Q: I have a cat that is 13 years old. He has a problem with itching – so much that he is losing hair on the back. He was okay this winter but as soon as the snow started melting this itching problem began again. He does not appear to have fleas. We are from MN and are just coming out of a very hard winter. What can I use on his skin and now his wound. I saw that aloe vera works good. Can I put on his wound? Thank you .
A: There can be many causes for itching and scratching including allergies, parasites and behavioural. I think that you are indicating in your email that he has had this problem before. If it is occurring with the onset of snowmelt each year there may be an allergic component to it, possibly to molds.
Topical treatment of the skin can be helpful but will not deal with the underlying problem. I would recommend that you consult with a holistic veterinarian to try to identify the cause.
I am not sure what you are currently feeding but a high quality holistic food is a an important part of any treatment or preventive approach. A balanced raw food diet is the best, supplemented with a high quality fish oil.
In the meantime, you could try aloe vera spray or gel to help with the healing. Look for an organic, stabilised gel product. Too much aloe vera sap can cause vomiting and diarrhea if he licks the area and ingests it. If you use a fresh leaf, be sure only to use the internal gel and do not allow any of the green liquid from the outer rind to contaminate it. Another herb that can help with healing is calendula, either as a tincture diluted one part with ten parts water, or as calendula cream applied in a thin layer and rubbed in as far as possible.
