Do cats get hot spots?

Juliet is a 9 year old DLH. She was diagnosed with IBD several years
ago and was on z/d for years. Right now she's on Innova cat food, and
has not had any digestive problems. She's an indoor kitty that doesn't
go outside ever. I have several other cats that are also all indoor-only.

Today I noticed an area under her jaw that looks inflamed and is missing
hair. The hair on borders of the area appeared to have dried blood
crusties. The hair on the borders came off with the bloody-looking
stuff when I picked at it. There is no obvious wound or place that
looks like it's been bleeding. When I was picking at it, she didn't
object, so I don't think it hurts.

Here's a picture of the area:
http://good-times.webshots.com/photo...48290005whpCgK There
are no other areas like this. Her coat is glossy and I can't detect any
other weird skin things.

I'll call the vet and get an appointment, but I doubt I'll be able to
get in anytime soon--with the holidays and all, and we just had a wicked
storm that dumped about 3 feet of snow. Any ideas what this thing is?
How much should I be worrying? Poor kitty

Thanks,

Corey

On Thu, 21 Dec 2006 20:22:30 -0700, Corey Kaye wrote:

Juliet is a 9 year old DLH. She was diagnosed with IBD several years
ago and was on z/d for years. Right now she's on Innova cat food, and
has not had any digestive problems. She's an indoor kitty that doesn't
go outside ever. I have several other cats that are also all indoor-only.

Today I noticed an area under her jaw that looks inflamed and is missing
hair. The hair on borders of the area appeared to have dried blood
crusties. The hair on the borders came off with the bloody-looking
stuff when I picked at it. There is no obvious wound or place that
looks like it's been bleeding. When I was picking at it, she didn't
object, so I don't think it hurts.

Here's a picture of the area:
http://good-times.webshots.com/photo...48290005whpCgK There
are no other areas like this. Her coat is glossy and I can't detect any
other weird skin things.

I'll call the vet and get an appointment, but I doubt I'll be able to
get in anytime soon--with the holidays and all, and we just had a wicked
storm that dumped about 3 feet of snow. Any ideas what this thing is?
How much should I be worrying? Poor kitty

Thanks,

Corey


Have you considered a tooth abscess or an infected gland under her tongue?

mlbriggs wrote:

Have you considered a tooth abscess or an infected gland under her tongue?

No. Her teeth have been pronounced "perfect" by my vet, and he wonders
why none of my animals even come close to needing a dental (I think it's
the food). There doesn't appear to be anything but hair loss--some sort
of skin condition--and certainly no swelling, pain or obvious abscess.
There's certainly no drainage tract. Juliet is acting completely normal
and doesn't appear to be in any distress or pain. She's eating normally
and her weight hasn't changed. She's in good flesh, without being thin
or heavy. She's her usual "princess" self, and her attitude hasn't changed.

Did you take a look at the picture I linked?

Thank you,

Corey

"Corey Kaye" wrote in message
. ..
Juliet is a 9 year old DLH. She was diagnosed with IBD several years
ago and was on z/d for years. Right now she's on Innova cat food, and
has not had any digestive problems. She's an indoor kitty that doesn't
go outside ever. I have several other cats that are also all indoor-only.

Today I noticed an area under her jaw that looks inflamed and is missing
hair. The hair on borders of the area appeared to have dried blood
crusties. The hair on the borders came off with the bloody-looking
stuff when I picked at it. There is no obvious wound or place that
looks like it's been bleeding. When I was picking at it, she didn't
object, so I don't think it hurts.

Here's a picture of the area:
http://good-times.webshots.com/photo...48290005whpCgK There
are no other areas like this. Her coat is glossy and I can't detect any
other weird skin things.

Looks like chin acne: http://maxshouse.com/Dermatology-Illus/Acne_chin_1.jpg

You might want to try cleaning her chin with veterinary betadine (5%
povidone-iodine) every day- should clear up in about a week. You might have
to clean her chin on a regular basis to prevent the acne from developing
again. Use a cotton swab. If you can't find veterinary betadine (comes in
green plastic bottle), dilute human betadine with water 50/50. Human
betadine is a 10% solution, vet betadine is 5%. If it doesn't clear up in a
few days, I'd call the vet.

If you're using plastic food & water bowls, switch to ceramic, glass, or
stainless steel.

Phil

"Corey Kaye" wrote in message
. ..
Juliet is a 9 year old DLH. She was diagnosed with IBD several years ago
and was on z/d for years. Right now she's on Innova cat food, and has not
had any digestive problems. She's an indoor kitty that doesn't go outside
ever. I have several other cats that are also all indoor-only.

Today I noticed an area under her jaw that looks inflamed and is missing
hair. The hair on borders of the area appeared to have dried blood
crusties. The hair on the borders came off with the bloody-looking stuff
when I picked at it. There is no obvious wound or place that looks like
it's been bleeding. When I was picking at it, she didn't object, so I
don't think it hurts.

Here's a picture of the area:
http://good-times.webshots.com/photo...48290005whpCgK There are
no other areas like this. Her coat is glossy and I can't detect any other
weird skin things.

I'll call the vet and get an appointment, but I doubt I'll be able to get
in anytime soon--with the holidays and all, and we just had a wicked storm
that dumped about 3 feet of snow. Any ideas what this thing is? How much
should I be worrying? Poor kitty

Thanks,

Corey

There's a chance it's feline acne. As Phil said, try stainless or ceramic
bowls. Wash the food and water bowl regularly so there isn't any oily
residue from the food and keep kitties' chin clean. If the Betadine doesn't
do the trick you can try picking up some benzoil peroxide at the pharmacy.
It can be found with the acne treatment products. Read labels and make sure
it's 2.5% NOT 10%.

W

For feline acne, my vet recommended cleaning the infected area with a mild
soap like Phisoderm (sp?) You could try that too.

Sue

"Wendy" wrote in message
. ..

"Corey Kaye" wrote in message
. ..
Juliet is a 9 year old DLH. She was diagnosed with IBD several years ago
and was on z/d for years. Right now she's on Innova cat food, and has
not had any digestive problems. She's an indoor kitty that doesn't go
outside ever. I have several other cats that are also all indoor-only.

Today I noticed an area under her jaw that looks inflamed and is missing
hair. The hair on borders of the area appeared to have dried blood
crusties. The hair on the borders came off with the bloody-looking stuff
when I picked at it. There is no obvious wound or place that looks like
it's been bleeding. When I was picking at it, she didn't object, so I
don't think it hurts.

Here's a picture of the area:
http://good-times.webshots.com/photo...48290005whpCgK There are
no other areas like this. Her coat is glossy and I can't detect any
other weird skin things.

I'll call the vet and get an appointment, but I doubt I'll be able to get
in anytime soon--with the holidays and all, and we just had a wicked
storm that dumped about 3 feet of snow. Any ideas what this thing is?
How much should I be worrying? Poor kitty

Thanks,

Corey

There's a chance it's feline acne. As Phil said, try stainless or ceramic
bowls. Wash the food and water bowl regularly so there isn't any oily
residue from the food and keep kitties' chin clean. If the Betadine
doesn't do the trick you can try picking up some benzoil peroxide at the
pharmacy. It can be found with the acne treatment products. Read labels
and make sure it's 2.5% NOT 10%.

W

Phil P. wrote:

Looks like chin acne: http://maxshouse.com/Dermatology-Illus/Acne_chin_1.jpg

Thanks, Phil. I didn't realize feline acne could look like this!
Juliet does have a history of mild feline acne--a few black dots under
her chin.

You might want to try cleaning her chin with veterinary betadine (5%
povidone-iodine) every day- should clear up in about a week. You might have
to clean her chin on a regular basis to prevent the acne from developing
again. Use a cotton swab. If you can't find veterinary betadine (comes in
green plastic bottle), dilute human betadine with water 50/50. Human
betadine is a 10% solution, vet betadine is 5%. If it doesn't clear up in a
few days, I'd call the vet.

I'd really prefer to use chlorhexidine--any problems with cats?

I don't have anything here are home right now, but I did flush the area
with saline. It looks less red and inflamed.

If you're using plastic food & water bowls, switch to ceramic, glass, or
stainless steel.

Interesting. I'll see what I can do.

Thanks!

Corey

Wendy wrote:

There's a chance it's feline acne. As Phil said, try stainless or ceramic
bowls. Wash the food and water bowl regularly so there isn't any oily
residue from the food and keep kitties' chin clean. If the Betadine doesn't
do the trick you can try picking up some benzoil peroxide at the pharmacy.
It can be found with the acne treatment products. Read labels and make sure
it's 2.5% NOT 10%.

Thanks! I hope we can resolve this with a antiseptic scrub, but if we
don't I'll certainly bring benzoil peroxide up with my vet.



Corey

blkcatgal wrote:

For feline acne, my vet recommended cleaning the infected area with a mild
soap like Phisoderm (sp?) You could try that too.

Hmmm...I might even have some under my sink. Thanks!

Corey

"Corey Kaye" wrote in message
. ..
Wendy wrote:

There's a chance it's feline acne. As Phil said, try stainless or ceramic
bowls. Wash the food and water bowl regularly so there isn't any oily
residue from the food and keep kitties' chin clean. If the Betadine
doesn't do the trick you can try picking up some benzoil peroxide at the
pharmacy. It can be found with the acne treatment products. Read labels
and make sure it's 2.5% NOT 10%.

Thanks! I hope we can resolve this with a antiseptic scrub, but if we
don't I'll certainly bring benzoil peroxide up with my vet.



Corey

My Isabelle had acne on her chin and next to her nose when we first got her.
I tried a lot of other things before using the benzoil peroxide but wasn't
getting results. Since I got her acne cleaned up I haven't had a recurrence.
I wash her stainless bowls in hot water and dish soap daily.

W