Cat scabs on tail

[TraceyF]

Hello, I have a 7 year old, male, neutered Siamese cat, indoors. I treat him with Revolution plus every month. He has had red scabs with missing fur located at the base of his tail on/ off for 2 years now. My research says this can be flea dermatitis. Has anyone else experienced these exact symptoms with their cat and is it from fleas? Help!

 

[Dr. Jeff]

Hi Tracey!

Has anyone else experienced these exact symptoms with their cat

Yup, it's pretty common.

is it from fleas?

It can be, yes. Once fleas are ruled out, most common is allergic dermatitis.

However the big question is how is your kitty's BEAM, other history and whether these lesions seem to bother him?

Topical aloe vera is great for superficial skin soothing.

 

[GinnyW]

If your cat is indoors, I would question the need for the Revolution... In any case, good health discourages parasites like fleas, and Revolution is antithetical to good health - so, better to build health than apply poisons.

I agree that aloe vera can be helpful.

 

[Dr. Jean Hofve]

Two years??!! Gosh, time to take some serious action!

Scabs in that location is almost certainloy flea-related. A single bite can result in a reaction lasting many weeks. Start with Dr. Christina's flea ebook or this article and make SURE the environment is pristine. I used to watch sand fleas hop through the sliding glass door when we lived at the beach, they come in on your clothes and shoes, etc. so it is something you have to keep up with.

Plus, a Dr. Jeff says, we also have to address the whole cat, the BEAM, the diet, everything.

If fleas are absolutely ruled out, not possible for any exposure at all, then it *may* be worthwhile considering a biopsy. There could be something weird going on, a buried foreign body, or some other oddity. That this is persisting for years despite Revolution really makes me wonder!

The kinda good news is that this is a skin reaction, at the hind end, meaning the vital force is pushing whatever is bothering him out in a pretty effective way. We just have to figure out the trigger and remove it, and help him get strong enough to completely heal it!