Ischaemic necrosis of pinnae and tail in a cat- ideas welcome

Re: Ischaemic necrosis of pinnae and tail in a cat- ideas welcome

Gareth Dowdeswell — Tue, 03 Jun 2014 09:06:55 GMT

Had a similar case last week, one of our charity rehoming cats developed a necrotic tail tip. He was moved pens prior to this happening, so there is a slim chance the tail was caught whilst moving pens, though no one noticed and I'd doubt it'd be severe enough to cause necrosis. Zero chance of any exposure to environmental toxins.

Decided to amputate one vertebral junction up as I was concerned about infection tracking up the tail, blood supply seemed fine at the surgical site. He seems to be healing well, will update this thread if it happens again and probably will send the tail tip for histo if it recurs.

Re: Ischaemic necrosis of pinnae and tail in a cat- ideas welcome

Alistair Marks — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 22:27:38 GMT

Any exposure to creosote? We saw a cat that was covered in creosote but despite being brought down wrapped in a towel so he couldn't lick and thoroughly cleansed he, over a period of a few weeks, lost his pinnae, tail tip and most digits all without much fuss and minimal intervention on our part. Appeared just as you describe. Ended up fine without all those extremities and lived for several years.

Re: Ischaemic necrosis of pinnae and tail in a cat- ideas welcome

Yantha Smyth — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 21:32:39 GMT

[quote user="MrsVanoord"]We had one of these about 3 months ago but in a young cat. Both pinnae dry and curly and tail tip dry and dead too. Cat seemed fine, haem, biochem normal, clin ex otherwise normal, no evidence heart disease on scan, coag profile completely normal. Ended up amputating both pinnae and tail. I can't remember for certain but I think histo just said 'necrosis'. It certainly didn't give us any further insight into the cause. The cat made a complete recovery but remains a bit of a puzzler.

[/quote] Ah that's interesting! The non-specific necrosis type result is what I wondered this might get if biopsied, and I guess that's why I am cautious in recommending it, though of course I will give the option especially if we have to operate anyway. I ran the case by a clinician at a local referral centre today and it wasn't something they had come across before or could find reference to. The only thing I found was in the BSAVA dermatology manual- a small section on vasculitis with a picture of a cat will ears and nose affected. The first thing that came to mind when I saw it was 'fescue foot' when grazing animals get ergot alkaloid effects from eating infected fescue....

Re: Ischaemic necrosis of pinnae and tail in a cat- ideas welcome

Ceri Gruffudd Jones — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 21:14:53 GMT

We had one of these about 3 months ago but in a young cat. Both pinnae dry and curly and tail tip dry and dead too. Cat seemed fine, haem, biochem normal, clin ex otherwise normal, no evidence heart disease on scan, coag profile completely normal. Ended up amputating both pinnae and tail. I can't remember for certain but I think histo just said 'necrosis'. It certainly didn't give us any further insight into the cause. The cat made a complete recovery but remains a bit of a puzzler.

Re: Ischaemic necrosis of pinnae and tail in a cat- ideas welcome

Malcolm Ness — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 16:49:08 GMT

+1 for early biopsy

?? cold agglutinin disease.

Re: Ischaemic necrosis of pinnae and tail in a cat- ideas welcome

Andrew Kent — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 15:18:36 GMT

Hi Yantha,

I think your plan sounds a good one but would definitely biopsy, squamous cell carcinoma can look very similar to other forms of vasculitis of the ear tips (immune-mediated etc) which would be important to rule out.

Andy

Re: Ischaemic necrosis of pinnae and tail in a cat- ideas welcome

Andrew Kent — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 15:18:30 GMT

Hi Yantha,

Andy

Re: Ischaemic necrosis of pinnae and tail in a cat- ideas welcome

Yantha Smyth — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 14:33:07 GMT

Hi Just bumping this up the thread as have had no input and am perplexed and pondering what to do!

Any takers?

Re: Ischaemic necrosis of pinnae and tail in a cat- ideas welcome

Yantha Smyth — Sat, 31 May 2014 18:55:07 GMT

Have posted a picture in the gallery