hard, raw, scabby spots and loosing hair

[MinieMoo]

my dearest kitty Bubbles was last diagonsed with cat Acne, she was given treatment to ease the pain. it worked for a few weeks but now it is becoming worse. on her back (by her tail) are these scabby spots and they seem to be speading to her belly and head. she also bites herself so that must mean they itch. she is also loosing her hair because of her biting. she is an old cat but she makes a racket when we are trying to sleep and she is biting herself away. is there any soloution where i can help her to ease the biting and soothe her skin? without going to the vets and spending thundreds of pounds of some small bottle of medicin?

please help this distressed kitteh! xx

[Kimberly Coyner, D.V.M., DACVD]

PS: There is also a veterinary dermatologist in your area who may be able to help you pin down her problem more quickly:

Ewan Fergusson BVM&S DVD MRCVS - RCVS Diplomate in Veterinary Dermatology
Wey Referrals, 125-129 Chertsey Road, Woking, Surrey GU21 5BP
Tel: [phone]      |      Fax: [phone]
***@****

[Kimberly Coyner, D.V.M., DACVD]

I am sorry to hear that your cat is so uncomfortable--I worry with the spreading lesions that her problem is not just feline acne, but potentially something infectious (ringworm, or feline demodex), auto-immune (feline pemphigus), or allergic (food allergy). I recommend having your veterinarian perform skin scrapings for parasites and a fungal culture for ringworm. If no infectious organisms are found, then consider a hypoallergenic diet trial for possible food allergy (ie.duck/pea prescription diet), +/- skin biopsies. If she develops crusts on her nose and ears, then an auto-immune disease would be more likely and skin biopsies should be performed sooner rather than later. Unfortunately, a quick solution, injection, or cream are unlikely to be the answer here, further diagnostics are needed to get to the underlying cause of her problem, and find out what treatment is needed.
Good luck,
Kimberly Coyner, DVM DACVD
Dermatology Clinic for Animals
www.dermvetvegas.com