#MiddleburyCT #Cat #Scratching #Shedding #Infection #Fleas
DEAR PAW’S CORNER: I noticed that my long-haired cat, Charlie, is scratching many times per day. He also is shedding more than usual – mostly undercoat, rather than hair. What’s going on? I can’t see any evidence of fleas on his coat or skin. – Dan in Colorado Springs
DEAR DAN: Fleas are often the first thing we think of when a cat starts scratching incessantly, but other conditions could be causing skin irritation. And it may be hard to see lesions or hot spots, especially in long-haired cats. Charlie’s undercoat is coming out because he’s really scratching those spots.
The best thing to do is take Charlie to the veterinarian. Some itching issues have an external cause and can be eased pretty quickly. But some chronic conditions and diseases have itching as one symptom, and only your vet can diagnose these.
Make sure to tell the veterinarian where exactly Charlie is scratching the most. The vet, with an assistant holding Charlie still, will check these areas more closely for broken skin, lesions, rash and evidence of fleas. They’ll also take skin scrapings and fur samples to see if mites are to blame or if there’s a bacterial or yeast infection. Blood samples should be taken to test for underlying medical conditions and/or specific allergies. They may send you home with specimen kits to collect urine and poop and bring them in for analysis, too.
The vet will advise you on whether to use a prescription or over-the-counter medication to ease Charlie’s itching. When the tests come back (some may be same-day, others may need to go to a lab), they’ll know the best treatment path to take.
Send your tips, comments or questions to ask@pawscorner.com.
© 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.
You must be logged in to post a comment.