A few years ago, I discovered that Lally had a plastic allergy when I saw pet chin acne. She started breaking out in little red bumps all over her muzzle. After ruling out a food allergy, the vet suggested that she might be allergic to the plastic in her bowl. We switched to a ceramic bowl and she hasn’t had any trouble since!
Acne is a relatively common skin problem in cats and dogs. The problem can start at any age, and looks a lot like acne in humans — red bumps, often on the chin and lower lip. The bumps may look dirty, like blackheads. They may rupture and leave little sores (this is what happened to Lally). They may fill with pus.
What causes chin acne? It’s often an allergy issue. Any one of the following can trigger chin acne:
- Exposure to fleas
- Food allergies
- Reaction to inhaled particles (pollution, mold, pollen)
- Sensitivity to plastic bowls or toys
An allergy is only part of the problem. There may be a bacterial infection, poor hygiene, and/or excessive oil production contributing to the development of chin acne.
Acne develops most often on the chin and lower lip because this is the part that may have first contact with the allergen. A pet who is allergic to a plastic toy or bowl usually encounters the object with her face/mouth. However, acne can also develop on the upper lip, cheeks, and even at the base of the tail.
Your veterinarian can diagnose chin acne based mostly on appearance. Diagnostic tests can help rule out the presence of infection on the chin — this will involve scraping the skin to take cultures for bacteria/fungi and to look for mites.
Treating chin acne is relatively quick, easy, and inexpensive. We’ll look at treatments for chin acne in pets tomorrow in the Pets Blog.