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Conference misery::feline

Title:Meower Power - Where Differing Opinions are Respected
Notice:purrrrr...
Moderator:JULIET::CORDES_JA
Created:Wed Nov 13 1991
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1079
Total number of notes:28858

459.0. "Dry Skin/Dandruff Problem" by TNPUBS::C_MILLER () Wed Dec 16 1992 15:02

    With the dry/cold weather upon us, I'm finding my 2-year old short-hair
    has incredibly dry skin/bad dandruff. I brush her every night but it
    doesn't seem to help. Has anyone ever sprayed baby oil or used some
    sort of cat oil to reduce this? I'm a little afraid to use baby oil
    incase she licks it off and gets sick. Any suggestions welcome! Thanks
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459.1JUPITR::KAGNOMom to the Wrecking CrewWed Dec 16 1992 16:0015
    No, do not use baby oil.  Start tackling the problem from the inside
    out.  There are products on the market that target dry skin problems
    and can be used as food additives.  Linatone and Mirra Coat are two
    very good examples.  Some cats will eat their food (canned) with these
    oils mixed in, while others do not care for the taste.  They are made
    with palatable ingredients, but not all cats find them tasty.
    
    You might try running a humidifier or vaporizer to release moisture
    into the air.  This should help the dry skin/static electricity.
    
    If the dry skin/dandruff is really bad, your vet might have some
    helpful suggestions to share.
    
    -Roberta
     
459.2Another product to try....ERLANG::FALLONKaren Fallon "Moonsta Cattery"Thu Dec 17 1992 08:594
    A product that I use from Beecham is Pet Tabs/FA with Zinc.  I started
    to use it for coat improvement for my show kitties on the suggestion of
    my veterinarian.  I believe it helps them overall.  
    Karen
459.3ShampooXNTRIK::MAGOONThu Dec 17 1992 11:574
Try bathing the cat occasionally with a good shampoo designed for cats, such as
Novasol. Shampoos not designed for cats tend to dry their skin and fur.

Larry
459.4SANFAN::BALZERMAThu Dec 17 1992 12:1110
    
    Bailey's coat has a tendency to become dry and flakey because of the
    lack of fat in his diet.  In conjunction with treating it internally
    (egg yolks, other products) I have also used Sebulex shampoo on him and 
    seen a dramatic difference. If none of the hints in this string help and 
    you do not see some improvement I would check with your vet to make sure 
    that it is not symptomatic of another problem.  Karen, thanks for the
    tip on the Pet Tabs/FA w/zinc.
    
    
459.5DKAS::FEASEAndrea Midtmoen FeaseThu Dec 17 1992 13:156
         Are any of these internal remedies (Linatone, Pet Tabs, etc.) able
    to be used by diabetic cats?  Just asking, because I was going to use
    CurTail on them to help curb the stinky boxes ;^) , but the package
    said not to use on diabetic animals without consulting the vet first.
    
    					- Andrea
459.6fatty acids, linoleic is just one!ERLANG::FALLONKaren Fallon "Moonsta Cattery"Thu Dec 17 1992 15:334
    Your welcome!  BTW the "FA" in the pet tabs stands for "fatty acids".
    There are several included in this.
    Good luck!
    Karen
459.7PROXY::HUTCHESONthe revolution will not be televisedThu Dec 17 1992 16:169
You could try adding vitamin E oil and/or cod liver oil
to their canned food. Both are available in oil filled
capsules that you can just squeeze into the food.

Also, the Pitcairn book mentioned in 458.1 has dietary
recommendations for diabetic cats.


                                    seh
459.8EMASS::SKALTSISDebThu Dec 17 1992 20:483
    I could be wrong but isn't cod liver oil poisenous to cats?
    
    Deb
459.9PROXY::HUTCHESONthe revolution will not be televisedMon Dec 21 1992 10:376
Apparently not. Bumble Bea is as alive and healthy as she
could be. Of course, in a large enough dose, a lot of
things can suddenly become lethal.


                                    seh
459.10follow-upTNPUBS::C_MILLERTue Jan 12 1993 10:247
    As a follow-up to this note I posted: I took Carly to the vet where for
    $20 they gave her a bath and a "hot oil treatment." I am very pleased
    to say that one month later, her fur is as luxurious as it is in the
    summer, practically no dandruff, fly-away fur, or excessive shedding. I
    don't even need to brush her that often either. The hot oil apparently
    restored whatever natural oils were dried out earlier in the fall with
    the flea powder/spray.
459.11exitLEDDEV::LAVRANOSTue Jan 12 1993 11:216
    
    So what kind of "hot oil treatment" was this?  The dryness has gotten
    to Spike and I wouldn't mind trying it (although he definitely will)
    
    ...Rania
    
459.12cat shows, groomers storesGAVEL::FALLONTue Mar 09 1993 16:296
    Rania,
    I have seen at New England Serum/Northeast Pet Supply actual products
    that are "hot oil treatments"  You would need to go to one of these
    stores and make a selection from the MANY products they have for
    groomers.  Perhaps Martha from Haddeleigh house will have it too.
    K
459.13Cat with dry skin!TPSYS::HILBERTTue Mar 29 1994 16:2213
    Hi,
    
    I am having a problem with Softy (my big beautiful kitty!).  It seems
    as though softy's skin is very dry and flaky like dandruff.  I spoke to
    my vet and she suggested that I give Softy a 1/4 teaspoon of vegetable
    oil for her skin.  It does seem a little better, but not 100%.  Has
    anyone encountered this problem and what did you do to solve it.  
    
    Thanks!
    
    
    Dawn