Miliary dermatitis is a descriptive term used in veterinary medicine

Veterinary medicine

Veterinary Medicine is the branch of science that deals with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, disorder and injury in non-human animals...

 to describe a multifocal distribution of skin lesions, with no identifiable pattern. The term miliary means millet

Millet

The millets are a group of small-seeded species of cereal crops or grains, widely grown around the world for food and fodder. They do not form a taxonomic group, but rather a functional or agronomic one. Their essential similarities are that they are small-seeded grasses grown in difficult...

-like, as the feel of running one's hands through the coat of an affected cat is comparable to the feeling if a cat's coat contains millet seeds

Millet

The millets are a group of small-seeded species of cereal crops or grains, widely grown around the world for food and fodder. They do not form a taxonomic group, but rather a functional or agronomic one. Their essential similarities are that they are small-seeded grasses grown in difficult...

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Causes

Miliary dermatitis is classified as a cutaneous reaction pattern of inflammation and can be the manifestation of a wide variety of skin allergies, infections or parasitic infestations. The majority of cases are associated with feline flea allergy dermatitis

Flea allergy dermatitis

Flea allergy dermatitis is an eczematous itchy skin disease of dogs and cats. For both of these domestic species flea allergy dermatitis is the most common cause of skin disease. Affected animals develop allergic reactions to chemicals in flea saliva...

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Symptoms

Cats with miliary dermatitis have a rash consisting of fine papules surmounted by small crusts. The rash can be widespread or it can be concentrated on the back of the neck and shoulder blade area or on the underside of the abdomen. Secondary infection with Staphylococcus intermedius is common. Many affected cats show signs of itchiness, and some may groom their coat excessively resulting in bald areas, but some are not apparently bothered with the rash.

Treatment

The basis of the treatment is identification and management of the underlying cause. Cats may also be treated with antibiotics and cortisone drugs. The disease may be chronic and recurrent.