Could this be feline acne?, any advice please ?

[LeighK]

Thanks Sam,

I was worried but he's not in any discomfort and is in fine form, he dosen't even seem to know it's there, will try again with the washing under the cihn thing. Strange how all of a sudden after nearly three years he's just started to get whatever it is.

Cheers

Leigh

[Sam (Fussy_Furball)]

Leigh ... Zephyr gets acne ... we only use ceramic bowls etc. 

My vet said they get acne under their chins because it's the only place they can't groom themselves.  Zephyr's sometimes get a bit scabby I just damp down a piece of cotton wool in warm water and give him a good wash under the chin (it's amazing how filthy cats really are  ).

[LeighK]

Hi chuck,

Not daft at all, in fact a very interesting possibility, it's hard to say exactly but I will look into it more, good thinking !!!.

cheers

xx

Leigh

[maryas]

This might be daft (when do I ever say anything serious!!) BUT...... did it start the same time as he started eating the cat grass - maybe some kind of allergic reaction.  When I was a kid we had a dog with a rash on her stomoach and it turned out to be grass in the hayfever season only.

Mary

[LeighK]

Thanks Sam,

Actually it doesn't exactly look like the pictures I've seen, it's more of a small patch under his chin with a sort of scab. I did manage to feel it whilst he was laying all dosey on the bed after washing my hands and he just let me feel it without any adverse re-action. I'll keep a close eye on it, maybe, with his FIV it is a cut or suchlike which is taking a while to heal ?.
I scrupulously cleaned their food bowls last night and will alternate with their spare food bowls just to see if that might be a factor. I only use ceramic bowls for wet food and biscuits and stainless steel bowl for water and Frankie's just fine. I did think that Frankie might have bitten him whilst playing but then I would have thought there would be two puncture marks and/or maybe an absses and he wouldn't be so laid back about the whole thing as he is.

Cheers

Leigh

[Sam (Fussy_Furball)]

sounds like Leigh.  This link may help:  http://www.fabcats.org/owners/skin/acne.html

[LeighK]

Thanks Lesley, that's very helpful advise. I only noticed it too because he has a white chin, it's hard to describe but, as I mentioned, he's not bothered by it one little bit, it's just me that's noticed it.

Cheers

Leigh

[LesleyW]

In my experience, feline acne looks very similar to flea dirt under the chin, black specks that come to the surface when the chin is rubbed.  When one of mine had it, it did not cause him any discomfort, he did not actually seem aware of having any problem there.  I really only noticed it because he has a white chin so the black specks showed up more.

I cleaned it with a piece of cotton wool soaked in saltwater and it seemed to clear up quite quickly and I have had no re-occurrence.

Hope this helps.

[LeighK]

Hi folks,

About a month ago I noticed a small area under Alfie's chin about the size of the non-pointy end of a BIC biro. It's a small patch where there appears to be a scab and the fur is parted. I've been keeping my eye on it and it hasn't increased/spread and Alfie is is usual bubbly food-centric self and isn't scratching there and not in any discomfort or under the weather etc. At first I though it might be an accidental cut caused when the boys have an occasional rough and tumble but started to search for info and found Feline Acne. I did try and wash it gently with a sterile cotton swap and luke warm water but Alfie absoultely hates water so it wan't one of my finest hours, well nano-seconds really . I read that plastic food bowls can cause this but they both have ceramic bowls so that's not the cause.

I guess I'll have to take him to the vet either soon or his new vet after the move if things haven't gotten worse, any thought and advise most welcome.

Thanks

Leigh