Feline Dermatoses

Question 1

Define miliary dermatitis syndrome (“scabby cat syndrome”)

Answer 1

• not a specific dermatosis
  
  • ​it is a symptom
  • it is “seedy”
  • it is a “reaction pattern”
• C/S:
  
  • papular seedy eruption
    
    • easier to feel than to see
    • frequently: dorsal neck and back

Question 2

What are the etiologies of miliary dermatitis syndrome?

Answer 2

• Parasitic
• Allergy: flea allergy (>80%), atopy, food allergy
• I N 4
• Microbial: Dermatophytes, Bacteria
• E

Question 3

How do you diagnose miliary dermatitis?

Answer 3

• C/S: may or may not itch
• look for underlying cause:
  
  • hx suggestive of allergies
  • fungal culture to rule out curable contagious dz
  • skin scrapings for parasites
  • response to flea control

Question 4

How do you treat miliary dermatitis?

Answer 4

• Long term (define underlying cause)
• Short term (palliative)
  
  • Depomedrol
  • Prednisolone

Question 5

Describe Eosinophilic Granuloma Complex

Answer 5

• Includes several clinical manifestations:
  
  • indolent ulcer
  • eosinophilic plaque
  • collagenolytic granuloma
• different “reaction patterns’ grouped into complex

Question 6

Describe indolent ulcers

Answer 6

• “rodent ulcer”
• inflammatory ulcer usually located on the upper lip
• unilateral/bilateral
• potential concurrent symptoms
  
  • nodular pharyngeal granuloma
• assoc. w/ underlying allergy
• rarely will progress into SCC

Question 7

How do you diagnose an indolent ulcer?

Answer 7

• C/S and hx
• Dermatopathology (biopsy)
  
  • r/o other conditions
  • +/- eosinophils

Question 8

How do you treat indolent ulcers?

Answer 8

• long term - look for underlying dz, flea control!
• short term
  
  • antibiotics
  • glucocorticoids
  • cyclosporine
  • chlorambucil (resistant ulcers)

Question 9

Describe the clinical features of eosinophilic plaques

Answer 9

• well circumscribed red yellow edematous plaque
• intensely pruritic
• usually on groin or medial thighs
• assoc. w/ allergic dz
  
  • especially flea allergy!

Question 10

How do you diagnose and treat eosinophilic plaques?

Answer 10

• Dx:
  
  • C/S
  • Histopathology: spongiotic dermatits w/ severe eosinophilic infiltrate
• Tx:
  
  • Control underlying allergy
    
    • ​ASIT, food trial, flea control
    • glucocorticoids or cyclosporine

Question 11

Describe collagenolytic granulomas

Answer 11

• Three forms:
  
  • linear granulomas
    
    • linear, raised on caudal aspect of hind legs
    • variable pruritus
  • nodular pharyngeal granuloma
    
    • firm, pink, yellow lesions
    • usually assoc. w/ indolent ulcer
  • chin form (“fat chin”)

Question 12

How do you diagnose and treat collagenolytic granulomas?

Answer 12

• Dx:
  
  • hx
  • c/s
  • histopath
• Tx:
  
  • glucocorticoids
  • lok for underlying ALLERGY

Question 13

Describe feline mosquito hypersensitivity

Answer 13

• Seasonal, non pruritic dermatitis
• outdoor cats
• mosquitoes and Culicoides
• C/S:
  
  • papular/ulcerative, nodular lesions
    
    • nose
    • pinnae
    • paws

Question 14

How do you diagnose and treat feline mosquito hypersensitivity?

Answer 14

• Dx:
  
  • hx
  • clinical signs
  • histopathology
• Tx:
  
  • glucocorticoids
  • avoid mosquitos

Question 15

Describe feline alopecia

Answer 15

Various causes:

• self-induced
  
  • pruritus
  • behavioral
• endocrine

Dx: with trichography

Question 16

What is the clinical presentation feline-induced alopecia?

Answer 16

• Pruritus
  
  • allergy
  • ectoparasites
  • infection
• behavioral excess
• bilateral hair loss on sides/flanks
• normal skin
• broken hairs

Question 17

What are other causes of generalized alopecia?

Answer 17

• dermatophytosis
• demodicosis
• autoimmune dz
• telogen defluxion
• congential or inherited alopecia
• follicular defect
• paraneoplastic alopecia

Question 18

How do you diagose flea allergy dermatitis in cats?

Answer 18

• signalment
• C/S
• resolution w/ aggressive flea control
  
  • “Double Down” flea control
  • environmental
  • continuous and consistent

Question 19

Describe feline food allergy

Answer 19

• very rare
• not related to a change in diet
• dx: rule out other dz, limited antigen source diet trial

Question 20

Describe feline atopy

Answer 20

• generalized miliary dermatitis
• eosinophilic dermatitis w/ or w/o plaque lesions
• symmetrical hair-loss from self-trauma
• dx by exclusion
• treat with ASIT (allergen specific immunotherapy)

Question 21

What is your therapy for feline dermatosis?

Answer 21

• short term (not forever)
• symptomatic treatment
  
  • Depomedrol
    
    • cats are harder to pill, more resistant to adrenal suppression caused by glucocorticoids
  • Oral glucocorticoids: prednisolone, methylprednisolone, dexamethasone
  • Cyclosporine