What is Feline Miliary Dermatitis?
Feline miliary dermatitis is a skin condition that, as the name suggests, affects felines – cats. The dermatitis part of the condition is self-explanatory – it’s a well-known skin issue that also impacts dogs – but what does the miliary bit mean?
Well, it actually refers to the appearance of the lesions that are present with this condition; milium is the Latin word for millet, the small seed. With feline miliary dermatitis, you will often see – or usually feel – millet-like lesions that can be crusted, present on your cat’s skin.
Feline miliary dermatitis is also known more simply, and crudely, as scabby cat disease as well as papulo crusting dermatitis or dermatoses and miliary eczema. In these cases, the rash appears most often around the neck and head of the cat, going down its back and along its rump.
Well, it actually refers to the appearance of the lesions that are present with this condition; milium is the Latin word for millet, the small seed. With feline miliary dermatitis, you will often see – or usually feel – millet-like lesions that can be crusted, present on your cat’s skin.
Feline miliary dermatitis is also known more simply, and crudely, as scabby cat disease as well as papulo crusting dermatitis or dermatoses and miliary eczema. In these cases, the rash appears most often around the neck and head of the cat, going down its back and along its rump.
Feline miliary dermatitis is a term used to describe the effects of several skin conditions, usually as the result of an allergic reaction. The allergy could be to flea bites or other types of allergens. Harvest mites, walking dandruff, ear mites and lice can also lead to the development of this condition.
Food allergies can also cause allergic reactions that show up in this manner on the cat’s skin.
Food allergies can also cause allergic reactions that show up in this manner on the cat’s skin.
Symptoms of Feline Miliary Dermatitis in Cats
The symptoms of feline miliary dermatitis tend to be very obvious. Your cat is likely to physically show symptoms and also display behavior that makes it clear he or she is suffering irritation and discomfort.
Typically, cats that develop feline miliary dermatitis often display similar symptoms experienced by dogs living with a skin condition. These include:
Typically, cats that develop feline miliary dermatitis often display similar symptoms experienced by dogs living with a skin condition. These include:
- Tiny, red crusty bumps on the skin (near the head and neck, and running down the back)
- Hair loss
- Intense itching and scratching
- Hair pulling
- Thickened skin that is darker than surrounding skin
- Grazed areas on the skin resulting from constant scratching
If a food allergy has caused feline miliary dermatitis, the cat may develop sores and scabs around its head and tail. They may also have gastrointestinal signs such as loose stools or diarrhea.
Causes of Feline Miliary Dermatitis in Cats
What causes miliary dermatitis in a cat? There’s a wide range of different causes. Cats can develop this skin condition from one of them, or a combination of several. Common causes of feline dermatitis include:
- Flea bite hypersensitivity
- Bacterial infections
- Cheyletiellosis mite
- Hormone/endocrine disorder
- Allergies (food, inhalant, or food intolerance issues)
- Drug hypersensitivity – such as an allergy to antibiotics
- Poor diet
- Mites
- Ringworm
- Immune-mediated diseases (immune disorders)
- Contact allergies (rare)
An allergy or reaction to flea bites is thought to be the most common cause of feline miliary dermatitis.
In warm-climate areas or flea-infested areas, miliary dermatitis (and other skin conditions) can develop more frequently in cats.
Cold-winter regions may see this condition develop much more often in the summer months.
Cold-winter regions may see this condition develop much more often in the summer months.
Diagnosing Feline Miliary Dermatitis in Cats
Before you can start thinking about how to resolve your cat’s poor skin condition, you need a conclusive diagnosis. A visit to your veterinarian will be required.
The vet will rely mainly on your cat’s medical history and the clinical signs of the condition to make a diagnosis, so make sure you provide as much information as possible about anything that you suspect may have contributed to the issue.
The vet will rely mainly on your cat’s medical history and the clinical signs of the condition to make a diagnosis, so make sure you provide as much information as possible about anything that you suspect may have contributed to the issue.
For instance, if your vet knows that the cat has experienced food intolerance or food allergies previously, they’re more likely to tell you, the pet parent, that the cat has developed feline miliary dermatitis.
It’s not always easy to spot fleas on a cat, especially if the cat has a thick coat, but if the vet sees flea dirt or feces on your pet, they’re also likely to provide this diagnosis.
The cause may be determined as a flea allergy, but if your cat’s skin condition doesn’t respond to a flea treatment and anti-itch medicine, the vet will run additional tests to narrow down the diagnosis.
These tests could be:
The cause may be determined as a flea allergy, but if your cat’s skin condition doesn’t respond to a flea treatment and anti-itch medicine, the vet will run additional tests to narrow down the diagnosis.
These tests could be:
- Serum IgE allergy testing
- Skin scraping
- Fur plucks
- Skin swab
- Hypoallergenic food trial (which should last a minimum of six weeks)
- Fecal examination to look for intestinal parasites
- Biochemical profile
- Biopsies
- Referral to a veterinary dermatologist
Veterinarians take into account the locations of the rashes and lesions in making their diagnosis. They will also measure the size of the lesions and determine what kind they are.
Treatment of Feline Miliary Dermatitis in Cats
Treatment for miliary dermatitis is theoretically straightforward – remove the irritants and make the cat more comfortable until the lesions heal. In practice, however, it can be difficult to identify the cause and the skin can flare up.
Cat owners need to remove fleas from the cat’s home environment, which may help relieve many of its symptoms. If the fleas return, the allergy symptoms and rashes will return. Because cats groom themselves daily, it’s rare to find live fleas on their bodies.
If the cause of the cat’s skin condition is a food allergy or intolerance, the pet parent will need to switch the cat to a different food. It is vital that, once a food allergy has been diagnosed, the cat does not eat the allergy-causing food again.
If the cat has been allowed to roam outdoors, it may have to stay indoors permanently to reduce the risk of eating an offending food or hunting and eating prey that could cause a relapse and trigger another bout of feline miliary dermatitis.
If the cat has been allowed to roam outdoors, it may have to stay indoors permanently to reduce the risk of eating an offending food or hunting and eating prey that could cause a relapse and trigger another bout of feline miliary dermatitis.
The cat owner may need to give the cat one of several medications:
- Antihistamines
- Corticosteroids
- Fatty acid supplements (skin oil replacements)
- Antibiotics
- Topical ointments
- Medicated shampoo to minimise inflammation and itching
Allergy shots for cats are controversial; they’re generally only used only for cats who are severely affected and are not always successful in curing the condition.
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When will my cat recover from feline miliary dermatitis?
The prognosis for cats diagnosed with miliary dermatitis is generally excellent. Once the offending substance has been eliminated from the cat’s environment or food, the cat will recover. Its skin will heal and fur will grow back.
You, the pet parent, will have to be vigilant in keeping fleas from returning to the home if the cat’s condition is flea allergy-related. If diet-related, any new food prescribed for the cat will be a permanent part of its diet. Since many causes of miliary dermatitis are allergy-related, the cat may need occasional treatments with corticosteroids to keep flare-ups from becoming severe.
As your cat gets older, its allergies may get worse. If your pet has been diagnosed with more than one allergy, its recovery may not be total, meaning it needs to continue with treatment to keep skin reactions and symptoms under control.
Feline miliary dermatitis can be expensive to treat. If you suspect your cat is at risk of developing miliary dermatitis, start searching for pet insurance today. Brought to you by Pet Insurer, Wag! Wellness lets pet parents compare insurance plans from leading companies like PetPlan and Embrace. Find the perfect plan for your pet in just minutes.
Feline Miliary Dermatitis Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
feline
Seventeen Years
49 found this helpful
49 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Itchy Skin
Red sores itchy itchy dry skin
Oct. 20, 2021
Answered by Dr. Linda S. MVB MRCVS
49 Recommendations
I'm sorry to hear this.
These signs could be due to several things including a flea allergy, bacterial or fungal infection, skin cancer etc.
Ensure she is up to date with a good quality flea prevention and see your local vet.
She may well need some anti itch medicine and antibiotics.
Oct. 20, 2021
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domestic cat
Five Years
65 found this helpful
65 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Scabs, Excessive Scratching/Grooming
I’m wondering why my cat randomly gets lots of scabs under his chin, on his neck, sides and flank. He seems to aggressively itch and groom himself. I’ve given him flea treatments, ear mite treatments.
Jan. 8, 2021
Answered by Dr. Maureen M. DVM
65 Recommendations
Hi,
Sorry sbout that. It could be an allergic reaction. The scabs are hot spots from the constant itching and licking. Allergies can be as a result of food, weather, dust etc.
Please visit your vet for some steroids or antihistamines to calm down the discomfort.
Jan. 8, 2021
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siamese mix
One Year
44 found this helpful
44 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Scabs And Scratching And Licking Loss Of Hair And Redness
This cat is a feral cat I've been feeding and building a relationship with this cat since he was a kitten. I fell in love after a year of doing so. I final got him to come in and his neck has sores and hair loss please help
Jan. 3, 2021
Answered by Dr. Sara O. DVM
44 Recommendations
Hello, this looks like a hot spot. I would clean this area and apply Neosporin or hot spot spray that you can get from the pet store to this area. If this does not improve after a few days he may need to see a vet for antibiotics.
Jan. 3, 2021
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cat
Six Years
24 found this helpful
24 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Scabs And Throwing Up
He has been throwing up daily now. He has scabs all over his body and I have been giving him Benedryl.
Dec. 9, 2020
Answered by Dr. Sara O. DVM
24 Recommendations
Hello, SO sorry to hear about your cat. If he is vomiting every day. It would be best to see your vet. This could be hairballs but could be something else. Your vet will want to take x rays or run bloodwork to see what is causing him to vomit. Benadryl is great at helping with allergies. I hope your cat starts to feel better soon.
Dec. 9, 2020
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Long hair car
Ten Years
30 found this helpful
30 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Hair Loss Red Bumps
I believe my cat my have military dermatitis if I get him a flea collar with it help
Sept. 28, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
30 Recommendations
There are many causes for miliary dermatitis, and fleas or other parasites are certainly one of them. Flea collars don't tend to work very well, and if he is not on any flea control, a topical medication like Advantage might be a better idea. If you are not sure, it would be safest to have a veterinarian prescribe a safe flea treatment, so that you can make sure that you are buying something that will work.
I Hope that all goes well for him.
Oct. 9, 2020
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Simease mix
Pepe
2 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Hair Loss
Itching
Lesion
Over Grooming
We adopted pepe when he was 6 months old. After a few months we noticed him over grooming quite abit. We took him to the vet and was told it was food allergies or flea allergy thus started the endless line of vets telling us the same and the treatment was always the same, revolution for any possible flea bites even thought he does not have any and hypoallergenic food of various proteins and steroids either pill form or a shot. The steroid shot managed to take the symptoms away but very temporarily and the pill only worked in high doses. We recently took him to yet another vet and after the usual food allergy diagnosis, the vet dove into some other reasons first being mites. skin scraping were done that yielded negative results but the vet told us certain mites can be very difficult to find due to cats being excellent groomers. The vet prescribed bravecto, a topical flea and tick killer that also has a unlabeled effects on mites we gave him the drops and noticed three days after his itching amplified majorly which from what we read online is possibly a good sign that it may very well be mites. Due to lack of information on this treatment and rarity of this condition in cats (demodex gatoi) and cant seem to find any sort of timeline to know exactly how long before improvement start to show if it is indeed mites. I will update when more time passes just wondering if anyone has experiences with bravecto used as a mite treatment or demodex gatoi.
Calico
Kitty
10 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Small Scabs
So I just recently discovered a few scabs around my cats neck and head and they’re very small but now I’ve found like the 5-6th one in the past 2 weeks. There hasn’t been any change in her diet or living area I’m curious what could be the cause she eats and uses the litter so I’m a little confused and I’m also concerned if I should let her sleep in my bed as well anything should help
