Dandruff

[shlanon]

Justin seems to be getting more and more dandruff in his fur. I am also getting a lot more fur off when I brush him, although his fur appears to be the same thickness.
What could be causing the dandruff and what should I do about it?

[kitkat]

Some cats have really dry skin and you can get cream from the vets if it is really that bad. As for the hair, Twinkie seems to be losing alot more fur lately and Im thinking its just his winter coat shedding, he seems fine and healthy otherwise.

[JenUrich]

I hope it's ok that I'm replying to this thread instead of creating a brand new one about dandruff.

One of my cats also has really bad dandruff, I brush and comb her every day but it's like she just has flakes everywhere. Do people bathe their cats to get rid of it, and if so is there a recommended shampoo that works well? Are there other good products out there to get rid of dandruff? She eats both canned and dry food, maybe there are supplements to help?

Any ideas would be great, thanks!

[Padunk]

Running the humidifier has helped Punky combat excess shedding/dry skin/dandruff

[Rayona]

My kittens have developed dandruff this winter too. I gave them a bath with some oatmeal & aloe cat shampoo which seemed to help. I groom them every day with a rubber brush and use a conditioning spray every few days. I have also been feeding them a bit more wet food, more of it fish then usual. They seem much better in just 2 weeks.

[EmmaLemonPeel]

This is just a guess, but I'm wondering whether adding a bit of fresh oily fish (like mackerel, sardines, tuna) to their diet, if not every day then perhaps something like two to three times per week, wouldn't help or even solve the problem of bad/dry skin in the long run (of course, making sure there are no bones left if the fish is fresh, just in case!). Oily fish also helps with arthritis, so they could get two benefits for the price of one!

I'd be interested to know whether anyone agrees with me on this one.

Also we mustn't forget that it's not a good idea to give a cat canned fish in brine, as the salt in the brine is really bad for them (I know this goes without saying, but I know someone who used to give his cat tuna in brine as a treat, without realising how bad it is for them. He doesn't do it anymore). The only canned fish to give to cats should be in water or spring water.

[simmerdown81]

I have read that actually giving a cat canned fish that we eat isnt that great for their digestive tracts. Although their wet food can be made of fish...for some reason supposedly even human canned fish in water isnt great for them. Thats just what I read somewhere on here.

[Eric24]

Oreo has some dandruff once in awhile...she doesn't groom herself as much as she should....Occasionally she'll let me brush her....but she doesn't groom herself enough...but she's still beautiful..

[drjean]

I'd suggest fish oil rather than fish. A lot of cats seem to be sensitive to fish and will develop crystals and cystitis from it. Tuna and other fatty fish can also cause steatitis, a painful inflammation of fatty tissue throughout the body. Plus, cats are easily turned into "tuna junkies" and then won't eat their regular food, which really unbalances their diets and leads to big problems.

Flaxseed oil is another alternative source of Omega 3 fatty acids, which are all helpful for skin and coat problems.

Actually, too much brushing/combing can make dandruff worse. But most likely it's the dryness of the winter that's the biggest culprit--humidifier is a great idea.

Cheers,
Dr. Jean

[Janeway]

Has anyone tryed giving there cat olive oil due to there dandruff. Cutie has dandruff and l was wondering if this was ok to do so also l have giving her some on a spoon and she likes it. She had a bath to help as well.