How to Diagnose and Treat Stallion Tail in Cats

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How to Diagnose and Treat Stallion Tail in Cats
How to Diagnose and Treat Stallion Tail in Cats

Video: How to Diagnose and Treat Stallion Tail in Cats

Video: How to Diagnose and Treat Stallion Tail in Cats
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Stallion tail is a rare skin disease that affects cats. Its cause is the excess production of sebaceous material and its manifestation is similar to acne in humans. Although the stallion tail is not serious, with no impact on the cat's longevity, it can cause discomfort and lead to more serious problems. Either way, it is possible to know the symptoms, see a veterinarian and get treatment.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Detecting Stallion Tail Signals

Diagnose and Treat Stud Tail in Cats Step 1
Diagnose and Treat Stud Tail in Cats Step 1

Step 1. Touch the cat's fur to see if it is oily

Since a stallion's tail is caused by the accumulation of oily material in the fur, you can feel the oil in the cat's back hair, which is an indication of a stallion's tail.

  • Oily hairs usually appear on the pussy's back and tail.
  • Check that there are no other reasons for this oiliness such as a recent medicinal application, or if the cat is very dirty.
Diagnose and Treat Stud Tail in Cats Step 2
Diagnose and Treat Stud Tail in Cats Step 2

Step 2. Take into account the age and sex of the cat

All cats can develop a stallion tail, but some are more prone than others. That's why, when detecting whether or not your cat has this condition, you need to take into account the cat's age and sex.

  • Young, unneutered cats are more likely to develop a stallion's tail.
  • Neutered cats can also develop the condition.
  • In the case of females, neutered or not, the stallion's tail is rare.
Diagnose and Treat Stud Tail in Cats Step 3
Diagnose and Treat Stud Tail in Cats Step 3

Step 3. Observe if the cat's fur is changing

Oil buildup can result in noticeable changes in the affected area. Examine your cat's fur for changes. Among the symptoms are:

  • Yellowing of the fur in light-haired cats;
  • Hair fall off the tail or upper back of the torso.
Diagnose and Treat Stud Tail in Cats Step 4
Diagnose and Treat Stud Tail in Cats Step 4

Step 4. Look for skin problems

The clearest signs of a stallion's tail are changes in the fur, tail, and upper back of the trunk. These changes are, in short, a result of the accumulation of oily material in the skin. This can irritate the cat and it will start scratching the affected area. Note if there are:

  • Reddish bumps on the tail or nearby areas;
  • Reddened, peeled or swollen skin;
  • Black specks or pimple-like growths on the tail or nearby areas.
  • Emergence of pus in the tail or in nearby areas. Such symptoms can only occur in the case of infections.

Part 2 of 3: Seeing the veterinarian

Diagnose and Treat Stud Tail in Cats Step 5
Diagnose and Treat Stud Tail in Cats Step 5

Step 1. Answer the vet's questions

When taking you to the office, the professional will ask about the behavior, symptoms, etc. of the cat. Please reply in detail.

  • Be very specific. Details are important. When was the first time you noticed something wrong with the cat's skin? How fast is your progression? Say "I noticed something strange and oily on Belo's tail a month ago, but in the last few days he has started to lose hair and some strange lumps have appeared."
  • Don't omit anything. While you may not find it important that your cat has licked its tail in the last month, this can be important information for your veterinarian.
Diagnose and Treat Stud Tail in Cats Step 6
Diagnose and Treat Stud Tail in Cats Step 6

Step 2. Allow him to examine the affected area

After the questions, he will do a physical examination of the cat, noting the affected area and moving towards a diagnosis.

  • The veterinarian may feel the stallion's tail area for sensitivity.
  • The professional will assess whether the skin is infected.
Diagnose and Treat Stud Tail in Cats Step 7
Diagnose and Treat Stud Tail in Cats Step 7

Step 3. He will be able to do a tape test

Using an acetate tape, the veterinarian will look for bacteria and parasites on your cat. It looks like duct tape and is an easy way to find out more about a cat's problem. The test is done by pressing the tape into the pussy's skin and collecting a hair sample.

The veterinarian will be able to examine the sample in the office

Diagnose and Treat Stud Tail in Cats Step 8
Diagnose and Treat Stud Tail in Cats Step 8

Step 4. Ask the veterinarian to culture the bacteria

Once he's determined that the problem is a stallion's tail, he'll need to do a bacterial culture to see if the cat has any infections. If he does, the best option is the use of antibiotics.

  • The veterinarian will collect skin or pus samples from the affected area.
  • It will then introduce them to a sterile environment and allow the bacteria to reproduce.
  • This test will let you know if there are bacteria present and what type. Thus, the professional will be able to prescribe the most efficient antibiotic.

Part 3 of 3: Treating a stallion's tail

Diagnose and Treat Stud Tail in Cats Step 9
Diagnose and Treat Stud Tail in Cats Step 9

Step 1. Clean the affected area

After diagnosis, cleaning is required. This allows the cat's fur to recover more easily.

  • Under veterinary advice, use a soap for this purpose.
  • Clear the area of all impurities: dirt, dead skin, loose hair, etc.
Diagnose and Treat Stud Tail in Cats Step 10
Diagnose and Treat Stud Tail in Cats Step 10

Step 2. Wash the cat's tail regularly

The vet will recommend that you do this. With the removal of impurities, the chances of infection are reduced. Some products also moisturize the affected area.

Your veterinarian may recommend some antibacterial fluid, such as chlorhexidine gluconate. The recommendation for use will be two or three times a day

Diagnose and Treat Stud Tail in Cats Step 11
Diagnose and Treat Stud Tail in Cats Step 11

Step 3. Give the cat antibiotics

In case of serious infections, the veterinarian may recommend broad-spectrum antibiotics. This is important as an infection can spread from the site.

  • Carefully follow the veterinarian's instructions.
  • Do not miss any dose.
  • Even with the animal's improvement, do not interrupt the antibiotic treatment.
  • Among the antibiotics that can be prescribed are amoxicillin, tetracycline and ampicillin.
Diagnose and Treat Stud Tail in Cats Step 12
Diagnose and Treat Stud Tail in Cats Step 12

Step 4. Apply topical medications

In addition to washing and sterilizing the affected area, you can apply topical medications. Such remedies are meant to help fight infection and help heal the skin. Among them are:

  • Mupirocin;
  • Retinoids;
Diagnose and Treat Stud Tail in Cats Step 13
Diagnose and Treat Stud Tail in Cats Step 13

Step 5. Prevent recurrences by bathing the cat from time to time

As soon as you notice that the cat is healing from the stallion's tail, take steps to prevent future infections. This is definitely easy to do. Bathe the cat regularly.

  • It is possible to prevent recurrences of the infection by washing the animal's tail and back. By focusing on the afflicted area, you don't need to upset the cat with a full bath.
  • As the cat ages, it is possible to reduce the frequency of bathing. Talk to the vet about this.
  • Some pussies can benefit from an anti-seborrheic shampoo.
Diagnose and Treat Stud Tail in Cats Step 14
Diagnose and Treat Stud Tail in Cats Step 14

Step 6. If the cat is male, neuter it to prevent a stallion's tail

This condition, being caused by hormonal fluctuations, is more common in unneutered male cats. The best way to prevent it is to neuter the cat, eliminating these fluctuations.

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