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Cats Symptoms Cure |
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Symptoms Cats
> Feline Acne
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Feline Acne
Feline acne is a skin condition that occurs on the chin and edges of
the lips in affected cats. In its mildest form you will see blackheads that
may form in the skin because the cat does not wash the chin thoroughly
and/or because of abnormal oil (sebum) secretion of the skin glands in the
area. When infection occurs, swelling of the chin may be seen, and in
severe cases actual pustules (pus-containing bumps) or small abscesses
form. Although mild cases of feline acne respond readily to treatment, you
can expect recurrences when treatment is stopped since the underlying
cause usually remains.
Home treatment consists of washing the chin of affected cats daily. Use
a shampoo containing 2.5% to 3% benzoyl peroxide and rinse thoroughly.
An alternative is to scrub affected areas gently with a cotton ball moistened
with rubbing alcohol once a day (no need to rinse). After improvement,
cleaning can be reduced to twice a week to help prevent recurrences.
Cases that don’t respond to home treatment or chins that have become
very infected will need to be treated with the help of a veterinarian who can
shave your cat’s chin and prescribe antibiotics and/or prescription drugs
that modify oil gland secretions if necessary. Some persistent or recurrent
cases of feline acne associated with abnormal sebum formation respond
to fatty acid supplementation in the diet. Veterinarians can dispense
commercial fatty acid supplements or you can try giving your cat 1
teaspoonful (5 ml) poultry fat daily. Lessening of blackhead formation
should occur within six weeks if supplementaton is effective.
Eosinophilic Granuloma complex (EGC)
The eosinophilic granuloma complex (EGC) consists of three
different-looking skin abnormalities that have been traditionally grouped
together by veterinarians as if they represented different manifestations of
a single disease. In fact, these skin lesions, feline indolent ulcer (rodent
ulcer, eosinophilic ulcer), eosinophilic plaque, and eosinophilic
granuloma (linear granuloma) do not represent a single disease but the
way a cat’s skin reacts to a variety of different primary problems. Each
abnormality may appear alone or in any combination with the others
depending on the individual cat’s response to the initiating factor(s). For
the most part, the skin problems seen with EGC seem to be related to
allergy-induced or parasite- (e.g., flea or mosquito bite) induced skin
disease. In some cases viruses such as feline leukemia virus or bacteria
have been associated with forms of EGC. Factors that affect general
immune system function such as genetic background and stress may also
play a role, since all of the different skin problems grouped under EGC
show evidence of immune system activation when a skin biopsy (surgical
removal of a small piece of skin for a pathologist’s evaluation) is taken and
examined under a microscope.
Feline indolent ulcers
Indolent ulcers are usually found on the upper edges of one or both
lips, most often in the area that overlies the canine (cuspid teeth). They
can, however, occur anywhere on the body. Indolent ulcers are usually oval
shaped with a depressed area in the center and a raised edge. The
surface is raw and bright pink to red but may look brownish if a crust (scab)
has formed on the surface. Although the surface looks eroded, the skin in
the affected area often feels thickened. These ulcers do not normally seem
to cause the affected cat any discomfort. Both young and old cats of either
sex or any breed may develop indolent ulcers, but most are seen in
middle-aged female cats. It is not unusual for cats with indolent ulcers to
also have eosinophilic plaques and/or linear granulomas.
Rodent ulcer
Eosinophilic ulcers alone are sometimes no more than a cosmetic
problem for the affected cat, and small areas that are unaccompanied by
other signs and do not seem to enlarge may be left untreated. Most
indolent ulcers slowly enlarge and deepen if left untreated, and, in rare
cases, they can undergo malignant transformation and become cancerous.
So diagnosis of the cause and treatment of the ulcer is always best for the
cat.
Feline eosinophilic plaques
Eosinophilic plaques are raised, well-defined, reddened areas with a
raw surface that may ooze tissue fluids. They may occur anywhere on the
body or in the mouth of the affected cat, and they range in size from about
one-quarter inch (about 6 mm) to several inches in diameter. Cats lick and
scratch at eosinophilic plaques as they seem to be associated with
intense itching. Most affected cats are at least two years old, and there is
no breed or sex predilection for developing this skin abnormality. In areas
where fleas are prevalent, eosinophilic plaques found on the abdomen,
rump, and groin are often associated with flea bite allergy.
Feline eosinophilic granulomas
Eosinophilic (linear) granulomas are well-defined reddish to yellow
colored, raised skin areas that may appear anywhere on the body or in the
mouth of affected cats. Although the abnormal areas may be linear in
shape, they also often form firm bumps in the skin. Most linear granulomas
are found on the posterior surface of the hindlegs. Another common site is
the chin. They are often found incidentally during physical examination,
since eosinophilic granulomas are rarely associated with discomfort, and
they often seem to wax and wane in size even if untreated.
Treatment of EGC
As with other skin conditions of cats, treatment for EGC is most
successful when the cause of the problem is found and removed. Since all
of the skin abnormalities in this group have been associated with allergy,
attempts should be made to rule out fleas and other skin parasites, foods,
and inhaled allergens as triggers for the skin reaction or repeated
problems will be likely. Keep your cat clean and practice good flea control.
If you or your veterinarian suspect food allergy, you will need to feed a
restricted diet for at least four weeks to discern any positive response.
Most cases of EGC will not respond to simple home care, since the skin
abnormalities represent a reaction to long-standing stimulation of the
immune system. Your veterinarian may prescribe corticosteroid drugs
(e.g., prednisone), fatty acid supplements, and/or antibiotics to treat
certain cases. For some difficult cases, immunomodulating drugs other
than corticosteroids are used, but most good veterinarians prefer to avoid
them due to their potential for serious side effects. To this end most
veterinarians will perform diagnostic tests such as complete blood counts
(CBCs), skin biopsies, and skin testing in addition to physical examination
in an attempt to choose the best treatment and rule out conditions involving
the skin which may mimic EGC, such as cancer. Treatment for
complicated cases include hyposensitization, surgery, radiation, and laser
therapy. Consult a veterinarian specializing in dermatology if your cat has
skin abnormalities typical of EGC that do not respond to standard
treatment.
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