Exam 2 - Feline Allergic Skin Disease

Question 1

what common clinical signs are associated with feline pruritus?

Answer 1

excessive grooming!!!!

scratching, licking, etc

Question 2

what is the big question to consider when presented with a pruritic cat?

Answer 2

what is the pattern

Question 3

what are feline cutaneous reaction patterns?

Answer 3

commonly recognized lesions - skin response to an inflammatory stimuli that is NOT a definitive diagnosis

Question 4

what are 4 examples of feline cutaneous reaction patterns?

Answer 4

1. pruritic dermatitis - head, neck, pinnal pruritus (cervicofacial dermatitis)
2. self-induced alopecia
3. miliary dermatitis
4. eosinophilic skin lesions - indolent ulcers, eosinophilic plaques, & eosinophilic granulomas

Question 5

what is this called?

Answer 5

fur mowing

Question 6

what should you rule out when presented with a pruritic cat?

Answer 6

rule out parasites & infection first

Question 7

what is the minimum database for working up a pruritic cat?

Answer 7

skin scrapings

impression cytology

woods lamp, DTM, & PCR

Question 8

T/F: any feline cutaneous reaction pattern can be flea allergy dermatitis

Answer 8

true

Question 9

if a cat’s face is only affected with skin lesions, what do you think is going on?

Answer 9

food allergy!!!

Question 10

how is feline atopic skin syndrome diagnosed?

Answer 10

clinical diagnosis based on exclusion of other pruritic skin diseases - no test to diagnose atopic dermatitis

positive serum or skin testing can support the diagnosis & guide therapy

Question 11

what factors affect feline atopic skin syndrome?

Answer 11

immune system dysregulation

genetics & environment

epidermal barrier dysfunction

Question 12

what is the major cytokine you would think is involved in feline atopic skin syndrome?

Answer 12

IL-31

Question 13

can you use cytopoint in cats?

Answer 13

NO - could kill them

Question 14

can you use apoquel in cats? should you?

Answer 14

yes - maybe not, not labelled for cats & they metabolize it faster, so you have to dose them twice a day and at a higher dose

Question 15

how long does it take for a cat to clear a bacterial skin infection?

Answer 15

3-4 weeks

Question 16

what is the most common allergy seen in cats?

Answer 16

flea allergy dermatitis

Question 17

why not use turkey or duck as a novel protein in a diet trial for a pruritic cat?

Answer 17

they are closely related to chicken which is likely something the cat has eaten before

need something novel

Question 18

T/F: in feline food allergies, the protein is the most common offender & not the grain

Answer 18

true

Question 19

why is blood testing for allergens better than the injections in cats?

Answer 19

cats suck at making hives

Question 20

T/F: we don’t know if cats with atopy have a faulty epidermal barrier

Answer 20

true

Question 21

what glucocorticoid would you use in an itchy cat? why?

Answer 21

prednisolone - need the active form of the drug because they’re lacking in glucoronidation

Question 22

this pattern distribution represents what feline cutaneous reaction pattern?

Answer 22

cervicofacial dermatitis

Question 23

this pattern distribution represents what feline cutaneous reaction pattern?

Answer 23

self-induced alopecia - will get to wherever they can reach

Question 24

this pattern distribution represents what feline cutaneous reaction pattern?

Answer 24

miliary dermatitis - easier to feel rather than see, little crusted papules

Question 25

this pattern distribution represents what feline cutaneous reaction pattern?

Answer 25

eosinophilic skin lesions - back of the caudal thighs, ventral chin, & oral lesions

Question 26

this pattern distribution represents what feline cutaneous reaction pattern?

Answer 26

eosinophilic skin lesions

Question 27

this pattern distribution represents what feline cutaneous reaction pattern?

Answer 27

eosinophilic plaques - very pruritic

Question 28

what is the lesion in the picture? what differential are you considering?

Answer 28

eosinophilic plaque - bacterial pyoderma

Question 29

this pattern distribution represents what feline cutaneous reaction pattern?

Answer 29

indolent ulcer - can be unilateral or bilateral & the animal may or may not have clinical signs

Question 30

what part of the flea life cycle are you targeting in therapy?

Answer 30

adult - need an adulticidal

Question 31

do we see evidence of fleas with cats?

Answer 31

not often - cats are great hunters