Kitten with REALLY dry skin

I have 2 foster kittens who are just about 7 wks old now. I got them when they were 2 weeks old. One of them has awful dry skin and has matted hair only around his neck. They were little clumps of hair that I just pulled off. He didn't complain so I am thinking they were no longer attached. I have called the rescue several times because he has dry skin all over his whole body. They say it may be his diet??? I am feeding him Wellness kitten dry and wet. Is there something I can put on his skin or feed him to help out? The rescue acts like I am over reacting but I think something is wrong. I have brushed and brushed him. His brother has no issues.

This is Ringo and his dry, hairless neck



And his dandruff

He looks like a head and shoulders ad. That's some major dry skin.

There's nothing you could put on him and honestly wellness should be more than good enough. What sort of deworming have they had? Surely since they're so young they probably haven't been, yet? I would honestly check, or just have the vet go ahead and deworm for roundworms (two doses a couple weeks apart). You may want to ask the vet if they can think of anything else that would only affect that one kitten since the other is fine. Maybe something else GI related is keeping him from getting all the nutrients he needs.

If he checks out ok you could give a little fish oil - ask the vet per dosage on a tiny kitten.


He looks like a big healthy 7week old, btw.

Thanks, he is very hearty, didn't want to give up his bottle forever but once he discovered wet food he was in heaven. They have had their first shots but not deworming yet. I am going to call the rescue again, its just awful and makes it hard to cuddle with him...it gets in my throat and my nose.

I originally had 3 kittens, Penny Lane, Ringo, and George. Penny died at about 4 wks old, I think from massive constipation. We had a really hard time getting their systems adjusted to the formula.

This is Ringo


And George

I'm sorry to hear about poor Penny. I've had that problem with really young ones, I was lucky that giving a bit of water and a tiny bit of hairball remedy got loosened on kitten up that had that problem (overnight on a Sunday). I've had a few others I took off supplemental formula (were eating it with wet) because they started to have constipation from it. But thankfully never serious.

I bet deworming will help. They shouldn't have tapesworms if they've never groomed fleas off of themselves, but roundworms come from the mother cat and pretty much every kitten born to a stray or less than cared for mother cat will have them.

You might try getting your hands lightly damp or using a damp cloth to wipe a little of the skin flakies off before cuddling.

George and Ringo are adorable. (guessing you or someone at the rescue is a big Beatles fan)

The names were kinda by accident. Penny Lane was very whiney (probably because her tummy hurt). That song kept running through my head...Penny Lane is in my EARS and in my eyes...and in my nose I couldn't get it out of my head every time she was crying we would sing it to her and she would go to sleep. Naturally we had to keep it and go with the Beetles theme. I don't want to bathe him but is there some kind of oil I could put on him that won't make him sick? Could I add fish oil to his diet?

Originally Posted by AMYSCRAZY

I don't want to bathe him but is there some kind of oil I could put on him that won't make him sick? Could I add fish oil to his diet?

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Bathing would just dry his skin more. Nothing to go on the fur or skin - you have to work on it from the inside out. And yes, fish oil on his food if the vet ok's it.

I still think a vet check up and deworming could really help.

After ruling out any medical issues such as worms, then start feeding him more wet food and cut back on dry. You can add fish oil to their food, but it might upset their little systems and cause soft stools or diarrhea, which you don't want. I bet switching to mostly dry would help.

Definitely getting them checked for intestinal parasites if you haven't is a good idea. If they have them that can affect the skin & coat. If they are all clear on that getting more fatty acids in their diet as mentioned might help. Good luck!

So today is the second day on strictly Natural Balance Venison and Green Pea. It is a limited ingredients food. His dandruff is almost completely gone How can that be? So fast?

Originally Posted by AMYSCRAZY

So today is the second day on strictly Natural Balance Venison and Green Pea. It is a limited ingredients food. His dandruff is almost completely gone

How can that be? So fast?

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It is Not from the food... maybe it was winter coat coming in dandruff or good brushing s finally doing the job... It was not the food as it takes roughly 8-10 weeks for the new coat to come in from new food