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My cat has lots of sore skin on his belly. I have noticed there are lots of black dots where the sore parts there. It looks like flea dirt but he is on monthly flea medication? Please help it looks very sore.

My cat has lots of sore skin on his belly. I have noticed there are lots of black dots where the sore parts there. It looks like flea dirt but he is on monthly flea medication? Please help it looks very sore.

Updated On May 6th, 2022

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered | 2 years and 6 months old

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Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

Veterinarian

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Hello, my name is Dr. Shines and I am happy to help. I agree that does look suspicious for flea dirt. It could also just be environmental debris or sometimes the skin will produce dark pigmentation from general irritation. First test it to see if this is flea dirt. Collect a few of those dark colored flakes on a clean white paper towel and apply a few drops of hydrogen peroxide. Then gently rub it around. If the towel turns reddish or rusty colored, it's flea feces (flea dirt). If it is, switch products. I recommend Revolution or Cheristan. If you must use something OTC, stick with name brand Frontline or Advantage. This could also be miliary dermatitis. Here's a link about the condition: https://www.petcoach.co/article/feline-miliary-dermatitis-in-cats/ If Hugo is licking more than normal, it could be causing the lesions to get worse. Plus it means they bother him. I recommend to make an appointment to have him examined. In the mean time, prevention the licking by having Hugo wear an elizabethan collar at all times. Start Hugo on an omega fatty acid. I like one called Welactin. You might also consider changing his diet to one that is good for over-all skin health. The two brands I recommend are Royal Canin and Nutro. Note it will take about 6 weeks for the supplement/diet to fully kick in. I hope this helps and please feel free to reach out any time.

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