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Cat claws problem
Submitted by cat001 on Jan 24, 2007
Hey,i have a 14 year old cat, the skin that holds her claws into place is going black and crusty, what could be the cause for this?
Answer:
This is an infection of the nail bed. It is most commonly caused by a bacterial infection, but can occasionally be fungal. Many times, it is related to an allergy to cat litter. If you have recently changed litters, then you should go back to what you have been using previously. You should bring her to your vet so that an antiseptic solution can be prescribed for soaking her paws. She may also need oral antibiotics if the vet feels the infection is bad enough. If it hasn't been done recently (past 6 months), you should ask your vet to run some senior blood work on her; often times, diseases such as diabetes or hyperthyroidism can suppress the immune system, making kitties more susceptible to opportunistic infections. At your cat's age, it would be a very good idea to make sure this isn't the problem.
Hope that helps!
Dr. Jen
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