Dark brown/black build-up around kitten's eyes, ears, &
Dark brown/black build-up around kitten's eyes, ears, &
My 5 month old female kitten has had a dark brown/black build-up around her eyes, nose, and in her ears since the day I found her 3 months ago. The build-up is scab-like and comes off easily with a damp cloth, but returns the next day. She was diagnosed with ring worm at her first Vet visit and he thought that the build-up was a symptom of that. But with treatment all other signs of ring worm have disappeared and the build-up remains. Could this be something else?
Re: Dark brown/black build-up around kitten's eyes, ears, &a
How did your vet diagnose ringworm? Was it only by a wood's lamp, or did he actually do a culture? A culture is the only way to accurately diagnose ringworm. Did you have at least one or two subsequent cultures done? This is the only way to determine if ringworm is eradicated after treatment.
What is the treatment he prescribed?
I'd see a new vet, because this could be nearly anything from an allergic reaction to something, to even a food allergy, and if your vet never discussed those possibilities with you, then you DO need a new vet.
What are you feeding her?
Did your vet bother to check her ears for earmites, yeast or inner ear infection?
Has she been tested for FELV/FIV and up-to-date on her vaccination boosters?
See a new, more qualified feline-only vet at once, chances are, they will pick up on something your current vet missed or is inexperienced with. If this is a food allergy, for example, you will have to change the food to something more appropriate, such as a hypoallergenic diet or one with a novel protein.
What is the treatment he prescribed?
I'd see a new vet, because this could be nearly anything from an allergic reaction to something, to even a food allergy, and if your vet never discussed those possibilities with you, then you DO need a new vet.
What are you feeding her?
Did your vet bother to check her ears for earmites, yeast or inner ear infection?
Has she been tested for FELV/FIV and up-to-date on her vaccination boosters?
See a new, more qualified feline-only vet at once, chances are, they will pick up on something your current vet missed or is inexperienced with. If this is a food allergy, for example, you will have to change the food to something more appropriate, such as a hypoallergenic diet or one with a novel protein.
..........Traci
Re: Dark brown/black build-up around kitten's eyes, ears, &a
The vet did do a culture to diagnose the ring worm. When I first brought her home she was covered in hairless patches. For treatment the vet gave me two topical solutions, one shampoo (Malaseb) and a lyme dip. Since then all of the patches have filled in, but she has not been tested again.
I feed her Purina Kitten Chow.
The vet did check twice for earmites, and both test came back negative. She has also been tested for FELV/FIV and all of her vaccinations are up to date.
I will look into finding another vet, even though this is her second one already, and into changing her food.
I feed her Purina Kitten Chow.
The vet did check twice for earmites, and both test came back negative. She has also been tested for FELV/FIV and all of her vaccinations are up to date.
I will look into finding another vet, even though this is her second one already, and into changing her food.
Re: Dark brown/black build-up around kitten's eyes, ears, &a
Do get a new vet.
It sounds like a bacteria that spreads from one area to another. Exudate from the ears should be looked at carefully and maybe even cultured....if there was a yeast infection or inner ear infection for example, it won't respond to mild antibiotics, it needs specific antibiotics. A full otoscopic exam should be done on the ears.
Does she scratch her ears or shake her head? Is she constantly uncomfortable and does she groom excessively around her face etc? Did she ever have ringworm lesions on the face or neck?
Please consider getting her on Iams kitten food, it's a quality food, and most kittens do well on it. Dry, preferrably, but if she's still teething, you can give her both canned and dry.
The sooner this is identified appropriately, the sooner treatment will be effective. Please get her to a new vet promptly.
Any chance you can post a picture of her and the "buildup"?
It sounds like a bacteria that spreads from one area to another. Exudate from the ears should be looked at carefully and maybe even cultured....if there was a yeast infection or inner ear infection for example, it won't respond to mild antibiotics, it needs specific antibiotics. A full otoscopic exam should be done on the ears.
Does she scratch her ears or shake her head? Is she constantly uncomfortable and does she groom excessively around her face etc? Did she ever have ringworm lesions on the face or neck?
Please consider getting her on Iams kitten food, it's a quality food, and most kittens do well on it. Dry, preferrably, but if she's still teething, you can give her both canned and dry.
The sooner this is identified appropriately, the sooner treatment will be effective. Please get her to a new vet promptly.
Any chance you can post a picture of her and the "buildup"?
..........Traci
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mamabear
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Re: Dark brown/black build-up around kitten's eyes, ears, &a
DO you mean that she was tested for FELV/FIV or really treated for a disease?popo0421 wrote:The vet did check twice for earmites, and both test came back negative. She has also been tested for FELV/FIV and all of her vaccinations are up to date.
yes I do agree new vet for the same reasons traci says and better quality food.
Surely a Picture would be nice too!!
Almost 7 years in remission from Graves disease and no meds!
Re: Dark brown/black build-up around kitten's eyes, ears, &a
Your image is not showing, I tried to edit but still cannot get it to work 
I had the same problem, but then noticed popo had BBCode disabled in her post. Picture fixed!
Popo, is Nellie entirely white? Do you allow her outdoors or does she sit in a sunny window frequently? Just asking.....I realize you said the lesions appear "scab-like" and come off with a cloth, but just want to note that white cats who get too much sun can get melanoma (not saying this is what she has, it wouldn't be able to be rubbed off!)
The pic is alittle hard to make out, but can you ask the new vet about potential food allergies, contact allergies, rule out flea allergy dermatitis and rule out eosinophilic granuloma complex....since it occurs on the face (eyes, ears, nose), it may be a form of eosinophilic granuloma. Treatment for this usually involves change of diet to a hypoallergenic diet or one with a novel protein kitty has never been exposed to prior, and sometimes a short course of antibiotics, or sometimes a short course of prednisolone. (pred needs to be considered very carefully in a kitten, have to discuss that at length with the vet). The vet can examine a sample of these "scabs" under a microscope and determine if bacterial in nature, or might require a cytology to determine exactly. A hair follicle sample from the nose area might also be able to detect mites, fungal etc. I notice you have a collar on her, is that nylon or something else? Some cats do have allergic responses to some collars, and you would most often see this around the neck area but it could also occur elsewhere, another something to rule out. Also, make sure she hasn't and can't get into any plants, chemicals, other household hazards she could be reacting to.
Have you applied any flea applications? Certain pet shampoos? Certain other topicals other than the ringworm treatment? If so, tell the vet at once so he can rule out those possibilities.
If you're feeding canned food, try ceasing it entirely during the process of elimination. Also, feed only in stainless steel food and water dishes, since plastic and some stoneware and glass can harbor bacteria, this causes feline acne and can aggrivate eosinophilic granuloma.
Don't wait on this, try to see a feline-only vet or one who is well-established in an AAHA-certified animal hospital immediately. If this is a bacteria, or fungal, or allergic response, it must be nipped in the bud immediately to prevent other health problems occuring.
Popo, is Nellie entirely white? Do you allow her outdoors or does she sit in a sunny window frequently? Just asking.....I realize you said the lesions appear "scab-like" and come off with a cloth, but just want to note that white cats who get too much sun can get melanoma (not saying this is what she has, it wouldn't be able to be rubbed off!)
The pic is alittle hard to make out, but can you ask the new vet about potential food allergies, contact allergies, rule out flea allergy dermatitis and rule out eosinophilic granuloma complex....since it occurs on the face (eyes, ears, nose), it may be a form of eosinophilic granuloma. Treatment for this usually involves change of diet to a hypoallergenic diet or one with a novel protein kitty has never been exposed to prior, and sometimes a short course of antibiotics, or sometimes a short course of prednisolone. (pred needs to be considered very carefully in a kitten, have to discuss that at length with the vet). The vet can examine a sample of these "scabs" under a microscope and determine if bacterial in nature, or might require a cytology to determine exactly. A hair follicle sample from the nose area might also be able to detect mites, fungal etc. I notice you have a collar on her, is that nylon or something else? Some cats do have allergic responses to some collars, and you would most often see this around the neck area but it could also occur elsewhere, another something to rule out. Also, make sure she hasn't and can't get into any plants, chemicals, other household hazards she could be reacting to.
Have you applied any flea applications? Certain pet shampoos? Certain other topicals other than the ringworm treatment? If so, tell the vet at once so he can rule out those possibilities.
If you're feeding canned food, try ceasing it entirely during the process of elimination. Also, feed only in stainless steel food and water dishes, since plastic and some stoneware and glass can harbor bacteria, this causes feline acne and can aggrivate eosinophilic granuloma.
Don't wait on this, try to see a feline-only vet or one who is well-established in an AAHA-certified animal hospital immediately. If this is a bacteria, or fungal, or allergic response, it must be nipped in the bud immediately to prevent other health problems occuring.
..........Traci