Question

A cat has been scratching constantly, and now has areas of hair loss and red, irritated skin. There are tiny black dots on the coat (known as dirt). The owner says the cat is allowed to go outside. Diagnosis?

Answer 1

The cat's symptoms are consistent with flea allergy dermatitis. Treatment involves controlling fleas on the cat and in the environment.

Step-by-step explanation:

The symptoms described, including hair loss, red and irritated skin, and tiny black dots on the cat's coat, are consistent with a condition called flea allergy dermatitis. Flea allergy dermatitis is an allergic reaction to flea saliva and is a common skin problem in cats. When a flea bites the cat, it injects saliva into the skin, which can cause intense itching and skin inflammation.

When the cat scratches, the skin can become damaged, leading to areas of hair loss and redness. The tiny black dots on the cat's coat are likely flea dirt, which is flea feces that contains digested blood. The presence of flea dirt confirms that fleas are infesting the cat.

To treat flea allergy dermatitis, it is important to control the fleas on the cat and in the cat's environment. This includes using flea treatments recommended by a veterinarian, regularly vacuuming the home, washing the cat's bedding, and ensuring all pets in the household are treated for fleas. In severe cases, a veterinarian may prescribe medications to help control the itching and inflammation.