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My cat has what appears to be dandruff on her back and ...

Sent to Cat Experts November 24 2005 at 2:44 PM
   

My cat has what appears to be dandruff on her back and tail. Is there anything I can do to help this condition? Any special supplements or food??

Optional Information:
Age: 7; Female; Breed: Domestic Shorthair

Already Tried:
Brushing every other day

Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Status:  Closed   Value: $5
Answer
November 24 2005 at 3:23 PM (38 minutes and 10 seconds later)
         
REPLIEDCheck Mark
The dandruff can occur because the skin is unhealthy under the hair.

You should trim off the offending hair and then bathe the cat with a gentle shampoo.

You should also talk to your vet about giving your cat a supplement that contains omega three fatty acids. This will treat any skin problems from the inside out.

Most cats that are in good health will groom themselves so well that they don't get mats or have flakes. Since she is not, I would worry more about a health condition that might be making her not take good care of her grooming.

I think that you should see your vet for a workup.

A vet visit should be between 35 and 50 dollars. Blood work would be extra and can range from $10-100.

Let me know if you still have specific questions.
Tammy F. -- Cat Care Expert -- 99% Positive Feedback on 813 Cat Accepts
15+ years-Cat care, Veterinary shelter medicine/infectious disease, feral colony mgmt, cat rescue
Reply
November 24 2005 at 5:55 PM (2 hours and 32 minutes and 11 seconds later)
         
Reply to Tammy Falkner's Post: I don't think that trimming off the hair would be a good idea, seeing that she would then be almost completely bald from the back of her head to the tip of her tail. She is a good groomer, it just seems to get really bad and noticable when the weather gets colder. I will call my vet as soon as he is in, but in the mean time are there any good supplements available out there a pet stores, or would it be a good idea just to add some type of oil to her dry food?
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Answer
November 24 2005 at 5:57 PM (2 minutes and 24 seconds later)
         
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Tammy F. -- Cat Care Expert -- 99% Positive Feedback on 813 Cat Accepts
15+ years-Cat care, Veterinary shelter medicine/infectious disease, feral colony mgmt, cat rescue
Reply
November 24 2005 at 6:04 PM (7 minutes and 16 seconds later)
         
Can I find this kind of supplement at a store like PetSmart, or should I go somewhere else? I assume that a human supplement would not be advisable? Should I give it to my other cat also just to be safe? She has just a little bit that you can see, but not as much.
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Answer
November 24 2005 at 6:07 PM (2 minutes and 43 seconds later)
         
ACCEPTEDCheck Mark
I would not use a human supplement unless your vet suggests it. You should be able to pick up a product with omega threes at petsmart or your vet's office. It certainly won't hurt your other cat so it's not a bad idea.
Tammy F. -- Cat Care Expert -- 99% Positive Feedback on 813 Cat Accepts
15+ years-Cat care, Veterinary shelter medicine/infectious disease, feral colony mgmt, cat rescue
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