Pruritus 5 - Cats Flashcards
How does pruritus in the cat differ from that in the dog?
Owner may not see pruritus
Body localization is not as distinctive Skin lesions are different — bilateral symmetrical hair looks with normal skin — miliary dermatitis —eosinophilic granuloma complex
Two most common skin conditions in cats?
FLEAS
Ringworm
What is your DDX for self-induced feline symmetrical alopecia ?
Psychogenic
Pruritic
- allergy —> flea allergy, atopy, food allergy
- ectoparasites —> notoedris, demodex, and fur mites
- infections —> pyoderma, yeasts, dermatophytes
How do you diagnose psychogenic alopecia?
Diagnosis of rule out — eliminate all causes of pruritic dermatosis
Anxiety
Psychogenic alopcia is most commonly localized to what locations on the body?
Medial thighs
Medial forelimbs
Ventral abdomen
- easy to reach places
Therapy for psychogenic alopecia?
Behavior modifications
Feliway
Tricyclics antidepressant
- alprazolam
- amitirptyline
- clomipramine
- fluoxetine
- paroxetine
Most common cause of allergic dermatitis in cats?
Flea bite dermatitis
—usually caudodorsal alopecia but can involve face, limbs, and neck
Atopic dermatitis is usually localized where on the cat ?
Medial thigh
Forelimb
Ventrum
Flank
Food allergic dermatitis is present all year round and can be found anywhere on the body but especially on the ??
Face and head
Ectoparasites found on cats?
Where is it localized?
Notoedres cati —feline scabies
Pinna, face, neck > forelimb > body
Clinical signs of feline scabies?
Alopecia, wrinkled skin, papular rash and crusts
Can also have peripheral lymphadenopathy
Diagnosis and treatment of feline scabies?
Diagnosis: skin scrapes
Treatment:
- lime sulphur dip
- ivermectin
- selamectin
- imidacloprid/moxidectin (advantage multi)
Demodex gatoi causes what lesions? What diagnostics would you do?
Alopecia, crust, scaling, and pruritus
Deep skin scrape
Treatment for demodex gatoi?
Lime sulphur dip/pump spray
Elizabethan collar to prevent consuming dip
NOT usually recommended in cats —> Imidacloprid/moxidectin (advantage multi), ivermectin selamectin, doramectin
Clinical signs of lynxacarus radovsky?
AKA fur mites
“Salt and pepper”
Mites in hair shaft
Hair epilate easily
Eggs stick to hairs
Diagnosis and treatment of fur mites ?
Acetate tape test
Pyrethrin spray, lime sulphur dip, fipronil spray, ivermectin (heartworm neg), selamectin, milbemycin
Endocrine diseases causing symmetrical alopecia in cats?
Hyperthyroid
- excessive grooming
- hair tips are not chewed off
Hyperadrenocortisim
- symmetrical truncal alopecia
- hair epilates easily
- skin is very fragile/thin
What would you suspect as a top DDX if you have symmetrical alopecia on the ventrum and legs, a shiny appearance of the skin, hair epilates easily, with concurrent anorexia, and lethargy?
Pancreatic neoplasia
What is miliary dermatitis?
Crusted papule Multifocal distraction (can be localized or generalized)
Erythema, secondary alopecia, and exhortations often seen
Causes of miliary dermatitis?
Flea allergic dermatitis
Adverse food reaction Atopy Parasite Dermatophytes Autoimmune disease Immune-mediated dz Neoplasia Viral -herpes/FIV/FeLV Idiopathic
What are the 3 presentations to eosinophilic granuloma complex?
Indolent ulcer
Eosinophilic plaque
Collagenolytic granuloma
Atypical eosinophilic granuloma (rare)
What are possible etiologies of eosinophilic granuloma complex?
Flea bite
Atopy
Food
Infectious - ectoparasites/bacteria/ virus
Chronic trauma
Genetic predisposition
How does an indolent ulcer appear?
Well-circumscribed, proliferative inflammatory lesion with dish shaped ulcer centrally
Usually on upper lip, can be uni or bilateral
Non painful and non pruritic
How does an eosinophilic plaque appear?
Well circumscribed, reddish-yellow, ulcerated, edematous, intensely pruritic plaque
Inguinal region, medial thigh, and ventral abdomen
Raised and flat - can be ulcerated
Associated with allergic etiology
How does a collagenolytic granuloma/eosinophilic granuloma appear?
Well circumscribed, linear or raised nodular firm, yellow-pink lesions
Linear granuloma, pharyngeal granuloma, or chin form
Caudal aspect of the hindlimbs or abdomen
Non painful and non pruritic
DDX for eosinophilic granuloma complex?
Neoplasia
Papular erosion, crusting and depigmentation of the skin over bridge of the nose, and ear pinnae
Paws - hyperkeratoisis or ulceration
Lymphadenopathy
Dx?
Eosinophilic granuloma complex
Treatment for eosinophilic granuloma complex?
Parasitic control
Medical therapy
- glucocorticoids — prednisolone
- cyclosporine A
Once resolved — taper and withdrawal therapy
Comedowns on the chin and lower lip
Papules and pustules
Furunculosis and scaring
DDx?
Feline acne
—> idiopathic disorder of follicular keratinization
Demodex
Dermatophytosis
Malassezia
Eosinophilic granuloma complex
Treatment of feline acne?
Treat secondary infection
- mupirocin
Clip hair and clean area with human acne preparation
- benzoyl peroxide
Refractory cases - vit A
Nodules that open up and drain
Draining tracts with serous to purulent fluid
Dx?
Feline leprosy
Causes of feline leprosy?
Infectious
—> nocardia, actinomyces, mycobacterium
—> dermatomycosis
Non-infectious —>> panniculitis —> collagenolytic granuloma —> foreign bodies —> neoplasia
How do you diagnose and treat feline leprosy?
Full dermatological examination
Skin biopsy — histopath and culture
Treat underlying cause
