A cat scratches its skin until it bleeds: how to help your pet?

If a cat itches until it hurts, this may be a symptom of an allergic reaction, the presence of helminths, lichen, skin parasites, or a disease of the endocrine system. Associated symptoms include itchy skin, hair loss and red spots on the skin. If any deviations in health occur, the owner should take the pet to the veterinarian. The doctor will diagnose, prescribe therapy and give preventive recommendations.

According to veterinarian statistics, food allergies in cats account for 1% of cases of skin lesions.

Causes and symptoms of itching to sores

Allergic reaction

If a cat constantly scratches and licks itself, this indicates that an allergen has entered the body and the immune system is responding. This is due to histamine, which is released in large quantities and enters the bloodstream in response to a foreign agent. The cat scratches its neck, licks its belly, scratches its ears and muzzle. Often a runny nose appears, the eyes turn red, and the mucous membranes swell. In places where the cat has torn the skin, ulcers and bald spots form. Etiology:

• decorative cosmetics for animals and people;
• household chemicals;
• flowering plants;
• dust and mold in the room;
• host perfumes;
• food additives in low-quality feed;
• medicines;
• dandruff and hair of the owner.

Parasite infestation

Helminthiasis

If your pet scratches its skin and constantly licks its tail area, this indicates the presence of parasites.
When a cat constantly itches and licks, this indicates the presence of worms - roundworm, toxocara, hookworm, tapeworm. Helminths feed on beneficial substances that enter the cat’s body with food, injure the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract, impairing the absorption process, and poison with toxins. Because of this, the animal does not receive vitamins and microelements, which negatively affects the skin. The cat scratches its skin until it bleeds and constantly licks itself in the tail area, becomes irritable, loses weight sharply, its appetite decreases, and blood may be present in the feces. Infection occurs by eating raw meat, drinking contaminated water, or by flea bites.

Skin parasites

When a cat scratches itself, experiencing severe itching, it means that subcutaneous mites have invaded. These are notoedrosis, otodectosis, demodex. Insects parasitize in the upper layers of the epidermis and infect the area around the eyes, behind the ears and inside the auricle, muzzle, eyebrows, head, and inner thighs. The cat scratches its neck until it bleeds, becomes aggressive, sleeps and eats poorly. Her fur falls out in clumps, and a red spot forms in place of the bald spot, which the pet combs out with her paw. If the cat is itching, but there are no fleas, this indicates a parasite bite and the body's reaction to substances contained in the saliva. One bite from a random flea is enough to cause flea dermatitis.

Ringworm (fungal infections)

Itchy sensations in a cat are caused by infection with fungal infections, which manifest themselves in the form of bald spots.
If a cat itches all the time and constantly licks itself, and bald spots and spots, small abscesses appear on the head and body, this indicates infection with fungi, including trichophyton and microsporum. A cat can become infected through contact with a sick animal and even at home, when fungal spores are brought in by the owner on street clothes. Candidiasis often occurs in cats, which affects the mucous membranes. Then the nose and eyebrow peel off, and the mucous membranes of the mouth and tongue are affected. If the rash occurs under the eyes, fungal conjunctivitis develops. Fungi can spread to internal organs, which leads to deterioration of all systems and severe itching. If a kitten itches, advanced mycosis can be fatal.

Pyoderma

If a domestic cat itches until it bleeds, pathogenic microflora - staphylococci or streptococci - enter the wounds. A purulent-inflammatory process begins, which covers individual areas or the entire body. Most often it occurs against the background of existing skin ailments - flea dermatitis, allergies, hormonal imbalance. It manifests itself as an unpleasant odor, the formation of purulent crusts and scabs, hair loss, and severe itching.

Endocrine diseases

According to veterinarian statistics, 8% of cases of impaired production of thyroid hormones are diagnosed in animals over 8 years of age.

A hormonal imbalance in an animal’s body causes aggression in it and awakens anxiety, against the background of which it constantly licks itself.
Disruption of the thyroid gland or adrenal glands leads to the fact that the cat’s back, limbs, and stomach itch.
Provoking diseases are Cushing's syndrome, hyperthyroidism. Hormonal imbalance provokes a change in behavior, due to which the pet becomes aggressive, anxious, and begins to lick itself vigorously until bald spots form.

Treating scratches at home

Most often, the owner decides to observe the development of events; in the end, the cat may itch due to nervousness. If the cause is not determined correctly, the situation worsens and scratching becomes painful. The progression of the disease can be determined by the reaction of the animal, which does not allow the scratches to be examined or simply hides.

There is another scenario for the development of events - the external scratching is delayed, and the infection that has “settled” on open wounds goes into the deeper layers of the skin. This happens for two reasons - complete ignorance of the problem or treatment of the animal’s skin at random.

Simply put, when you see a scratch or scratch, you should not smear it with all the ointments that can help; it is better to adhere to the standard treatment regimen or consult a doctor. If abscesses and boils form, you need to consult a doctor, since for recovery you need to remove the infection from the deep layers of the skin as quickly as possible. If the veterinarian doubts that the cat's immune system is functioning at full strength, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed.

Note! Scratching is called a hot spot because the body temperature in the affected areas is usually higher than the base temperature.

If the inflammation does not seem extensive or painful, treatment at home comes down to preventive measures. If you do not allow infection to occur, and the cause of scratching does not lie in illness, the wounds will heal within a few days.

To disinfect and relieve discomfort, wounds are wiped with non-alcohol tincture of calendula. It is best to buy a collection of herbs and make a decoction yourself. If you need to act quickly, and only an alcohol solution is on hand, you need to fill it with hot water or boiling water so that the alcohol evaporates as quickly as possible.

Local discomfort is successfully relieved with cool lotions. For cooling, you can use herbal decoctions - oak bark, calendula, chamomile , etc. You need to be careful with lotions because wounds need to dry out to heal. By the same logic, scratches should not be bandaged or sealed. If the cat actively licks wounds, use an Elizabethan collar or follow the regimen prescribed by the veterinarian.

Note! If a cat has scratches on its head, the use of a collar is mandatory and the main danger is not infection of the wounds, but in causing a traumatic brain injury during scratching with its paws.

If you want to rid your cat of scratching, you need to heal not the wounds, but the reasons for their appearance. The word comb comes from “to itch”, which means that the cat is bothered by itching. You need to understand that when the skin just itches, the animal does not tear the skin to the point of wounds.

Diagnostic procedures

If a cat tears its paw, tail, area under the eye, or on its back, the veterinarian conducts an external examination. Flea dermatitis can be identified when small black granules called flea excrement appear on the skin. For subcutaneous infection, scraping of the epidermis and scales is performed. Pyoderma scratching in a cat requires examination of the pus to determine the causative agent. Fungal infections are detected using a Wood's lamp. In addition, diagnostic methods are prescribed, such as:

• general and biochemical blood test;
• thyroid tomography;
• hormone testing;
• stool analysis for worm eggs.

Hormonal and endocrine disorders

Itchy skin disorders can occur due to disruptions in the animal's metabolism and hormone production. As a result, it begins to actively scratch the back, ears, head and neck. In this case, only a doctor can accurately determine the source of the problem and prescribe treatment; you should not “prescribe” medications to the animal yourself. Diagnosing and treating such disorders is not an easy task, treatment can take a lot of time, so it is worth contacting specialized clinics that have all the necessary equipment.

Treatment: how to act correctly?

When a cat itches due to a food allergy, treatment depends solely on the cause of the disease - poor quality food. Other types of allergic reactions should also be treated by eliminating the allergens. If your cat is itching a lot, you can relieve the symptoms of itching with Stop-Itching. When infected with skin parasites, the cat is washed with antiparasitic shampoos - “Bars”, “Advantage”, “Pride”. Flea sprays “Frontline”, “Advocate”, “Bolfo”, and a collar “Foresto” help. For lichen and fungi, “Griseofulvin”, “Terbinafine”, “Itraconazole”, “Fungin”, “Zoomicol” are effective. Endocrine disorders can be treated with hormonal drugs, which the veterinarian prescribes individually.

Depending on the reasons that cause itching, medications are used, for example, Enwire will help against worms.

If a cat has an itchy back or other part of the body due to helminthiasis, the drugs Drontal, Enwire, Stronghold, and Profender are recommended. If your cat often itches near its ears, anti-mite drops “Barrier”, “Anandin”, and “Advocate” are suitable. When the causes of itching are eliminated, treatment of the cat includes the use of zinc ointment and Levomekol liniment, which promote the regeneration of sores. “Purified, mineralized sulfur” and vitamin A preparations are effective for restoring the skin and coat. You can also make lotions from decoctions of chamomile, string, and St. John's wort.

Causes of scratching

The first thing the doctor will do is examine the animal for the presence of parasites. Flea scratches appear all over the body, most often on the cheeks, neck, chin and at the base of the tail. In most cases, even if the animal has recently been treated, parasites are the cause of the itching.

The cat itches because the saliva of blood-sucking parasites always causes an allergic reaction. If you have ever been bitten by a flea or tick, you know that the bite itself is not felt, but afterwards it itches a lot. Flea saliva, injected under the skin, acts as a pain reliever, but since it has a protein base, after some time an allergic reaction occurs.

Note! The development of a flea allergy does not always imply the presence of a large number of parasites; for cats with sensitive skin, a few bites are enough for scratching to appear.

The next most popular reason is microscopic mites. Itching from mites is incomparably stronger than allergic; the area affected directly depends on the method of parasitism. For example, when infected with ear mites, a cat scratches the skin near the ear, forehead and back of the head within 24 hours. The subcutaneous mite can settle on the back, body, under the arms or even on the tail. To confirm or refute the diagnosis, a scraping is taken from the damaged skin for laboratory examination.

During laboratory analysis, scrapings are also checked for the presence of spores, which will indicate a fungal infection of the skin. Cats, dogs and people constantly have fungi and microorganisms living on their skin; not all of them are friendly, but the symbiosis is designed so that the bacteria do not attack the host. When the level of immune defense drops or an active, unfriendly culture is introduced, the cat may develop microsporia, which for many is more commonly called lichen.

Statistically, cats are more likely to get ringworm, but are practically not susceptible to other skin ailments. If the diagnosis is confirmed, the veterinarian will prescribe a course of treatment. Typically, treatment for ringworm involves injections or oral medications. Scratching should be smeared with antiseptic ointments with an antifungal effect.

Important! The symptoms of itching and allergic skin reactions are very similar (redness of the skin, itching, scratching), but are treated differently.

Prevention

Both purebred cats (British, Scottish Fold, Maine Coon) and outbred pets are susceptible to sores and scratches due to itching around the ears, on the stomach and back, and limbs. To protect your pet from skin diseases, you should protect your cat from contact with sick animals and carry out regular treatment with flea and anthelmintic agents. Cosmetics for care and food should be chosen of high quality, with natural additives. Purchase industrial food products that are hypoallergenic. Carry out hygienic cleaning of ears and eyes with special means. It is recommended to periodically disinfect the sleeping area.

What causes a cat's neck to itch?

A pet scratches its neck usually because it feels discomfort or even pain - this is a signal that not everything is in order with its health. First of all, you should check if he has fleas, because they are the easiest to find. If adults or their eggs are found, you need to use drugs against them - they are usually sold in the form of a spray or drops. If your cat allows itself to be bathed, you should use flea shampoo. To prevent insects from infesting again, you should treat the entire apartment and put a special collar on the cat.

After getting rid of fleas, the pet can continue to itch for quite a long time, up to six weeks - the irritating substance that got there with the bites remains in its blood.

If the cause is clearly not fleas, you will have to consider other options:

• psychological problems,
• skin infections,
• allergy,
• hormonal disorders,
• endocrine disorders,
• lichen,
• helminthiasis,
• external parasites.

Getting rid of itching is not the solution

First of all, owners strive to alleviate the condition of their pet. If you apply standard allergy treatment, the symptoms will return after a while. It is necessary to use local remedies that dry the wounds and alleviate the condition, but this is not the main focus. Therefore, the main task is to find the real reason for what is happening. Only after diagnosis can effective treatment be prescribed.

Any skin disease takes a long time to cure, so don’t be discouraged if there are no quick results. The most important thing is your attention and the support of an experienced doctor.

First of all, you need to understand that an animal, like a person, can and does get sick. And as is the case with people, triggering even the initial symptoms of a pet’s unhealthy condition is fraught with complications at best. In the worst and saddest case, the owner may lose his beloved pet forever.

It’s not uncommon for a cat to start scratching its scalp excessively. Yes, with such zeal and zeal that blood appears and wounds form. With all this, the wool also flies in shreds.

There is no need to panic in this case. But you definitely need to contact a specialist, that is, a veterinarian. The main thing is not to let the animal’s atypical behavior and painful condition take its course and hope that in cats everything will heal on its own. After all, not only does the acquired illness cause discomfort and pain to the animal, but open bleeding wounds are more likely to get infected. In this case, it will be much more difficult to help the animal.

The most common reasons for cats scratching their scalp excessively include:

1. Cat fleas.
2. Manifestation of allergies.
3. Scabies mite (various types).
4. Ear mite.

Home » Problems » The cat scratches its neck vigorously until it bleeds. What to do if your cat scratches his neck until it bleeds

How to help your pet?

What should an owner do if a cat has sores on its neck? How to treat this condition, because every day it only gets worse. Making a diagnosis begins with a series of tests. It is by learning the true cause that you can understand how to treat the animal. If miliary dermatitis is a consequence of a food allergy, then the rash will persist as long as the pet receives one or another product.

To diagnose dermatitis, you need to put your cat on a special diet. It usually includes components that she has never received before. If the symptoms disappear, then the cause has been found. Now the components of the old diet are being introduced into food one by one. As soon as the first symptoms appear, the cause is discovered. Diagnostic feeding can last up to 12 weeks and is accompanied by veterinary supervision.

Helminthiasis

A cat may also scratch its neck due to helminth infection. With helminthiasis, metabolism is disrupted, so that the body begins to lack nutrients, the skin becomes dry and begins to itch. It is also possible to have an allergy to helminths, which causes itching and a rash to form, causing the cat to scratch itself until it bleeds.

A pet can become infected:

• if he eats raw meat or fish,
• due to flea bites,
• from another cat.

If you suspect that an animal has helminthiasis, you can check this using a stool test. If confirmed, a course of anthelmintic drugs will be required. Preventive courses against helminths must be carried out regularly, since there is always a high risk that the pet will become infected with them and, if they are not exterminated immediately, it will be much more difficult to remove them later. In this case, everyone is at risk - both other pets and people; infection will be especially dangerous for children.

Allergic reactions

If a cat has blood sores on its neck, then you need to think about what this might be connected with. Perhaps you recently introduced a new food into your diet, underwent a course of treatment, or purchased a vitamin complex. Then an allergic reaction cannot be ruled out. Only a doctor can make such a diagnosis, because the symptoms are too vague. Itching, hair loss and scratching can indicate dozens of reasons, including diseases of the internal organs.

However, food allergies are just one option. Pollen and house dust, mold or household chemicals, and hygiene products can provoke such a reaction. Today there are many allergens in the environment, and it will take you a very long time to look for the true cause on your own. However, in order to make a diagnosis, you can undergo a course of treatment with antihistamines.

Only a veterinarian can determine the allergenic factor and prescribe treatment. Often they become the cause of contact dermatitis, causing hair loss, itching, and scratching of the neck area. The owner needs to carefully monitor how the animal reacts to changes in the diet or the use of new products for caring for the pet’s fur and skin.

A cat can also itch due to systemic pathologies. With endocrine diseases, the cat begins to scratch the area of ​​the neck, ears, and back. The cat's spine is very flexible, so the pet begins to scratch hard-to-reach areas, which leads to sores. Untreated allergies can lead to angioedema and death of the animal.

There are many reasons why a cat starts to itch. When a cat occasionally scratches itself, this is the norm for cats, but when an animal scratches and licks a certain area until wounds and sores form, you should immediately contact a veterinarian to avoid serious consequences for the pet’s health.

Miliary dermatitis

If the sores on the cat’s neck under the fur look like a scattering of small pimples, then the doctor can make such a diagnosis. In fact, this will only mean one thing: you need to immediately look for a new veterinarian who is more competent. The fact is that miliary dermatitis is not a disease, but only a symptom of it. Moreover, there can be countless reasons, a doctor must deal with it. You need to start from the localization of the rash. In some cases it covers only the neck, in others it spreads to the entire body.

This condition can be caused by allergic reactions. In this case, it is extremely important to determine the cause of its occurrence. This could be a reaction to fleas, inhaled allergens, or food. Based on the location of the rash, you can roughly tell what exactly was the cause. If pimples and wounds are concentrated in the neck area, then the problem is most often a food allergy.

READ Reproduction spawning of lalius

What is the problem?

It’s very sad to see non-healing sores appear on a cat’s neck. Therefore, the best option is to take her to a veterinarian. However, it is good if you live in the city. True, in this case the person also faces a problem: veterinary clinics charge for their services, which not everyone can afford.

Indeed, it often happens that insects choose the neck as their favorite area for life. Therefore, the cat intensively scratches these places with its claws. As a result, if action is not taken, things will take a bad turn. Itching provokes scratching, and small sores appear on the cat’s neck.

What should the owner do? Examine the animal. If he has fleas, then their locations should be visible on the neck and near the tail. Adult insects and their eggs can be found. In this case, you need to treat the animal for insects, and then treat the wounds. You can use a special collar or drops on the withers. Once the source of the itching is eliminated, it will be much more effective.

Effective Treatments

Itching and scratchy wounds are a consequence of the disease. Until the cause is eliminated, it is impossible to relieve the itching. But before the animal gets to the veterinarian, its condition can be alleviated. To do this, wounds need to be disinfected with hydrogen peroxide, Chlorhexidine or Miramistin. You cannot use any cosmetics, such as shampoo, cream, wool powder.

To prevent the cat from licking the medicine from the fur, you should wear a special collar.

A special collar protects the animal.
Treatment methods are selected individually based on test results:

For treatment to be effective, you need to provide your cat with a balanced diet. Nutrition should be adjusted, even if the cause of the pathology is not a food allergy. A lack of vitamins and microelements negatively affects the condition of the skin and coat, and the speed of wound healing.