Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Identifying acne in cats
• Part 2 of 3: Diagnosing acne in cats
• Part 3 of 3: Treating acne in cats
• Tips
• Similar articles

Does your cat have small black spots on the chin? She may have acne, which is common in cats of all ages and breeds. The cause of feline acne is unknown. It affects older cats more often. Stress, a weakened immune system, inadequate grooming, and skin problems are thought to be contributing to it. Although acne is not a serious threat, it can irritate the animal, especially if it is infected. Fortunately, there are methods that can help you get rid of cat acne.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Identifying acne in cats

1. 1 Pay attention to small black spots. As a rule, with acne, they appear on the cat's chin. These black spots (blackheads or pimples) are small and hard to the touch. When you scratch your cat under the chin, you will feel that the skin has become rough.
   • Although acne usually appears on the chin, it can also occur over the upper lip of the animal.
2. 2 Learn about the possible causes of acne. Although the exact cause of acne is unknown, it can be triggered by a variety of factors, including inadequate grooming, food debris on the chin, and a weakened immune system due to age. Acne is usually harmless and not very disturbing to the animal, but it can turn into painful sores if infected.
   • Acne is filled with a waxy (greasy) substance that builds up in the hair follicles. As a result, the follicles swell, showing up on the surface of the skin.
3. 3 Take a closer look at infected acne. In the event of an infection, the affected area of ​​skin becomes swollen, causing the animal's chin to enlarge. In this case, it seems that the cat is sticking out its chin. In addition, bloody discharge is observed: a watery or purulent foul-smelling liquid is released from the acne.
   • Infection occurs when acne bursts and bacteria enter. In this case, immediate treatment is required, otherwise ulcers may form on the animal's chin. The cat scratches the bothersome chin, which causes skin irritation. This irritation worsens the condition of the animal and leads to further infection.
4. 4 Pay attention to the tough skin on the chin. Repeated flare-ups of acne can cause serious damage to hair follicles. As a result, hair stops growing on the chin, it becomes covered with scars and keratinized skin.
   • If you find keratinized, hard skin on any part of the cat's body, take the animal to the veterinarian. This could be indicative of other medical conditions, such as food allergies or swelling.

Part 2 of 3: Diagnosing acne in cats

1. 1 See your veterinarian. If your cat has small black spots on its body and is otherwise healthy, your veterinarian may recommend rinsing the affected area with a disinfectant solution.Your doctor will explain how to deal with acne and tell you to wash your damaged skin with a disinfectant (such as a weak chlorhexidine solution). For ulcers, swelling, or infection, your veterinarian will order additional tests to help make an accurate diagnosis and check your pet's overall health.
   • Weakening of the immune system can lead to repeated severe damage to the skin. Your veterinarian may order a blood test to check if your cat has anemia. The analysis will determine the level of leukocytes in the blood and the state of internal organs.
2. 2 Check the animal for parasites. The veterinarian will be able to find out if any parasites (for example, glandular, or acne mite) have entered the animal's hair follicles, which can cause problems similar to acne. To do this, he will squeeze the contents of the eel onto a glass slide and check it for parasites.
   • If the veterinarian detects parasites, they will prescribe suitable topical products (medicated shampoos, ointments, or sprays).
3. 3 Check to see if your pet has other infections. Your veterinarian will check for other infections, such as ringworm, that can cause skin inflammation and ulcers. To do this, he touches the damaged skin of the animal with a sterile cotton swab and takes a swab for further analysis. Place the sample in an airtight container and determine if it contains the fungus that causes ringworm.
   • By taking a swab and identifying the type of harmful bacteria, your veterinarian can prescribe the appropriate antibiotics.
4. 4 Submit a tissue sample for biopsy. A biopsy can clearly identify acne. In this case, a sample of damaged tissue is surgically taken. Further examination of this sample allows for an accurate diagnosis.
   • The biopsy can also rule out other factors such as mites (these parasites burrowing into the skin result in acne-like lesions), cancer, and the eosinophilic granuloma complex (inflammation associated with the immune system).
5. 5 Please note that in some cases, treatment may not be necessary. Sometimes feline acne will go away on its own. If the animal has only one or two eels that do not irritate it, you do not need to take special measures. In this case, it is enough to gently wash the damaged area, cleaning it from food debris.
   • If your cat has had acne with an infection in the past, it will need treatment.

Part 3 of 3: Treating acne in cats

1. 1 Cleanse uninfected acne. If the acne is not infected, simply peeling it off is sufficient. To do this, wipe the animal's chin with cotton wool dipped in rubbing alcohol twice a day until the acne disappears. You can also use a disinfectant such as chlorhexidine, which comes as a concentrated, pink soap solution. Dilute it in water at a ratio of about 5 milliliters of chlorhexidine to 100 milliliters of water and wipe the cat's chin with a cotton ball soaked in this solution twice a day. Observe the animal: if the skin condition worsens, contact your veterinarian.
   • Chlorhexidine is harmless to cats and does not irritate their skin. It cleanses the skin of animals of bacteria and reduces the risk of them penetrating the hair follicles.
2. 2 Use a shampoo to cleanse your hair follicles. To wash your animal's chin, dampen it with a damp cotton ball and apply some benzoyl peroxide shampoo to the chin. Rub the shampoo and let it dry for 5 minutes. Then wipe your chin thoroughly with a clean flannel cloth dampened with water. If you want to wash your cat completely, dilute the shampoo with water, rub it into the animal's fur, and then rinse completely with warm water. Wash the affected area twice a day, morning and evening. If redness and irritation intensify, discontinue treatments until the skin has healed. Then renew them by thinning the shampoo more.
   • Pet shampoos containing benzoyl peroxide are used to treat acne in cats because it penetrates the hair follicles, cleansing them, killing bacteria and removing excess oil that contributes to acne in cats.
3. 3 Apply warm compresses to your pet's skin. Use a cotton ball soaked in warm saline as a compress. To prepare the solution, boil water and dissolve a teaspoon of salt in it. Wait until the water cools down to body temperature, dip a cotton ball into it, squeeze it and place it on the animal's chin. Try to hold the compress for 5 minutes. Apply the compress two to three times a day until the acne breaks out or fades away.
   • Warm compresses can help reduce acne or cause them to burst. Either way, compresses will relieve the pressure on the hair follicles that can irritate the skin.
4. 4 Give your cat antibiotics prescribed by your veterinarian. Your doctor may prescribe oral antibiotics that kill bacteria on your skin. Give your cat the recommended doses of these medications until the acne disappears. After that, you should extend the antibiotic intake for at least one more week. The following antibiotics are often used to treat acne in cats:
   • Cephalexin. This first generation beta-lactam antibiotic kills bacteria. Typically, its dosage is 30-50 milligrams (mg) twice a day. For example, a cat weighing 5 kilograms should be given 50 mg of Cephalexin twice a day. If your cat has a sensitive stomach, give it with food to prevent vomiting.
   • Clindamycin. This antibiotic belongs to the group of lincosamides, which inhibit the growth of bacteria. It is taken at 5-10 mg / kg twice a day, or a double dose once a day. Therefore, a 5 kg cat should be given one 25 mg capsule twice daily. This antibiotic is best taken on an empty stomach.
   • Amoxicillin + clavulanic acid. This drug affects the metabolism of bacteria and damages their cell membrane. The standard dose is 50 mg per 5 kg of body weight, so a 5 kg cat should be given 50 mg twice daily, alone or with food.
5. 5 Prevention of acne. Although older cats are more prone to acne (possibly because arthritis makes grooming difficult, resulting in a dirty chin), the risk of the disease can be reduced. If your cat has had acne in the past, wipe and dry her chin after eating. This will cleanse the hair follicles of oil and food debris and reduce the risk of infection.
   • Wash your cat's dishes every few days to keep out bacteria that can cause acne in your pet.

Tips

• Topical products (such as antibiotic gels and ointments) can clog hair follicles, so they are generally not used to treat acne in cats.

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