Are fleas irritating my cat’s skin?
QMY three-year-old neutered cat has been diagnosed with miliary dermatitis. I noticed red spots on her abdomen and I could feel small lumps in the skin around her tail. My vet has given an anti-inflammatory injection and we are starting flea control, although we have been told further investigation might be necessary. Is this your experience?
AMILIARY dermatitis is very common in cats.When I first qualified cats were commonly given biotin or hormones, as the cause was poorly understood. Another term for the disease was “fish eaters skin”, but this theory bit the dust when it became obvious that many cats with the disease were not fish eaters. Later flea allergy was considered to be the main cause – and it still is – but research from the 1980s and 90s identified other possible causes, including hay fever type allergy, food allergy, bacterial and fungal diseases and various mites.
As you can imagine, with a relatively long list of possible causes, it might take some time to get to the culprit.
However, with your cat, the distribution of the spots near the tail and on the abdomen strongly suggests to me that your vet is right in putting flea control in place. Fleas can easily survive the winter and start to become more numerous in spring. The injection will calm things down and allow time for further investigation.
QMY two-year-old female neutered German shepherd Elsa is very hungry but never seems to put on weight. In fact friends have said that she seems to be losing weight. I have regularly dewormed her and she seems very well otherwise.
AI RECOMMEND contacting your vet, as it is possible that Elsa has a pancreatic problem. There is a condition that is more prevalent in German shepherds called Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI).
This is thought to be a hereditary problem, leading to an autoimmune destruction of pancreatic cells. Insufficient production of pancreatic enzymes results in inadequate digestion of fats, proteins and carbohydrates, and poor absorption of vital nutrients. These dogs also frequently have low levels of vitamin B12 and folate. Symptoms can come on gradually and will not be very apparent until up to 90 per cent of the enzymeproducing cells have been destroyed. Initially there will be an increase in appetite and a failure to put on weight. In later stages the appetite becomes ravenous, with loss of weight, loose stools and a poor, greasy coat. Diagnosis is reliably made by a blood test.The outlook is good for dogs with EPI and consists of pancreatic enzyme supplementation and vitamin B12.A low fibre, easily digested, balanced diet will also be necessary. Treatment is life long, but most dogs regain weight, and live well with a normal life expectancy.
David Grant MBE was a vet at the RSPCA Harmsworth Hospital for Animals. Write to him at Daily Express, One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5AP or email pampered pets@express. co.uk He is unable to enter into individual correspondence