{"id":653606,"date":"2024-09-30T10:57:38","date_gmt":"2024-09-30T14:57:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.catster.com\/?p=653606"},"modified":"2024-10-08T06:44:56","modified_gmt":"2024-10-08T10:44:56","slug":"skin-ulcers-in-cats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.catster.com\/ask-the-vet\/skin-ulcers-in-cats\/","title":{"rendered":"Skin Ulcers in Cats: Our Vet Explains the Causes, Treatment & FAQs"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n <\/span>\n \nOverview<\/a>
\nSigns<\/a>
\nCauses<\/a>
\nDiagnosis<\/a>
\nCare Guide<\/a>
\nFAQ<\/a>
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Some feline diseases are quite subtle, but skin ulcers are not. Skin ulcers look like sores or open wounds on your cat. They are painful because the skin is very sensitive. Your cat might have the urge to lick or scratch the wounds, which will make things worse.<\/p>\n

Skin ulcers are just a sign of an illness, not a diagnosis. Your cat\u2019s skin ulcers could be from something as benign as an insect bite or as severe as cancer. You should visit a vet so that they can diagnose your cat and prescribe medication as needed to get them back on track.<\/p>\n

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What Are Skin Ulcers?<\/h2>\n

The skin acts as a waterproof barrier between your cat\u2019s body and the environment, and it has three layers. The outer epidermis is a layer of skin cells that move to the surface to form a barrier of dead skin cells.<\/p>\n

The dermis is the middle layer that provides structural support and houses blood vessels. The deepest layer is the subcutaneous layer, which is made of fat and muscles. Skin ulcers are breaks in the skin that typically go through the whole epidermis or deeper. They look like sores or open wounds.<\/p>\n

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Image Credit: Wirestock Creators, Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What Are the Signs of Skin Ulcers?<\/h2>\n

Skin ulcers can be very painful for cats. These open wounds are also prone to infection as the body\u2019s normal defense (the skin barrier) has been breached. This means that opportunistic bacteria move to the wounds and begin multiplying there.<\/p>\n

If your cat has skin ulcers, you may notice signs like:<\/div>
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