Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK

Cat General => General Cat Chat => Topic started by: bluecat on November 17, 2007, 13:24:54 PM

Title: Can cats have Dandruff ?
Post by: bluecat on November 17, 2007, 13:24:54 PM
mary seems to have a lot of white flecks again no chance of it being fleas frontlined reg and no sighns of that
Must add shreding hair on daily basis still this normal for british short hair

Put marys bowl down today chicken which is norm a fav  ;D  But no spots an onion peel leaf in the kitchen mid way and scoffs down that with a big lick of the lips  :rofl:
Title: Re: Can cats have Dandruff ?
Post by: blackcat on November 17, 2007, 13:27:47 PM
might be best to limit the onion intake as onions and all related plants are poisonous to cats. One leaf is unlikely to have ill-effects though, so don't panic. On the question of dandruff, not sure. Dogs can get scurf (which is dandruff) and I guess any animal with skin and fur can get it. Try grooming to stimulate the hair follicles and that will release some natural oils that should sort it out. Change of season does horrible things to one's coat!! :rofl:
Title: Re: Can cats have Dandruff ?
Post by: CurlyCatz on November 17, 2007, 13:32:54 PM
simple answer YES.

you can get specialised shampoos from the vet if its a big problem and i'd also recommend "gammalac oil capsules" or (even better) "viacutan oil" (comes in pump dispenser)
Title: Re: Can cats have Dandruff ?
Post by: bluecat on November 17, 2007, 13:36:01 PM
simple answer YES.

you can get specialised shampoos from the vet if its a big problem and i'd also recommend "gammalac oil capsules" or (even better) "viacutan oil" (comes in pump dispenser)


Where can i get viacutan oil"   from ?  do you massage it into the coat then ?
Title: Re: Can cats have Dandruff ?
Post by: CurlyCatz on November 17, 2007, 13:38:17 PM
oh gosh no sorry, its a supplement which aides a variety of skin probs so dealing with a bit of dandruff should be helped greatly from it.

the vet would sell it or i bet vetuk has it too - i'll look for info on it for you ;)
Title: Re: Can cats have Dandruff ?
Post by: CurlyCatz on November 17, 2007, 13:49:20 PM
http://www.vetuk.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=343

sorry i cant find actual data on it from the boehringer websites but its really good stuff, i used to use it in my own cat for dandruff.  Its a tasteless oil and you only need a couple of squirts per day on or in food and cats dont normally mind oily things.
Title: Re: Can cats have Dandruff ?
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on November 17, 2007, 19:05:16 PM
Yeah, mine used to suffer with it with the old central heating, but it is a lot better with my new one, cats dont seem to suffer within days of coming here anymore!! Candyshandy used to use Viacutin on hers, and possibly somethign else, but my memory is poor at the moment.
Title: Re: Can cats have Dandruff ?
Post by: Gillian Harvey on November 17, 2007, 20:48:35 PM
You could also feed oily fish occasionally - something like canned sardines (canned in water - not the ones in brine or oil - the fish are oily enough without extra!!)
Title: Re: Can cats have Dandruff ?
Post by: bluecat on November 18, 2007, 00:39:32 AM
You could also feed oily fish occasionally - something like canned sardines (canned in water - not the ones in brine or oil - the fish are oily enough without extra!!)

Will try the fish thing picky eater though tried the chicken bits with her had a nibble but wasn't impressed.  Started licking her lips when i came in from tescos shes knows theirs treats in store  :evillaugh:   Put the chicken down went over had a sniff walked off then went back had a nibble then  me the 1000 yard stare when she wants something as if to say you'll have to do better than that  :evillaugh:
Title: Re: Can cats have Dandruff ?
Post by: Ela on November 18, 2007, 08:44:49 AM
There is also something commonly known as walking dandruff (nice)
Title: Re: Can cats have Dandruff ?
Post by: blackcat on November 18, 2007, 08:45:52 AM
eugh, what's that Ela?
Title: Re: Can cats have Dandruff ?
Post by: Gillian Harvey on November 18, 2007, 11:22:54 AM
Oh yes I'd forgotten about that - mites  (can cause itchy rash in humans too!)
Title: Re: Can cats have Dandruff ?
Post by: Ela on November 18, 2007, 12:12:58 PM
Quote
what's that Ela?

Horrible ;D
Title: Re: Can cats have Dandruff ?
Post by: Jasmine on November 18, 2007, 12:23:15 PM
I've noticed Martha's suffering from bad dandruff the past fortnight, seems to have coincided with her now eating a full prescription diet for her kidneys - anybody else experienced this in a CRF cat?
Title: Re: Can cats have Dandruff ?
Post by: Mark on November 18, 2007, 12:25:26 PM
I think ordinary dandruff is an infection whereas scurf if just dry skin. You could try a few drops of fish oil on food (whole fish oil rather than liver oil)
Title: Re: Can cats have Dandruff ?
Post by: CurlyCatz on November 18, 2007, 12:53:58 PM
ordinary dandruff and scurf are the same thing, both just dry skin,  You can get other conditions which may look abit like dandruff but isnt.

Walking dandruff - Cheyletiella mites , i have a funny feeling frontline spray may get rid of those.  its not seen too often but wouldnt be classed as rare either.
Title: Re: Can cats have Dandruff ?
Post by: Gail Bengal Slave on November 18, 2007, 17:41:27 PM
Do you brush Mary?. If so the brush might be too hard for her skin.

I used to brush Zubin and he started getting white bits on his coat. I mentioned this to the vet and he sugested a softer brush, I change his brush and no dry ehite bits  :)
Title: Re: Can cats have Dandruff ?
Post by: SophiasMum on November 18, 2007, 21:42:21 PM
mary seems to have a lot of white flecks again no chance of it being fleas frontlined reg and no sighns of that
Must add shreding hair on daily basis still this normal for british short hair

Put marys bowl down today chicken which is norm a fav  ;D  But no spots an onion peel leaf in the kitchen mid way and scoffs down that with a big lick of the lips  :rofl:

Yes I have noticed white bits on Sophia's furr but all you need to do is groom them and it gets rid. ;)
Title: Re: Can cats have Dandruff ?
Post by: Reynard on November 18, 2007, 22:33:10 PM
My two get quite scurfy on their backs (especially near the tail) in the spring when they're shedding. Brushing to get the natural oils working in the skin and coat works great - find I have the best results with a slicker brush.

If the skin is very dry, a lot of folk I know in the cat fancy swear by evening primrose oil capsules - you can buy pet ones, but the human ones (250 or 500 mg) work well enough. Just break them open onto the food. Otherwise Royal Canin do a dry food aimed at cats with sensitive skin.
Title: Re: Can cats have Dandruff ?
Post by: clarenmax on November 19, 2007, 09:12:27 AM
Max gets dandruff at this time of year, we have warm air heating in our place and its very drying, me and J are also feeling our skin is much dryer at the moment too.