Feline Derm Flashcards
Feline atopic skin syndrome
Presents with reaction patterns
- preauricular alopecia
- DX involves ruling out hypersensitivities
Preauricular alopecia
Normal appearence, NOT a lesion
Super common or noticeable in cats
Lentigines / lentigo
Pigmented Macule or patches
Most common or noticeable in orange cats
Nasal planum, eyelids, lips, gingiva, pinna
Can increase with age or coalesce
Feline vs canine derm
less common
History and locations are less specific/helpful
2nd infection is less common
Systematic DX approach is most helpful
FASS
FLEA bite hypersensitivity is most common reaction in cats
Flea allergy dermatitis can look the same & must be ruled out ^^
Presentation of FASS
Miliary dermatitis
Self induced alopecia/hypotrichosis
Eosinophilic granuloma complex
Excoriations (head/neck pruritis & ulcers)
Miliary dermaitis
Multiple small papules commonly surrounded by crusts
Focal or diffuse
Important differentials for miliary dermatitis
FLEAS/flea allergy derm **
Food allergy **
Other ecto parasites **
Bactieral folliculitis
Pemphigus foliaceus
Self induced alopecia /hypotrichosis
PRURITIS - most likely reason for alopecia /over grooming
Common on the ventral body
Important differentials for self induce alopecia
Fleas/flea allergy derm**
Food allergy**
Other ectoparasites**
Dermatophytosis
Malassezia derm
Head & neck pruritis
Frantic clawing/scratching of head/neck
Excoriation, erosion, ulceration
Blepharitis +/- corneal ulceration
Differentials for head and neck pruritis
Fleas/flea allergy **
Food allergy **
Other ectoparasites**
Super/deep bact infection
Malassezia derm
Viral disease
Skin neoplasia
Pemphigus foliaceous
Eosinophilic granuloma complex
Indolent ulcer, EO gran or linear gran, EO plaque
Common on upper lip, can deform rostral part of lip
Non pruritic unless 2nd bacterial infection is present
Distribution of granuloma complex
EO:
- rear legs
- oral cavity
- chin swelling
Linear:
- tongue/bottom lip
-ventral rear legs
important differentials for EGC
Fleas **
Food allergy **
Infectious disease
Neoplasia
Deep bacterial infection
Eosinophilic plaque
Common on ventral abdomen, medial thighs
Raised eroded ulcerated plaque
INTENSE pruritis
Often 2nd infection present
Biopsy rules out what for EGC
Neoplasia - mast cell, lymphoma, SCC
Infectious granuloma - bacteria, fungal
Abscess
Plasma cell pododermatitis on pads
Foreign body
Signalment for FASS
Young, 6m-4y
Commonly female
Genetic component - purebreds
DX of FASS
Exclusion: rule out
Ectoparasites - scrapings
Flea allergy derm - flea control
Food allergy derm - food trial
Bacterial infection - cytology is mandatory
Diagnosing FASS
Allergen test - after other causes are ruled out NOT DX
Supportive
Treating FASS
GC’s
Allergen avoidance
Allergen specific immunoglobulin
Cyclosporine
Apoquel
Antihistamines
Antibiotics when needed
GC’s
Rapid & effective
MUST taper to lowest effective dose
AVOID long term use
Topicals are effective 70% of cases
steroids and cats
Fewer steroids receptors
- higher doses needed
- more resistant to side effects
PREDNISOLONE - wont convert/absorb prednisone
ADR of steroids
Diabetes mellitus
Congestive heart failure
Iatrogenic cushings
Skin fragility syndrome
Medial curling of ear tips
Immune suppression
Conditions are more common with cats w underlying conditions which might not be known at the time
Cyclosporine
Only FDA approved med in cats
Effective 40-100%
ADR: v/d, anorexia, weight loss
Gingival hyperplasia
Toxoplasmosis risk**
Apoquel (oclacitinib)
Off label use
Monitor closely due to little info on long term effects
Antihistamines
Small, limited benefit - not super effective
Chlorpheniramine - most potential benefit
Sedative effects can help release stress/triggers
antibiotics
Not a Tx for FASS but 2nd infections
Eosinophilic plaques & indolent ulcers - highly effective
Pillow foot
Plasma cell pododermatitis
Rare
Soft, painless swelling of footpads, white cross hatches
Unknown cause
Tx of PCP
Can spontaneously regress
Doxycycline
Immunosuppression
Food trial
Other rare but mentionable conditions
Thymoma-associated exfoliative derm
Pancreatic/biliary carcinoma associated alopecia
Shiny skin = think cancer/neoplasia
