Feline Acne & cracked canine tooth

nern · Moderator Joined: 14 Mar 2004 Posts: 5042 Location: NY

Richie has feline acne. Its just blackheads right now but the vet says they can turn into pus-filled pimples. They are on his chin and below his lip and there are even a few on his belly (which won't turn into pimples according to the vet).
Anyway, she told me to get some Stridex pads Shocked

to wipe his chin with daily. I have never heard of using Stidex pads on a cat until now and interestingly enough, just yesterday, I saw a post on a different cat forum where another person's vet recommeded this for her cats feline acne as well. Just thought it was odd, hope it works.

Has anyone else here ever had a cat with feline ance before?

Rhiannon, who also went for her annual wellness exam, has a cracked canine tooth. A little more than the tip is cracked right off but not so much the nerve is exposed so its not currently a problem but might become a problem down the road. For the life of me, I can not figure out how she could have done that. It was'nt like that at last years appointment and although I do occasionally check their mouths I could have easily missed that if her teeth were clenched together. Confused

faeriedust1127 · Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2006 3:55 am Post subject:

Vianne has gotten acne on her chin before. She is very sensitive with her water dish. I used to use plastic automatic food and water dishes when i first got her, but that proved to be a problem. The water dish was the culprit. I quit using those unless i absolutely need to, like if i have to leave her alone over a weekend. She has ceramic dishes now, but i still have to make sure i actually WASH her water dish at least every other day, not just refill with fresh water, or else she will start to break out. I also give her distilled water as an added precaution.

You don't really need medication to get rid of the acne, as long as it isnt really bad/outta control, just remove the problem source and keep the chin clean. I used hydrogen peroxide or just plain soap and water with a guaze pad. Once when she had one fairly large pimple, i put a dab of benzoil peroxide cream on it, but otherwise it all went away pretty quick from just switching dishes and washing her chin. I never had to take her to the vet for it. It wasn't really a big deal and started clearing up literally within a few days.

nern · Moderator Joined: 14 Mar 2004 Posts: 5042 Location: NY

Thanks for the tips! Very Happy

halaroo · Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 3:12 am Post subject:

Artemis has a chpped tooth too. I just noticed it about a month ago, but it doesn't seem to be bothering him at all so I've ignored it. It's just the tip of his canine tooth. I'll let the vet know on his check up next appointment anyhow. I guess that's what he gets for biting us and Moe!

I've never even heard of cat acne before.... weird.

Mary_NH · Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 6:08 pm Post subject:

in the 80s I had a cat who had an acne problem....and then they weren't sure why, and I used plastic dishes. Tami was chronic. Vet had me use betadine to clean her chin - nasty smelling stuff.
Having gotten wiser I have switched to ceramic and my existing cats have never had a problem with acne.
Poor Tami's chin would get infected and it was so hard to clear up - wish I'd known then.
And I've heard of Stridex being used. Can't imagine kitty will like the smell of those either

t_chelle16 · Moderator Joined: 22 Mar 2004 Posts: 3437

I think stainless steel bowls are best for preventing acne (I remember mom mentioning it when she was doing some FeLV research). Ceramic is not quite as good as stainless steel and plastic dishes are supposed to be really bad.

-Chelle

Chessmind · Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2006 3:50 pm Post subject:

Hi Nern. It's pretty easy for them to chip one of their teeth. They are just so thin and narrow. Handsome (R.I.P.) had chipped a couple too. There was a raccoon outside and he lunged at the raccoon from inside, but there was a glass door between them and that's how he chipped them.

Also, I have heard of using the Stridex pads for feline acne.

lucidity03 · Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2006 4:40 pm Post subject:

Zoe has acne. We have tired to use stainless steel bowls and keep them clean. It helped a little, but she still has it.

I actually took her to the vet when I first saw it. The vet said it was acne and as long as it didn't bother / itch her, that it's fine. So, we actually haven't done anything for it. Maybe I should try the Stridex thing.

Do you think the cat licking it from their chin would harm them? I'd worry a little about the chemicals.

nern · Moderator Joined: 14 Mar 2004 Posts: 5042 Location: NY

I use ceramic food dishes and plates, stainless steel water dishes, and I use one glass water bowl. I bought stainless steel dishes quite a while back and I can't remember why but I did'nt like them (or maybe the cats did'nt?) so I put them away and continued to use the ceramic ones. I have'nt found any acne on any of the other cats thankfully.

Chessmind, I did'nt realize how easily they could chip a tooth. Rhiannon is one of the clumbsiet cats here so I guess she could have cracked it on anything...maybe even falling off the table.

vene · Super Senior Member Plus Joined: 25 Mar 2004 Posts: 4267

Does Richie groom himself on a regular basis? Pumpkin and Monty are prone to cracked teeth as well and they are both indoor kitties. Rolling Eyes

nern · Moderator Joined: 14 Mar 2004 Posts: 5042 Location: NY

eman · Member Joined: 21 Dec 2004 Posts: 340 Location: Canada

what does grooming have to do with cracked teeth?

vene · Super Senior Member Plus Joined: 25 Mar 2004 Posts: 4267