Small, transparent pockets of fluids in the skin that are usually caused by rubbing or chafing. Blisters are most often caused by a allergic reaction, but can also be caused by a trauma of infection. Although blisters don’t necessarily cause severe harm to your cat or dog, they can be a sign of a serious medical condition if they do not heal. If the blisters do not heal on itself, it is advised to consult a veterinarian.
How to Recognize
Blisters on your pet’s skin that are small and contain serum or clear fluid are called vesicles. Blisters that are filled with pus are called pustules. These tiny bumps can make your dog or cat itchy and uncomfortable, and they can lead to secondary bacterial infections if their underlying cause is not treated. The blisters appear as tiny, raised bumps on the skin of your pet. You may notice your dog or cat scratching or chewing at the skin. For a closer inspection, slowly rub your pet’s coat in the opposite direction of the natural hair growth so that the skin is exposed. The blisters are red in color, and you may also see crusting of the skin where a blister may have burst.
Causes of Blisters On The Skin
Blisters on a pet’s skin can result from a number of dermatological conditions, including demodectic mange, pyoderma, fungal infections, allergic contact dermatitis and flea allergy dermatitis. Food allergies can also cause skin reactions that result in blisters.
Diagnosis
Your veterinarian will perform a physical examination and pose questions regarding your pet’s recent activities, diet and overall health history. If fleas or flea excrement are found on your dog or cat, then the cause of the blisters becomes obvious. A skin scraping may be performed to detect the presence of demodectic mites. If neither fleas nor mites are found, further tests may include skin biopsies, fungal and bacterial cultures, blood panels and allergy testing.
Similar Symptoms
Other signs and symptoms of a skin condition include alopecia, reddened skin, discoloration of the skin, small blisters filled with serum, clear fluid or pus, scaling or crusting of the skin, a foul odor to the skin and itchiness.
Possible Conditions
In addition to the aforementioned causes, a group of autoimmune disorders also presents with blisters on the skin. These conditions include lupus, pemphigus and bullous pemphigoid. Collies and Shetland sheepdogs are prone to a condition called dermatomyositis.
Treatment for Blisters On The Skin
The treatment for skin blisters depends on the underlying cause. Contact allergic dermatitis may be treated with antihistamines and steroids. In severe cases, allergy testing may be necessary so that a desensitization treatment plan can be implemented. Flea allergy dermatitis will clear up once a flea preventive product is applied. In the case of food allergies, feeding trials of limited or novel ingredient prescription diets may be recommended. Pyoderma, which is a bacterial infection of the skin, is treated with antibiotic therapy. A series of medicated dips is the usual treatment for demodectic mange. If your pet is diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder, then immunosuppressive therapy may be pursued. To improve the skin’s general health, your veterinarian may recommend bathing your pet with a soothing shampoo and adding fatty acid and vitamin E supplementation to your dog or cat’s diet. It is important to treat skin blisters in pets in order to prevent secondary bacterial infections that result when the itchy pet scratches the blisters and inflicts open lesions and lacerations to the skin.
Pet Insurance
When adding a dog or cat to your family you want to make sure your pet is happy, healthy and protected. During its lifetime your pet is exposed to many illnesses and diseases and some breeds are affected by a congenital disease which is a condition existing at birth. At these moments when your pet is ill or maybe needs surgery, you want to be protected for the unexpected and high veterinarian costs.
