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What to do if a cat has dandruff? Causes

What to do if a cat has dandruff? Causes

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Decoctions from plants such as calendula, nettle or burdock root will help you cope with cat dandruff. Dandruff is caused by excess oil production by the sebaceous glands. It can also be caused by too dry air in the room.
What will be in the article
  1. Video: Home Remedies for Cats with Dandruff - Bright Ways Now
  2. What is dandruff and what does it look like?
    1. Types of seborrhea
  3. Video: Dry Skin and Dandruff in Cats: 5 Quick and Easy Answers
  4. External and internal causes of appearance
  5. Video: 3 EASY WAYS TO GET RID OF DANDRUFF ON YOUR CAT
  6. Methods of treating seborrhea in cats
  7. Video: Cat Dandruff: Simple Solutions for Your Cat's Dry Skin
  8. Skin Disease Prevention
  9. Video: How To Treat Cat Dandruff
  10. Rate the author (2)
  11. Comments (4)

Cats are clean creatures that can spend several hours a day grooming their coat. Dandruff or, scientifically, seborrhea, is not a frequent occurrence in cats. Proper care, balanced nutrition, hygiene rules, regular visits to the veterinarian significantly reduce the risk of skin disease.

Sometimes dandruff appears in healthy-looking pets that are properly cared for. How to eliminate dandruff in a cat if it appears and how to prevent it?

Video: Home Remedies for Cats with Dandruff - Bright Ways Now

What is dandruff and what does it look like?

A disease in which small white scales appear on the skin of an animal is called seborrhea. Regular cell renewal of the epidermis, the top layer of the skin, is normal. Dead cells fall off, but the particles are small, hardly noticeable. The cat removes them during daily hygiene procedures.

Intensive peeling should be alert, indicating a violation of the function of the sebaceous glands. Dandruff is localized in the tail area, along the spine, on the head, it is determined visually in the form of sticky scales.

Dry cat dandruff
Dry cat dandruff

The coat of the animal loses its attractiveness, becomes sticky, wet in the affected areas, does not change, despite the fact that the cat tries to lick the affected areas. The skin under the coat looks inflamed, bumps are felt on it.

With such symptoms, you need to show your pet to the veterinarian, determine the type of seborrhea, find out how to properly feed a cat, how to treat it.

Types of seborrhea

What does dandruff look like in cats? The appearance depends on the type of disease. Seborrhea happens:

  • dry, in the form of small scales, which, when stroked against the coat, shatters like a snowball;
  • oily, with sticky scales, difficult to separate from the skin;
  • mixed, in which both pathological phenomena are observed;
  • Cheyletiellosis or wandering seborrhea, a consequence of infection with a skin mite. The location of the scales is long winding passages along which the hair falls out;
  • Black scales indicating a parasitic infection.

All types of seborrhea are not only outwardly unattractive, but also cause discomfort, cats become restless because they itch. At the first sign of symptoms, you need to understand the causes of the disease.

Itchy cat caused by seborrhea
Itchy cat due to seborrhea

Video: Dry Skin and Dandruff in Cats: 5 Quick and Easy Answers

External and internal causes of appearance

What does it mean if a cat has dandruff? Pathology speaks of internal diseases or adverse external factors. External factors include:

  • strong exposure to ultraviolet rays, which causes minor skin burns and flaking;
  • excessively dry air in the rooms where the pet is kept;
  • high temperature in the room, stimulating excessive activity of the sebaceous glands;
  • parasite infestation. It is necessary to regularly examine the animal for ticks, fleas, especially if it is in contact with fellow animals;
  • lack of carotenoids, B vitamins, omega fatty acids in the diet. This cause causes dandruff in pregnant cats. It is helpful to consult a veterinarian for nutritional advice, and if you don't know how to tell if a cat is pregnant;
  • poor hygiene: lack of regular combing, bathing, which is especially important for long-haired breeds;
  • use of shampoos, detergents not intended for cats. Shampoos for humans are not suitable for pets due to different levels of skin acidity;
  • stress conditions (moving, fear).
Seborrhea from infection with parasites
Seborrhea from infestation

The internal causes of seborrhea are related to the health of the animal. Often a dandruff treatment reveals more serious problems:

  • diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, thyroid gland;
  • allergic to food, dust, materials of the rug, tray;
  • diseases of the genitourinary system;
  • diabetes in the early stages.

Overweight is also a contributing factor. Fat cats lose flexibility, cannot process the hair on the back, in the tail area.

Video: 3 EASY WAYS TO GET RID OF DANDRUFF ON YOUR CAT

Methods of treating seborrhea in cats

Before prescribing treatment, the veterinarian conducts additional diagnostics:

  • general and biochemical blood tests;
  • hormonal study;
  • Skin scraping

Based on the results, the type of seborrhea is determined and treatment is prescribed. Do not rely on your own strength, use folk remedies that can cause anaphylactic shock. Only a specialist knows what to do if a cat has dandruff on its back or elsewhere.

First of all, the veterinarian recommends eliminating negative factors of influence: adjusting living conditions, changing food if dandruff is due to allergies, saturating the diet with microelements and fatty acids. Means are also prescribed to disinfect, process, moisturize the cat's skin:

  • chlorhexidine antimicrobial shampoo;
  • Veterinary Formula sebaceous gland normalizing shampoo with antifungal, antiseborrheic action;
  • Ketoconazole sprays, especially for cats who don't like bathing.
Dandruff Shampoo Treatment
Dandruff Treatment with Shampoo

Kittens also suffer from seborrhea. The reason may be moving away from the mother, new food, fear, infection with parasites. For the treatment of seborrhea in kittens, there is a special line of products that can be used from the first days of life.

Seborrhea in cats and cats responds well to therapy, but it is better to prevent the development of an unpleasant skin disease.

Video: Cat Dandruff: Simple Solutions for Your Cat's Dry Skin

Skin Disease Prevention

The list of recommendations allows you to protect your pet from an unpleasant disease:

  • regular brushing;
  • bathing (no more than once every six months). The frequency of bathing depends on the breed;
  • weight control;
  • maintaining the right microclimate in the room;
  • treatment with pesticides;
  • Balanced nutrition. Animals spend up to 30% of the protein entering the body on the process of cellular renewal, so this component should be enough in the diet.
Combing to prevent seborrhea
Combing to prevent seborrhea

Timely visit to the veterinarian, refusal of self-treatment is the most important preventive factor.

Video: How To Treat Cat Dandruff

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Hi all! In this blog we post useful information on the topic causes of dandruff in cats, how to get rid of it. If you have questions or ideas that we did not cover in our article, write about it in the comments.
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Comments (4)

- May 13, 2023 11:49:14
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Dandruff in cats can occur for a variety of reasons. Here are some of the most common causes and treatments:

1. Dry skin. If the cat's skin is too dry, it can lead to dandruff. Cat shampoos and conditioners that contain moisturizing ingredients can be used to treat this condition. You can also add omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid supplements to your cat's diet.

2. Allergy. Cats can be allergic to various substances, such as dust, pollen, certain foods, or chemicals. To treat allergies, you need to identify the allergen and eliminate it from the cat's environment.
Answer
- May 13, 2023 11:49:04
0
3. Parasites. The presence of lice, fleas, or other parasites on a cat's body can lead to dandruff. To treat this condition, it is necessary to use special preparations for parasites, which can be prescribed by a veterinarian.

4. Skin diseases. Certain skin conditions can cause dandruff in cats, such as dermatitis or psoriasis. To treat these diseases, you need to contact your veterinarian, who can prescribe the appropriate drugs.

5. Wrong nutrition. Lack of certain nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, can lead to dandruff in cats. To treat this condition, you need to provide your cat with a balanced diet containing all the necessary nutrients.
Answer
- May 13, 2023 11:48:46
0
In any case, if your cat develops dandruff, it is important to see a veterinarian who can help determine the cause and prescribe appropriate treatment. In addition, regular brushing and grooming can help reduce the appearance of dandruff.
Answer
- May 7, 2023 17:30:16
0
Our cat has never had dandruff and I think it never will, because we have a very serious approach to nutrition. We do not use store-bought food, but eat only natural food, which we prepare ourselves. If you care about the health of your cat - it highly recommends a responsible approach to the issue of nutrition.
Answer
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