Your cat’s skin has two types of glands in the dermal layer. The sweat glands that keep the body temperature in check and the sebaceous glands that secrete a greasy substance called sebum. The sebum is a source of one of the most common cat skin diseases that we know as feline acne.

Sebaceous glands are present in large numbers under the skin on the chin, lips, top surface of the base of the tail, prepuce and scrotum of cats. Sebum secretions from these glands are primarily meant to protect hair against water and keep the skin supple.

Cats also have a tendency to mark their territories. Cats mark their areas by rubbing their chin, temples and the base of the tail against certain favorite objects. This behavior surfaces more evidently during feeding time. The evident sign of such ‘markings’ is the appearance of black greasy spots on the objects “marked”. And those cats that are more inclined to this marking behavior have a high levels of secretions and are more susceptible to feline acne.

Cat and dog skin problems are a major source of discomfort to pet owners. They spoil the otherwise flawless coat of your pet and can also cause a fair amount of discomfort.

Many internal disorders that your cat may have can have symptoms like feline eczema. The veterinary medical term for feline eczema is military dermatitis. It is the skins reaction to infections, allergies and inflammation. Feline eczema is commonly known as ‘scabby cat disease’ or ‘blotch’ and is one of the common causes behind feline hair loss .

Flea allergy dermatitis is the most common known cause of feline eczema. There are also other kinds of infections that infect the skin and lead to feline eczema. These are:

* Bacterial infection
* Fungal infection
* Yeast infection
* Parasitic infection

The allergies that can cause eczema in cats include:

* Hypersensitivity to flea bites
* Hypersensitivity to food items
* Atopy or contact allergies

Autoimmune disorders, hormonal disturbances, deficiency of fatty acids in diet and a fungus known as ringworm can also cause cat eczema.

Dog skin problems manifest in different ways as compared to cat skin problems. A typical description of a dog with skin problems would read as under:

* Itchy skin and eruptions.
* Inflammation in the ears and toes.
* Excessive licking.
* Intense itching near the anus and genitals.

Though these symptoms can appear anywhere the commonly affected areas are the lower back, nose and mouth. Ulcerative skin diseases known as lupus are the most dangerous autoimmune skin diseases that affect dogs, other pets and even humans.

Autoimmune related skin diseases are mostly caused by allergies. These allergies occur as a reaction in a dog due to certain food items, pollutants, chemicals, dust, pollen and other substances that are normally harmless. The affected organ responds to the allergen and the autoimmune reaction of the body causes certain symptoms. This reaction of the autoimmune system that is triggered to expel the foreign substance gives the condition the name – autoimmune disorders.

Another common cause of autoimmune skin disorders is unrestrained use of vaccinations, overdose of cortisone and commercial diets. Together these factors result in weakening the autoimmune system and increase vulnerability.

Autoimmune related skin disorders manifest themselves in various ways in dogs.

Of all the body organs, the skin is not only the biggest but also the most problematic organ of the cat’s body. Most medical conditions demonstrate symptoms that relate to skin and coat. In addition external factors like physical trauma and parasites can also affect the skin in a significant manner.
Like dog skin problems, cats can also suffer from skin disorders that are self limiting and chronic conditions that require treatment over a protracted period of time.

Pruritus: The Itchy Cat

Itching brings forth almost an amazing array of changes in a cat’s skin. Constant itching can make it impossible for the veterinarian to ascertain whether the skin condition has caused the itching or whether the excessive itching has caused the skin lesions. Besides itching, pruritus causes symptoms like symmetrical feline hair loss, damage to skin due to intense scratching and Miliary dermatitis. Miliary dermatitis relates to appearance of multiple crusty lesions that are greasy and filled with cat dandruff. It can also lead to Eosinophilic granuloma complex, a condition where linear inflamed crusts are accompanied by oozing red areas near the chin and the trunk.

Dog skin problems seldom give rise to emergent situations. If you are regular in pet care and look for changes in skin and coat for dog or cat dandruff, canine or feline acnel, skin lumps and lesions there is every reason to believe that you will have enough time at hand to consult your veterinarian about it.

Emergency situations like noisy breathing, panting or gasping for breath, excessive bleeding, a blue tongue, ingesting poison, cessation of urination and labor contractions for a long period without actual delivery of puppies are not associated with skin problems. They are also almost never caused by skin related issues.

But that does not mean that caring for your pet’s skin is not a requirement. On the contrary, the skin and coat of a pet is the best indicator of any underlying menace that may be brewing inside. And given that your dog cannot communicate minor discomfort to you, the skin proves to be the best indicator and an early warning for things to come.

From minor conditions like cat dandruff to malignant tumors, a cat’s skin can be a reflection of nearly all kinds of medical conditions. Itchy skin can potentially lead to feline hair loss, feline acne and lick granulomas. Treating skin disorders in cats, therefore, depends mainly on the underlying health condition of the cat.

Skin conditions that are caused by flea infestations can be treated by killing adult fleas in the cat. Preventing re-infestation needs a more thorough approach wherein the fleas are eliminated completely from the surrounding environment. There are new products available that act only on the receptors present in insects and are safe for cats as well as kittens.

Fungal infections on the skin caused by ringworm usually disappear on their own in healthy cats. Early treatment, however, is necessary so that escalation to other parts of the body can be prevented. Since ringworm is an infectious disease and can pass on to humans as well as other animals it should be treated as soon as the infection is noticed. Treatment is done through systemic oral medication or through topical application of anti fungal creams.

After having given you a lifetime of love, loyalty and companionship, a senior dog needs a reason to live in its older days. Even though it remains debatable whether dogs experience emotions like humans or not, they definitely deserve the same compassion as any other senior member of your family.

With advanced age, senior dogs become more vulnerable to the same dog skin problems that they had to face while young. The skin is the first line of defense against the attacks of external pathogens. And senior dogs are prone to have a dry skin and loose some of the shine of their coats as oil secreting glands slow down. Graying hair and a dry skin are the key indicators of advancing age.

An itchy skin is common in all dogs but it occurs more frequently in senior dogs. As senior dogs are more vulnerable to environmental irritants and external parasites, fleas and ticks, an itchy skin in seniors require immediate attention lest they cause secondary infections.

The simplest and best way in which you can determine if your pet is healthy or not, is to examine the skin. Feline acne and cat dandruff are common occurrences in cats that have underlying medical causes that can be potentially harmful. They can even cause other symptoms like feline hair loss. Most of the cat and dog skin problems arise from simple contact allergies. But some can occur due to immune mediated disorders. Irrespective of the actual cause of the skin or coat problem symptoms like itching and aberrations are common in almost all skin diseases.

Itching diseases in dogs can be classified under some general categories.

Bacterial skin infections

Staphylococci are the most common bacteria that cause bacterial infections in dogs. Although not infectious, the condition causes excessive itching. This infection can occur anywhere on the dog’s body but occurs mostly on the trunk. The infection results in initial pustules that appear on the skin as small yellow spots. Later these redden and ulcerate and cause discomfort and damage. At an even later stage these ulcers develop into dry crusts and result in excessive loss of hair around the lesions.

Fungal Skin Infections

A healthy skin and a lustrous coat is a matter of great owner pride. It also reflects the internal good health of a pet. Two things are extremely necessary for a good, shiny dog coat – Internal health and external care.

Internal Health

Beauty, as you know, is only skin deep. A strong and healthy body can ensure a healthy skin and, in turn, a shiny coat. Whatever the color or type of coat, proper nutrition is instrumental in improving the appearance of a dog’s coat. There are many branded dog food brands that claim to have adequate nutrients that can help in obtaining a good coat for your pet. You can also choose to give your dog a nutritional coat supplement. These supplements can provide all the specific nutrients that are necessary for a good skin and coat.

Before buying branded or store packed dog food make sure that you read the label for its contents. Not all the pet foods available in the market pay proper heed to the quantitative and quantitative requirements of dogs. Carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and minerals need to be in a proper balance to ensure a healthy skin. In case you are formulating a home made diet you should consult your veterinarian first.

Ticks on a dog (or any animal or human) can be a serious problem. These wingless parasites are not insects, but are actually related to mites and spiders. Many people are suprised to learn that there are over 850 tick species, about 100 of which are capable of transmitting potentially serious diseases.

The tick’s sole mission is to wait for some human or animal to brush against them so they have a wonderful new host to feed from. Because ticks can feed on many hosts, they can easily spread diseases between animals and humans. This is why it is very important for you to check your dog periodically, especially during the summer months, for any ticks that have decided to hitch a ride with your favorite canine.

Ticks Can Cause Lyme Disease

One tick in particular that you should watch out for is the Deer Tick. This tick is about the size of a pinhead in its nymphal stage and adult deer ticks are smaller than most normal ticks. Deer ticks are known to spread Lyme disease, a multi-system bacterial infection, which often has to be treated with antibiotics. Unfortunately, some animals won’t show any symptoms of Lyme Disease although they may be infected and this can make it difficult to diagnose and treat. An additional problem is that the body does not develop an immunity to this disease, so you and your pet can be reinfected by new tick bites.