Q: Our 14-year-old daughter developed a rash on her hand and arm. We took her to two different dermatologists before we finally got a diagnosis. She has contagious ecthyma, something I never heard of before. Her dermatologist asked if we have any sheep or goats. We have three new pet goats. He told us that this is a contagious skin disease she caught from those goats. But we checked, and none of the “kids” have any skin condition. Is this a common problem you see very often? Where does it come from? Our daughter is horrified what her friends will think so she wears long sleeves everyday to school.
A: Your daughter’s condition is unusual, but not rare. I had a similar letter from a parent some 10 years ago. Contagious ecthyma (also called orf) is a viral infection causing a rash and pustules to form on the skin in sheep and goats. It’s usually found around the face and head, particularly on the muzzle. Baby kid goats can spread it to the mammary gland of their mother merely by direct contact when they nurse. It looks horrible, but usually runs its course in a few weeks. So your goats may no longer have the disease; their immune system probably overcame it. In unusual, aggressive cases, the lesions persist longer and respond to antibiotic and antiviral ointments. But most people see the lesions disappear in several weeks.
The orf virus can spread easily by way of brushes, blankets or most anything that comes in contact with the skin lesions. And as you’ve seen, it can be shared with humans. It’s anybody’s guess where your kids’ virus originated, but the good news is that your daughter’s skin should quickly heal. And her social life should be back to normal very soon.
Q: Marcus is our old Labrador that has been uncomfortable lately. He just seems out of sorts. We noticed this morning his right ear is swollen. It doesn’t seem to bother him, but it’s really fat and ugly. I also see some scabs under his ear. I think he needs trip to the vet, but can we do anything at home to take care of this problem?
A: Probably not. It sounds as though Marcus has an aural hematoma, a blood blister in his ear flap. Veterinarians see this condition most commonly in older dogs. Usually it’s caused by a ruptured blood vessel under the skin. The scabs on his cheek may be related to his fat ear. Ear infection in the canal can cause fluid drainage. And an ear infection is uncomfortable, causing a dog to scratch at his ear or rub it excessively on the carpet. Aggressive scratching can cause a blood vessel to rupture or leak blood under the skin. All his symptoms are likely related to the same problem. So a trip to the vet is necessary. There are a few other possible, but less likely scenarios here. But regardless of the condition, Marcus will need treatment for his swollen ear and his discomfort.
Q: Marty is our black panther. Actually, he’s just a small, black kitty we adopted seven years ago from the shelter. But he thinks he’s a big tough dude. Lately, he’s been acting really weird and skittish. He seems to be compulsively licking and scratching. Yesterday, I felt some little scabs on his back. Is this an infection? What should we do? He can’t be too tough if he loses all his fur.
A: Take a good look at Marty’s skin. Those small scabs might be milia, so named because they look like millet seeds. Some people refer to Marty’s condition as “scabby cat disease.” It can be caused by a number of different problems, but one particular condition is usually the culprit. Milia on cats usually means allergy, and the No. 1 allergy in kitties here in California is fleas. The warm weather we’ve enjoyed this month has helped these blood-sucking parasites stay very active. They’re out there, in Marty’s backyard and even in the house, just waiting to jump on to get a quick and easy blood meal.
Flea control is easy these days. Several different medications can effectively prevent fleas from ever biting your little panther. The most effective are those applied to the skin over the neck once monthly. But be very careful. Some pet store flea products can be very toxic to cats. And some are less effective than others. (In fact there are some products that are nothing more than concentrated flea spray and these never work very well.) Best advice? Talk to Marty’s vet about which flea control would work best for him. If the itch is too much for the little guy, there are prescription medications that can make feel comfortable again.
