Sore patch on cats back

RE: Sore patch on cats back

Anthony Todd — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 16:25:37 GMT

Thanks, await picture and/or progress......

RE: Sore patch on cats back

Sara Ramsey — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 14:21:37 GMT

Ha ha, dermatophyte culture negative as we suspected. O not answering phone. Have left a message asking them to book in with myself for continuity and will post a picture if I see him again.

We have been talking about maybe using maropitant for non-food, non-flea allergy....might be worth a go if not settling.

RE: Sore patch on cats back

Anthony Todd — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 12:42:51 GMT

What happened? Can you take another picture please? I'm sure many want me to be wrong......

RE: Sore patch on cats back

Anthony Todd — Thu, 20 Feb 2020 16:19:04 GMT

More pictures please, it's too "even", and no sign of traumatised skin, as opposed to inflamed skin, ex burn is my firmer bet. but it looks as if it's going to recover whatever it was.....

RE: Sore patch on cats back

Julian Earl — Wed, 19 Feb 2020 11:12:00 GMT

IME:

These skin lesions in cats are flea allergic reactions until proven otherwise. Inote that you've used Bravecto but what about thorough environmental treatment? Antibiosis? I'm not too sure about this for most feline skin lesions such as in the image. Anti-inflammatories are more important for the granulation tissue evident. Meaning aerosol spray and not Program for the environmental control by the way, as that is far too much of a delayed effect in this sort of case. . How many other cats/dogs in the household? Check them as well with brushings, sellotape strips etc. Treat as appropriate...

Good luck.

RE: Sore patch on cats back

Anthony Todd — Thu, 13 Feb 2020 17:48:13 GMT

Sounds daft, I know but, in chronic "lick granulomas" [the diagnosis is in the name] distraction while the S/C steroid works wonders, is essential and no FB ever resulted as far as I know.

The lesions are self-perpetuating so, before the days of buster collars, when cutting the bottom out of plastic buckets was de rigeur, a distracting opposite digit sellotape or electrical tape allowed time for the steroid to work magic...

Owners, and patients, hate buster collars!!

[quote userid="3219" url="~/001/veterinary-clinical/small-animal/dermatology/f/discussions/28848/sore-patch-on-cats-back/219467"]Do you need a healthy disclaimer form in case of a sellotape fb?![/quote]

RE: Sore patch on cats back

sbird — Thu, 13 Feb 2020 15:43:10 GMT

Not sure I understand the sellotape on the foot? Do you put a square on the top of the paw? Or a ring around the foot? Is it just a distraction? I need a picture!

Do you need a healthy disclaimer form in case of a sellotape fb?!

RE: Sore patch on cats back

Anthony Todd — Thu, 13 Feb 2020 11:20:43 GMT

Might be a perfect site for that spray-on steroid although minimal signs of irritation???? Sellotape one front foot to distract concurrently as usual.

Can't believe it is ringworm or diet......

No chance it's a recovering liquid burn ex kettle or baking dish??

RE: Sore patch on cats back

Sara Ramsey — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 19:20:21 GMT

Well, owner has chosen to test for ring worm and will (maybe) start a diet trial. She is trying harder with the buster collar. I am trying to avoid more steroids so that should it flare up, we can do a more meaningful biopsy and possibly allergy bloods.

I have attached another photo of how it looked yesterday

RE: Sore patch on cats back

Anthony Dennison — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 14:09:10 GMT

Tuberculosis?

RE: Sore patch on cats back

Anthony Todd — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 21:22:33 GMT

[quote userid="3094" url="~/001/veterinary-clinical/small-animal/dermatology/f/discussions/28848/sore-patch-on-cats-back/219246"]HTH! Good luck. If no fleas? Cheyletiella has to be up there in the gifferentials suely? [/quote]

No chance! Absolutely no sign of any irritation at all, limited to the dorsal lumbar, some times with big comedomes along dorsal spine [almost certainly hypothyroid viz: "Schnauser Bumps"]

And apparently pretty specific to breed [in Penn anyway] Dunno why Jasper got better ! [are all mini schnauzers really nice dogs?]

RE: Sore patch on cats back

Julian Earl — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 21:14:38 GMT

No mention of the F-word yet as far as I have noticed!t horough flea-control on general principle! Preferably with a potent spot-on to try and prevent flea-bite allergy! It might bre worthth-while checking the other cats for fleas in the household as well. Would a blood test be useful as well to ascertain any exposure recently??

HTH! Good luck. If no fleas? Cheyletiella has to be up there in the gifferentials suely?

RE: Sore patch on cats back

Anthony Todd — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 21:12:57 GMT

Again I must have been lucky but, coincidentally, a friend has a miniature schnauzer that developed onesided "shiny" baldness circular, 5 cms diam. I muttered thyroid etc and now it is regrowing with no treatment so explain that..... [my reputation out the window....]

RE: Sore patch on cats back

David Scarff — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 19:31:04 GMT

No, I think it might be luck! I'm not saying they are common, and could almost be considered idiosyncratic, but areas of skin thinning and loss of sub-cutaneous fat are not rare. I have also seen symmetrical alopecia and a flat ACTH response test after olne injection of Depo in a dog which too six months to recover.

RE: Sore patch on cats back

Anthony Todd — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 15:12:29 GMT

[quote userid="7002" url="~/001/veterinary-clinical/small-animal/dermatology/f/discussions/28848/sore-patch-on-cats-back/219211"]The injections he has had have been IM, if I have to use it, I alternate sites[/quote]

The only reason for a reaction to a S/C depomed injection is, perhaps, that it was actually intradermal otherwise, I can't reason why I was so lucky to get none??

RE: Sore patch on cats back

Sara Ramsey — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 19:14:32 GMT

The injections he has had have been IM, if I have to use it, I alternate sites

RE: Sore patch on cats back

Sara Ramsey — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 19:13:12 GMT

That's good point, thank you! I am often disappointed biopsying these kind lesions but no point setting up for a fall.

Owner has agreed to dermatophyte test first and 8 will use that consult to try and persuade a diet trial and remind owner of compliance.

RE: Sore patch on cats back

David Scarff — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 16:56:29 GMT

I know I'm late into this discussion but if it's not appropriate to do allergy bloods because of the Depo effect, I wouldn't biopsy either, as any eosinophilic infiltrate would be affected by the depo.

RE: Sore patch on cats back

David Scarff — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 16:54:32 GMT

I would be cautious about using Depo s/c. I've seen skin thinning and ulceration over Depo sites, and always give it IM now.

RE: Sore patch on cats back

Anthony Todd — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 15:58:58 GMT

[quote userid="2122" url="~/001/veterinary-clinical/small-animal/dermatology/f/discussions/28848/sore-patch-on-cats-back/219117"]Over the years I've seen similar lesions, and have excised a number - which, upon histopath, turned out to be reaction to depo injections - possibly d'med, or other long acting s/c injections. [/quote]

The only IM injection reaction I recall was to IM depo-med, [resolved in time] and Ialways gave it S/C usually under the lesion itself, with no apparent reaction except some/total resolution, if no more self-trauma but maybe I was lucky??

Thiopentone S/C was a different story; note white patch on black cats' forearms.....

RE: Sore patch on cats back

Kate Richardson — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 15:40:26 GMT

Just wondering if its either Idiopathic Ulcerative Dermatitis or not enough steroids for not long enough time

If you think it might be IUD, and decide to excise, obviously the histo will give you that answer but be warned they can be a nightmare to get to heal

RE: Sore patch on cats back

Sara Ramsey — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 13:13:08 GMT

It's not raised, it's very flat. Thanks for reply

RE: Sore patch on cats back

George Cooper — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 13:09:42 GMT

Over the years I've seen similar lesions, and have excised a number - which, upon histopath, turned out to be reaction to depo injections - possibly d'med, or other long acting s/c injections. Always worth a thought, especially as data sheets often stipulate I/m delivery.

RE: Sore patch on cats back

Julie Innes — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 10:39:27 GMT

I had a patient like this, also treated for years before I inherited her. I tried excising the lesion....as soon as cone was off she completely self-traumatised the area worse than ever! we were on the verge of euthanasia when we tired amitryptilline. 4 weeks later different cat! Calmer in herself, not hiding away, no self traima. She came off the amitryptilline 3 mths later and has never looked back!

Similar with another cat who had been referred to dermatlogist and diagnosed with allergies- no response to immunotherapy/ steroids etc etc, all fine after a few weeks of amitryptilline.

Hardly a scientific study, I know (n=2!!), and I warn owners it is off licence and possibly last resort, but worth bearing in mind if nothing else works!

RE: Sore patch on cats back

Bob Russell — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 10:11:41 GMT

On a budget I would go for the two weeks minimum with a buster collar. No hurry to get a diagnosis consider the prolonged time scale already. Make sure the owners stick to it though or you will learn nothing. Does it improve?

This will let you know if it is a lick lesion. If it is then you go through a standard work up. If not consider biopsy etc. Not clear to me from photo if the lesion is raised or not.