Dog With Dull Coat

by Mary Ann
(Peoria)

My 17-year-old female was getting a dull coat. When I groomed her, I discovered lumpy mats that were difficult to get out, even though she is a short hair. After difficult combing, big sticky white flakes were observed. The dullest areas seemed to give her the most discomfort when the clumps of hair were finally combed out. My hand seemed to have a sickish odor.

Any ideas?



Vet Suggestion Cat With Dull Coat and Flakes



Hello Mary Ann,

Older cats frequently suffer from undiagnosed arthritis. A common place for it to develop is along the back, which makes the bending associated with self-grooming very painful. Affected cats will often develop mats in this area, under which the skin can become moist and sometimes even infected, which would explain the odor you describe.

Other explanations are also possible, so it would be best for you to make an appointment with your veterinarian. He or she should be able to give you a pretty good idea of what might be going on with your cat based on a physical examination, simple skin tests, and perhaps some x-rays and/or lab work and then make appropriate recommendations for treatment.



Best of luck,
Jennifer Coates, DVM