If you have noticed that your cat’s chin appears dirty, they might be experiencing feline acne. Yes, you heard correctly - cats can get acne, too! Our feline friends can also experience blackheads and whiteheads. In this blog, we’ll talk about some possible causes for acne and what you can do to treat it.
What does feline acne look like?
Feline acne is almost always found on the chin, though it may be seen around the lips or on the sides of your cat’s face, too. While it may be more difficult to see on dark-colored cats, feline acne often looks like specks of dirt. It may only be visible in small areas of the chin, or in more significant cases, cover the whole chin. In more severe or chronic cases, you might also notice that the hair is thinner or completely missing in these areas, especially if your cat is pawing or rubbing at their face frequently. Other side effects of face rubbing may include redness and mild inflammation or swelling around the chin.
What causes it?
Our pet’s bodies produce different proteins and oils to maintain their skin, coat, and nails, such as keratin and sebum. If the body produces an excess of keratin or other oils, it can block the hair follicle, causing acne to form. The acne may appear as comedones, also known as blackheads, or may appear as small pustules (whiteheads). While there is no definitive cause, things like stress, allergies, grooming habits, health issues such as a viral infection may also play a role in the development of feline acne.
How is feline acne diagnosed?
Feline acne can usually be diagnosed by your veterinarian upon your cat's physical exam. The presence of that dirt-like appearance on the chin or around the mouth is usually the strongest indicator. Depending on the appearance of these areas, your veterinarian may recommend a skin cytology or a skin culture to see if bacteria, yeast, or unusual cells are present that may indicate a bacterial or fungal component, especially if these areas are swollen and inflamed or have open or scabby lesions.
Does feline acne require treatment?
This depends on the severity and frequency of your cat's acne. Mild and occasional acne, possibly brought about by a brief bout of stress or poor hygiene, may resolve on its own and not require much to resolve the issue. More significant or chronic cases - or cases where the acne appears bothersome to your pet as indicated by itching, rubbing, or wounds/lesions on the face - may require treatment, as well as some routine prevention, too.
Similar to acne treatment in humans, special wipes, washes, or shampoos may be used to keep the area clean and unclog those hair follicles. Topical treatments such as an antibacterial ointment may also be used to keep these areas clean as they heal. In more extreme cases of feline acne or when open lesions are present, oral antibiotics may also be recommended to help clear any infection so that the wounds may heal.
Please be advised that you should never pick at your cat's acne or attempt to pop or lance any lesions found on the skin. Not only can this be painful or distressing to your cat, but opening these lesions can allow for bacteria to enter the body and create infection. Any wipes, shampoos, or ointments prescribed by your veterinarian can be effective in treating the acne regardless of whether the lesions are open or not.
Is feline acne preventable?
In addition to keeping the areas clean using the wipes or shampoos, there are a few other things you can do to keep feline acne under control. One easy change you can make at home is to stop using plastic or ceramic food and water dishes and switch to stainless steel, glass, or metal bowls instead as they are easier to clean thoroughly and are far less prone to bacterial contamination due to their smooth finishes. We also recommend washing your pets bowl at least once a day, if not after every meal, as the food residue can lead to bacteria.
Additionally, as things like stress or allergies can also be an aggravator for feline acne, we recommend working with your veterinarian to address these issues if you feel as though they are taking a toll on your cat's health.
Is feline acne contagious?
Because feline acne is the result of clogged hair follicles, either from bacteria or an excess of keratin and other bodily oils rather than a viral infection, feline acne is not contagious to other cats, dogs or to people. However, since feline acne can be caused by environmental components such as dirty pet bowls or allergies, it is not necessarily unusual if multiple cats in the home experienced feline acne.
Contact us if you have noticed any new or abnormal changes to the appearance of your cat’s skin or fur. Please do not use any facial cleansers or acne treatments intended for human use on your cat as many of these products may contain toxic ingredients. Always use products as instructed by your veterinarian. Please call to schedule a consult if you have any questions or concerns regarding your cat’s health.
For further questions or concerns please contact us at 972-347-6100.
Click here to schedule an appointment. https://connect.allydvm.com/practice/prosper_trail/appointment_request
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