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| Posted by Administrator (admin) on Sep 25 2007 at 10:29 AM |
Mites / Mange
Mange is not very common in cats. We do, however, see rare cases of mange, sometimes after contact with wild animals such as foxes, or after contact with affected other cats or dogs.
The three possible types of mange in cats are sarcoptic mange, demodectic mange and Cheyletiella mange.
Sarcoptic mange is often called fox mange, as it can be transmitted to cats from foxes. However, cats can get this type of mange from other cats as well. It is caused by a burrowing mite, which leads to excessive itchiness, scratching, scabbing and secondary skin infections. It can affect the whole of the body in more severe cases. Diagnosis is normally in the form of skin scrapings, which your vet can perform. Treatment can be with shampoos, injections, or with a spot-on treatment (drops on the neck). This has to be repeated till skin scrapings do not reveal any mites anymore. Some cats will have to be clipped if they have long fur. As long as the cat is under treatment, it is advisable not to have direct contact with other cats!
Demodectic mites live inside hair follicles and can cause baldness, but rarely itchiness. The most affected areas are around the eyes and the feet, but, again, the whole body can be affected. The diagnosis is made on the base of skin scrapings and treatment is usually in the form of shampoos, but sometimes other forms of treatment are applicable. Demodectic mange is not as contagious as sarcoptic mange.
Cheyletiella mange is caused by a surface mite. It eats skin flakes and causes scurfiness and itchiness. It is often on the back of the cat and shows as ‘dandruff’. Your vet can diagnose this type of mange by taking pluckings of hair and examining these under the microscope. Treatment is normally in the form of shampoos or sprays.
If you think your cat may have some kind of mange, please seek veterinary advice!
Moulting - Excessive
Moulting is a natural phenomenon. Hairs are constantly replaced by new ones. In the wild this is mainly a seasonal occurrence, but with cats mainly living indoors the year round, usually in centrally heated conditions, moulting takes place throughout the year in most cases. However, there are certain conditions which can lead to excessive moulting.
Excessive moulting can be caused by several conditions. Mange may lead to an excessive loss of hairs - see ‘mange’. Certain hormonal conditions can lead to a change in the normal cycle of hair growth and thereby cause excessive moulting. Nutritional disorders can lead to a dry and unhealthy coat condition with excess hair loss. Bacterial and fungal skin infections can also lead to excessive moulting.
If your cat seems to have excessive moulting, it is advisable to ask your vet to check for any of the above mentioned conditions. They will require very different approaches as far as treatment is concerned.
Mouth Pain
Pain in the mouth can be caused by many different conditions. The pain can arise from the lips, cheeks or tongue, from the teeth, or from the bones of the jaws.
When the lips, cheeks or tongue are the site of the pain, it is often caused by wounds, ulcers, burns (chemical more often than heat) or inflammations and infections. Sometimes tumours can arise from these tissues as well. In this case it will often lead to a swelling as well. Most cats will not eat or at least have a decreased appetite, and some may salivate or even bleed from the mouth. Some cats may be very reluctant to have their mouth opened. Your vet will be able to differentiate between the different causes and treat your cat appropriately.
Teeth can be affected in several ways. Gingivitis, an inflammation of the gums, is often associated with the build up of plaque and tartar on the teeth. This can lead to periodontal disease, tooth root abscesses and loose teeth. Teeth can also be broken or ‘rotten’ (tooth decay). All these problems can lead to pain in the mouth.
The jaws themselves can also be painful. They can be affected by bone tumours for instance. Of course, we also see fractures of the bones of the jaws, especially in cats which have fallen from a height. These cats often split the lower jaw in the middle.
If your cat seems to have pain in its mouth, have your vet examine him!