Do dogs and cats have acne? Find out the answer

A few days ago, a colleague brought to my attention that one of her cats has acne. A recurring and strange theme. Recurrent because, as experts explain, it is a disease that affects 90% of adolescents and 12% of adults worldwide. And strange because no one would have thought that this disease can also affect cats and dogs.

But it turns out that acne occurs not only in cats, but also in dogs.

In cats

One veterinarian explains that feline acne is a “change or obstruction of the sebaceous glands that occurs in cats in the chin area, an area associated with territorial marking.

At first you will not notice this condition. However, as the days pass, the symptoms change to “comedones, follicular warts, papules, pustules, crusts, swelling and edema of the chin”.

And why is this happening?

According to experts, the causes are linked to dirty containers and plastic packaging, in which a large amount of bacteria usually accumulates.

How can this problem be solved?

Above all, prevention is important. Bowls with water and feed should always be clean. Also, make sure they are ceramic or stainless steel to avoid contamination. Plastic bowls absorb tastes and smells.

Treatment then consists of administering antibiotics. After that, the affected area is cleaned with a dermatological shampoo prescribed by the doctor. This will prevent the infection from progressing.

At the dog

These animals can also suffer from bacterial chin infections. However, their clinical manifestations differ from those of cats. This is folliculitis, the main symptoms of which are pustules and macules on the chin. This means that these infections are very similar to feline infections, except that they can often cause a secondary bacterial or fungal disease, according to the vet.

Why is this happening?

It is a racial predisposition It can be caused by a racial predisposition, as the dog tends to salivate a lot, or by poor hygiene of the containers in which it receives its food.

How to treat it?

Using antibiotics and dermatological shampoo prescribed by the vet, although the vet will decide if systemic or topical treatment is needed.

Last but not least, experts agree that you should always consult an expert. This is because some products can be toxic or harmful to dogs and cats and it is important to monitor the disease to prevent its progression or to ensure that the treatment has a positive effect on the disease.

If you want to read more similar articles, we recommend you visit the Animals category.