside, and the symptom should disappear. If this did not happen, you should definitely visit a specialist in a veterinary clinic.
What you need to tell the doctor?
During consultation and examination of a healthy animal, the owner must ask the following questions:
1. What foods should a cat's diet consist primarily of?
2. How many meals a day is enough for normal life?
3. What are nutritional supplements and vitamins, and when should an animal be given?
4. What composition should I look for when buying cleaning and pet care products?
5. How often can a cat be washed?
You should also ask about possible periods of hormonal surges and methods for their regulation.
At the veterinarian’s appointment in order to detect the causes of dandruff, the cat’s living conditions, eating habits, illnesses that he had to endure, behavioral features, the literal name of the care products, medications or vitamins that were used should be described in most detail.
Conclusion
If you find dandruff on a cat’s back, don’t be scared right away, however, pay attention to the essence of the problem and direct your efforts to identify and eliminate a possible cause.