Pets can have eczema, too!

Cat and dog skin problems are a major source of discomfort to pet owners. They spoil the otherwise flawless coat of your pet and can also cause a fair amount of discomfort.

Eczema is a symptom of an underlying disorder, usually dietary, rather than a disease. In older animals and altered ones, it may be caused by a hormonal imbalance due to a change of body chemistry. The skin becomes scaly and the hair falls out in patches. The remedy is by hormone injections or a change in diet, usually by adding fat supplements of Vitamin A and E.

Eczema can also be caused by fleabite allergy, or a parasitic condition. However, these bald spots usually appear suddenly and resemble lesions, or burns. To treat these, after veterinarian diagnosis, you must eliminate the fleas and use a local application of antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory medicines.

Eczema causes excessive itchiness. This causes the cat to scratch the infected areas excessively. The scratching can further deteriorate the condition and also cause alopecia or hair loss. General restlessness and aggressive behavior are other symptoms of eczema, which can be remedied with soothing and calming creams.

There are also other kinds of infections that infect the skin and lead to pet eczema. These are:

* Bacterial infection
* Fungal infection
* Yeast infection
* Parasitic infection

The allergies that can cause eczema in pets include:

* Hypersensitivity to flea bites
* Hypersensitivity to food items
* Atopy or contact allergies

Autoimmune disorders, hormonal disturbances, deficiency of fatty acids in diet and a fungus known as ringworm can also cause cat eczema.

Treatment of pet eczema depends upon the underlying cause. The treatment focuses on treating the cause behind the eczema. If the underlying cause cannot be established immediately the veterinarian may temporarily resort to strong anti-inflammatory drugs for quick relief. These drugs mostly comprise of steroids. While investigations are on, you can provide comfort to your pet by using some soothing creams and by ensuring that he remains in a cool environment.

Since sensitivity to flea bite is the most common cause reason behind pet eczema, you can avert the possibility of pet eczema by adopting a well thought out flea prevention program.

Reference: http://petalive.com. Edited by Eczema Club for the purpose of this blog.