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Cats Symptoms Cure |
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Symptoms Cats
> Solar Dermatitis
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Feline Solar Dermatitis (Sun damage)
Feline solar dermatitis can occur in any skin area that has received
excessive sun exposure. The ear edges are the most commonly affected
sites, but any area with thin hair can be damaged, such as the areas in
front of the ears, the eyelids, nose, and lips. White cats and cats that have
patches of white fur and light-colored skin are most susceptible to feline
solar dermatitis especially if they live in a warm and sunny area.
Signs of solar dermatitis
Inflammation and irritation follow excessive skin exposure to the sun’s
burning rays. The first change you might notice is a slight reddening of the
affected area. Changes like this have been seen in kittens as young as
three months of age. The reddening (sunburn) does not seem to cause
significant pain, but it is often followed by hair loss in the area, making it
even more susceptible to future sun damage. With repeated sun
exposures the reddening becomes more pronounced, skin flaking and
peeling occur, and crusts (scabs) may form. If the ear margins (edges) are
the site of the most damage, they will eventually begin to curl as well as to
develop more scabs and bleeding. At this stage the ears often seem to be
painful or itchy. Crusted feline solar dermatitis affecting the nose and ears
is often mistaken for fight wounds despite the fact that the scabs never
resolve but only become worse without treatment. If sun exposure is
allowed to continue once skin changes are seen, many cases of feline
solar dermatitis transform into skin cancer, most often squamous cell
carcinoma.
How to prevent solar dermatitis
If your cat has light coloring, it is very important to prevent sun damage
to his or her skin. Keep the cat indoors between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 P.M.
when the ultraviolet rays from the sun are most damaging. Discourage
sunbathing in windows as well, since the damaging rays are not blocked
by regular plate glass. Hypoallergenic sunscreen lotions containing PABA
(para-aminobenzoic acid) designed for people can also be applied to
light-colored cats’ skin (ears especially) for sun protection. Supervise your
cat for a few minutes after application to prevent immediate grooming,
which may remove the product before it sinks into the skin.
Treatment of solar dermatitis
Early cases of feline solar dermatitis improve quickly when sun
exposure is removed. Very early skin cancers caused by sun exposure can
sometimes be eliminated by special, locally applied heat, laser or
radiation treatments followed by measures to prevent further sun exposure.
Active carotenoids given orally (25 mg betacarotene once a day) also
have helped some cats. Once advanced cancer has developed the only
treatment is surgical removal of the affected tissues. Surgery on the nose
is often deforming but effective. Amputation of the ear margins usually has
a very cosmetically acceptable result. Ask your veterinarian for an
evaluation of your cat’s skin if you think he or she is developing solar
dermatitis and prevent further sun exposure. Do not delay seeking advice
about scabbed and/or bleeding areas, since early treatment of skin
cancers associated with solar dermatitis is the easiest, most effective
method and has the best cosmetic result.
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