Persian Dirty Face

[Mewsgirl]

I need help immediately. My little Persian, Max, has a severe case of "Persian Dirty Face". Sometimes it's known as Feline Acne, but it's a lot worse. It totally encompasses his mouth, lips and cheek areas. My vet and I have tried steroids, anti-bacterial washes, anti-biotics. He eats out of a Corell dish, which is cleaned every other day. My other cat, a Himalayan, has no problems. We currently have him on an anti-biotic licensed only for dogs, which seemed to work earlier this year. Now, it looks as though he has developed an immunity to it. The cost ($100 a month) is killing me for the pills. He's miserable, so am I. My vet said this drug was a last resort.
If anyone has experienced this level of "dirty face", I would love to hear from you. His quality of life sucks and the thought of putting him to sleep makes me cry, but we've been dealing with this for 2-1/2 years now.
Any solutions???????

[Grace]

He eats out of a Corell dish, which is cleaned every other day.

This is the only thing I question. Our Vet said we should use ceramic or glass bowls for cat acne. We had been using Corelle and/or stainless steel. The ceramic has seemed to work.

I also wash it after every feeding.

[slick]

Meet my Max. He's a persian too (flame point) and yes, I have to wash his facie every day. His food dish is a ceramic one that I made and his water dish is a stainless steel bowl. I wash them both every morning. My Max has never had a problem such as you describe but I don't know if it's because of the dishes. I have to wash all around his eyes, cheeks and mouth every day sometimes several times a day. I do find that with my Max, diet played a role. Since I've cut him back on the wet food, it doesn't seem as bad. Wish I could offer more advice.

[biemme]

I have a cat with the same problem. We tried many things, but the only thing that seems to work is antibiotic injections.

If you want to search the web yourself for other sources of information try searching for "idiopathic persian facial dermatitis" or "idiopathic facial dermatitis of persian cats" (yay for easy words \°°/).

Godd luck with your boy.

[kb2yjx]

If your cat has what looks like coffee grinds all over his chin, corners of mouth, in the crease just below the eyes, it IS the idiopathic dermatis that biemme spoke about. Our Raven(a Persian), has it. We " wash " her face after each meal(twice a day). I have found that using a flea comb helps remove the debris. I have read that drugs are ineffective in treating it. Tresaderm does not even help!!! Good luck!!!

[ratchet22]

If anyone has experienced this level of "dirty face", I would love to hear from you. His quality of life sucks and the thought of putting him to sleep makes me cry, but we've been dealing with this for 2-1/2 years now.
Any solutions???????

I HAVE ONE THAT IS AWFUL, REALLY BAD, AND I PUT STRAIGHT PEROXIDE ON IT, TWICE A DAY, CLEARS IT UP QUICKLY, BUT IT ALWAYS RETURNS, HE IS DOOMED WITH IT FOREVER I THINK

[TamanduaGirl]

Kat has feline acne too. We rub neem oil into it and that really helps. My dad even gave some to this guy with a nast skin condition(forget what it's called at the moment) and it helped him too, not the sort of thing that can be cured just like the acne, but it helps. It helps her heel quickly and doesn't have out breaks so often. It's very managable this way. We also use a neem mix spray all over for fleas and general skin/coat health on her and all the pets. Well except guinea pigs. I did try it on Jupiter to see if it helps his sheading. Seems to me he sheads more than a bunny's supposed to but he has a wonderful coat. Anyway I swear by neam for any and almost all skin conditions. It helps all skin conditions but some curable ones need a little something extra sometimes to compleatly heal.

[Niki77]

This is my first time posting and am so glad to have found this board. I have a 2 1/2 year old Himalyan, Frankie, who has a VERY bad case of feline acne/dirty face/facial dermatitis. His condition started out with a few black crustings under his chin last year but quickly moved to his entire face, ears and eyes. His eyes are so bad that they are crusted shut. I have to clean his face and ears at least twice a day, but it continues to come back and his face becomes raw and bleeds. We've changed his food, bowls, litter, etc. We've tried 5 different antibiotics which work for awhile and then the crustings come back. He's received steroid shots and ivomac shots which seem to help the inflamation, but then the crustings come back. He's been tested for mites, mange, ringworm with negative results. Ive had him checked by a feline dermatologist who just prescribed another antibiotic which didnt help. My vet finally performed a very expensive biopsy on his face and the results indicated that he had 2 severe bacterial infections with unknown causes and resistent to most antibiotics except cipro which I just started giving him along with another steroid shot given by his vet. So now I wait and see what happens. The frustrating part is that throughout the year, he's had weeks when it's cleared up completely, but then it comes back with a vengence. Good luck to all of you and your cats and I definately will keep you posted on Frankie's progress.

[kb2yjx]

First welcome!! Second, as you can see from my post above, our rescued Persian, Raven has the same problem. I have been keeping the area under the chin shaved, and gently remove the debris with a flea comb. I wash with plain water her eye area after breakfast and supper. Her food bowl is washed after each meal. Raven is not thrilled about this routine, but it has helped. Good Luck....

[Niki77]

Hi Raven's mom and thank you for the welcome and for your reponse. Well, I think Frankies dermatitis has gotten so severe that I can't seem to wipe it or wash it off. His skin and hair start peeling and bleed. I have been washing his bowls daily to limit any bacteria that he comes in contact with, but at this point my vet thinks it's more internal than external, that his body is fighting against itself. I even had him boarded at the vet for about a 5 days where he along with his enviorment could be monitored closely and meds given properly, but his body continued to produce the oily black crusts. When he has been free of the dermatitis, we really aren't sure why and what has really helped. Im wondering if stress could be causing his problems. I have another cat and a dog and they all get along great. Oh well, I'll continue searching for a solution. Thanks!

[saphira]

Hi mewsgirl...my Persian-silver shaded one year two months old also has this black face stuff. I've tried two different antibiotiics, one for 28 days, different cleaners(chlorhexidine) ,ceramic dishes, different foods. Now I think it is hormonal. I was going to breed her, but now I have an apppointment to have her spayed. The difference that Yazzmyna has is that it doesn't seem painful. It looks terrible, but she allows me to clean it and seems to actually enjoy it. She is a happy gentle kiten. I fell so sad for you and your boy! It is a nightmare when your pet is in pain...please don't give up yet. My daughter is a bird person and told about my cat on her site and this is how I got to this site and you. My next plan of action is to try some homeopathic remedys. But I'm going to wait until after she is spayed Feb 7. Please feel free to email me.....saphira...

[Niki77]

Hi All, wanted to give an update on Frankie...You all have been so kind by providing advice and tips! Frankie is doing well. His last depo shot was on February 2; Im still giving him antibiotics, but only every other day or so and his breakouts are minimal. Im hoping that he can be off the antibiotics completely, but of course will monitor him closely.

When he had received his depo shot the end of December, his face, chin and eyes were crusting up about 2 weeks after, but wasnt really bad. It's been almost 4 weeks since his last shot Feb 2 and his crustings are very few. I've been giving him and my other cat the California Natural Chicken & Rice food for almost 2 months now and both my cats love it. I think the change in his diet to a natural food has made all the difference.

Thanks again and will keep you posted!

[kb2yjx]

It is funny that you should post an update today, as I have been thinking of posting. Our sweet nearly 11 old Persian, Raven, has not had an outbreak of the crusting, she gets it around her eyes, side of mouth, and her jaw, since I started to add the following to her food(Raven is a kidney kitty that eats Hills k/d wet food(she has no teeth, but can gum the dry food). OK, about a half tsp of Dream Coat, Anitra's Vita-Mineral Mix(both are made by Halo-www.halopets.com), for Cats Nu-Pet Feline Granular(www.arknaturals.com)and lecithin granules. This has to be increased s-l-o-w-l-y in about 4 tsps of water(since Raven eats wet food the whole thing can be mixed together!! Besides the black coffee ground crusts being gone, he coat is so fluffy and shiny!!! Please let me know if this helps. Raven has NEVER been treated with antibiotics or steriods for the crusting, but what a HUGE surprise to see that this worked!!! GOOD LUCK!!! Sandra

[Dalena27]

Hi All, wanted to give an update on Frankie...You all have been so kind by providing advice and tips! Frankie is doing well. His last depo shot was on February 2; Im still giving him antibiotics, but only every other day or so and his breakouts are minimal. Im hoping that he can be off the antibiotics completely, but of course will monitor him closely.

When he had received his depo shot the end of December, his face, chin and eyes were crusting up about 2 weeks after, but wasnt really bad. It's been almost 4 weeks since his last shot Feb 2 and his crustings are very few. I've been giving him and my other cat the California Natural Chicken & Rice food for almost 2 months now and both my cats love it. I think the change in his diet to a natural food has made all the difference.

Thanks again and will keep you posted!

Can you tell me how your frankie is doing? My cat recently got diagnosed with idiopathic facial dermatitis as well. Ive been all over the net looking for safer solutions but only can come across topical ointment called tacrolimus, oral liquid atopica and denamarin. I too have changed foods,bowls, litters,special face wipes the list goes on and on.