sunburn or skin issue?

[deafsushi]

A few days ago, I noticed my cat's tip of his ears were dark and crusty and peeling. i put coconut oil on them to help moisturize the dry tissue. i then noticed that the next day he had a dry raised patch on the top of his head too. the dry skin pieces are raised and almost scab like but without blood and a dark brown color. he is a sun lover and will lay inside wherever there is a sun patch of an open window. i know coconut oil has an spf of about 10 so i've been putting it on his ears and head twice a day now and trying to keep him out of the sun, but it doesn't seem to be getting better. my biggest concern is trying to figure out what is wrong with him. does this look like a bad sunburn or some other sort of skin infection? any advice or thoughts would be much appreciated.

 

[Rwalkerg]

That looks like it could be an ear infection that's spreading. My Clementine had something similar, but it was just in one ear. her vet said it could spread if not treated. Make an appt ASAP. Even if its nothing serious, you just never know!

 

[deafsushi]

thank you for your input. do you know what type of infection it was? i'd like to go to the vet with as much possible info as possible. i'm going in first thing tomorrow morning to the vet as it looks even worse today. my poor baby. i'm sick with worry about him.

 

[GoldHazel]

A few days ago, I noticed my cat's tip of his ears were dark and crusty and peeling. i put coconut oil on them to help moisturize the dry tissue. i then noticed that the next day he had a dry raised patch on the top of his head too. the dry skin pieces are raised and almost scab like but without blood and a dark brown color. he is a sun lover and will lay inside wherever there is a sun patch of an open window. i know coconut oil has an spf of about 10 so i've been putting it on his ears and head twice a day now and trying to keep him out of the sun, but it doesn't seem to be getting better. my biggest concern is trying to figure out what is wrong with him. does this look like a bad sunburn or some other sort of skin infection? any advice or thoughts would be much appreciated.

I'm glad to hear that you are going to the vet. Please let us know what the vet says to update this thread. Lair members always check back for updates.

It could be sunburn, I'm not sure. I have three boys and one is very sensitive to Pet D'Greaser Shampoo and will be scabs in different areas of his body and at least two of my boys can't be wiped down with the most sensitive baby wipes in between baths. I never even used them on my third little guy after knowing how his two older brothers' skin reacts.

So my question is...what do you wash him with or wipe him down with in between baths? I know you do use coconut oil, but that shouldn't hurt him unless the oils are attracting the sun more! I don't know.

Wishing you luck with your vet visit. I'm sure it's nothing that can't be fixed easily.

 

[lucylue]

Poor baby let us know what happens!

 

[deafsushi]

We just got done with the vet. They had never seen anything like it. Today it looks worse & smells infected so I don't think it is a sunburn anymore. He is going on antibiotics & we will see if that helps. Biopsy is the next step. I feel so bad for my baby. It's getting worse so fast.

 

[Heidi58]

Praying that the antibiotics will take care of things.

 

[GoldHazel]

We just got done with the vet. They had never seen anything like it. Today it looks worse & smells infected so I don't think it is a sunburn anymore. He is going on antibiotics & we will see if that helps. Biopsy is the next step. I feel so bad for my baby. It's getting worse so fast.

Oh gee, sorry to hear it's getting worse. Didn't your vet give you some sort of antibiotic to apply to the area as well? Animax is excellent for lots of skin problems. Maybe you can get a tube of that from your vet?

 

[deafsushi]

he got oral cephlax and a topical cream of derma-vet to be given 2x's a day. i really hope it helps and is nothing serious. here is an updated pic from just now. thank you so much for everyone's help and concern. if you can think of any similiar skin problems, please let me know.

 

[GoldHazel]

he got oral cephlax and a topical cream of derma-vet to be given 2x's a day. i really hope it helps and is nothing serious. here is an updated pic from just now. thank you so much for everyone's help and concern. if you can think of any similiar skin problems, please let me know.

Certainly if this continues to stay the same or worsens, I wouldn't wait to have the biopsy done.

Thanks for keeping us informed. It's appreciated. I'm sending positive thoughts your way to get your baby all fixed up in no time and that it's nothing serious and doesn't ever come back.

 

[Graddydani]

Poor guy. I hope the cream is helping.

 

[deafsushi]

I'm also in contact via text with a few vet friends I know who don't live in the area. They don't know what it could be either but are looking into finding me a dermatologist I can take him to and hopefully get him an appointment this coming week. I think they will have a better idea of what sort of tests to do. I've also posted this on the Russian Peterbald & don sphynx group on facebook to see if anyone has seen this sort of skin problem and to no avail.

 

[deafsushi]

i got a reply from a dermatologist that saw the pics. he said it looked similar to bowens disease that he's seen on some sphynx and to get a biopsy. i hope this isn't the case and that it's something much less serious. i can't wait to get him in to the specialist.

 

[curlysue]

Well it looks like my Violets skin rash she gets on and off. She gets it on her tummy and inside her back legs. Her old owner sent her to me with 5 tubes from of Tritop the her vet in Ohio. It gets rid of the rash for about a three weeks and it will start showing up again and I put it on her for a few days and it goes away again. They said she has had it all her life (she is 10). Not sure if this helps but I know how it is to at lease have a hint of what could be going on with your baby.

 

[Embracing-Joyx4]

So sorry your dealing with this...sending prayers and positive energy your way

 

[GoldHazel]

i got a reply from a dermatologist that saw the pics. he said it looked similar to bowens disease that he's seen on some sphynx and to get a biopsy. i hope this isn't the case and that it's something much less serious. i can't wait to get him in to the specialist.

Well hopefully this vet that only saw pics doesn't know what he's talking about. I am sending very positive thoughts to you and hopefully it's not anything serious at all. I just wish that the vet did the biopsy already.

How is it looking now that you have the topical and oral medicines?

 

[deafsushi]

He just got his second dose of everything. Hes such a good boy to take his medicine squirter. A small chunk of scab came off on the top of his head while I put on the cream & the skin looked fresh & pink but healthy. I have to leave for two days for work so my boyfriend will be taking care of him. I hate leaving him but I know he will be in good hands. It's so stressful though. I'm sure you can all relate.

 

[Rwalkerg]

Sorry to hear this little guy going through all this. I'm glad you got into the vet. Fingers crossed its just a bad infection and all the creams & pills work!

 

[deafsushi]

Just wanted to update everyone. I just got home from a two day work trip & my boyfriend told me yesterday that all his scabs had fallen off & he looked better. I still was going to bring him to the dermatologist to find out what was wrong. When I got home last night I couldn't believe my eyes. He looked completely normal aside from a tiny scab left inside one ear. No more smell of infection or anything. So unless he gets worse, we won't have to go to the specialist since there is nothing to show them. He still has 10 days left of his antibiotics & cream. I am so happy & relieved. I can't even describe it. Thank you everyone for all of your help & well wishes.

 

[Catzzzmeow]

That is great news. My boy gets scabs often and they just flake off too.

 

[GoldHazel]

Just wanted to update everyone. I just got home from a two day work trip & my boyfriend told me yesterday that all his scabs had fallen off & he looked better. I still was going to bring him to the dermatologist to find out what was wrong. When I got home last night I couldn't believe my eyes. He looked completely normal aside from a tiny scab left inside one ear. No more smell of infection or anything. So unless he gets worse, we won't have to go to the specialist since there is nothing to show them. He still has 10 days left of his antibiotics & cream. I am so happy & relieved. I can't even describe it. Thank you everyone for all of your help & well wishes.

Wow, that is amazing news. I know how worried you were (and rightfully so). Hopefully it will never come back again.