Ingredients in some pet foods may cause an allergic reaction in hypersensitive cats and dogs. Reactions are characterized by itching and/or gastrointestinal disorders, and are usually responses to a protein or carbohydrate source in the diet. Food allergies are the third most common cause of itching, and account for about 10 to 15 percent of all allergic skin diseases in canines.
Hot spots start when a dog incessantly licks, chews or scratches a focal area of the body in response to a painful or itchy sensation. The result is a rapidly developing area of redness, hairloss, oozing and eroded skin that is often painful and infected with bacteria. Hot spots occur most frequently on the trunk, base of the tail, outer thigh, neck or face.
Lesions generally occur on non-haired or poorly haired areas such as the bridge of the nose, ear flaps, or pads of the feet.
Lesions can occur anywhere but are most common in the cat in the abdominal or groin area or in the lower back area. The lesions develop as subcutaneous nodules, nonhealing abscesses, and deep skin infections. They typically have surface ulcerations with draining tracts.
Panniculitis often appears as deep nodules that can occur singly or affect multiple areas of the body. The nodules can be firm or soft and mobile. The lesions can eventually become cystic and ulcerate, often draining an oily, yellowish-brown to bloody discharge.
Localized, multifocal or generalized areas of hairless, pimples, red bumps, and crusts are most commonly seen with a superficial bacterial pyoderma.
The fungal skin disease dermatophytosis has come to be called ringworm because of the appearance of the skin lesion that characteristically occurs with this disorder: a circular area of hair loss with a red, raised outer rim. These lesions result from an inflammatory reaction to the fungus. Most often, dogs and cats are infected by the Microsporum canis fungus, but other types of fungi cause ringworm infections as well.
Bilaterally symmetrical hair loss and excessive scaling especially around face, head, ears and trunk.
Affected skin is reddened, scaly, and may lose hair. With continued sun exposure thickened skin, red bumps, plaques, and nodules develop which may become ulcerated and crusty.
Includes: lethargy, weight loss, fever, decreased appetite, and coughing.