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Skin Ulcers and Lesions in Cats

Skin Ulcers and Lesions in Cats

Skin Ulcers and Lesions

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Updated on September 26, 2024
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Reviewed by Petco's Veterinarian Team
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SUMMARY OF CONTENT

There are many causes of skin lesions in cats and they are all treated in somewhat different ways.

SEVERITY:

Mild to severe
  • Time to Cure
    Resolves within days to months, or may be a lifelong management condition
  • Treatment Icon
    Treatable by a veterinarian, by the pet parent
  • Prevention Icon
    Prevention is possible in some cases
  • Spread Icon
    Transmission may be possible to other animals or to people for some conditions
  • Lab Icon
    Diagnosis requires physical exam, skin cytology, skin biopsy, skin culture

VERY COMMON IN

Skin issues can occur in cats of any age, sex or breed.

Symptoms & Signs

The first sign of a skin problem may be a crusty area on the skin, nose or foot. In other cases, skin problems may start out with small lesions that develop into more extensive lesions. They may open, drain and develop a crusty surface. In some instances there may be hair loss or the formation of ulcers. Cats may also become itchy or not want to be touched. In some cases, they may excessively lick or scratch the area that is bothersome.

Diagnosis

Your veterinarian will begin with a complete physical exam of your cat. This will include looking closely at the skin. Depending on the type of lesion, your veterinarian may recommend different diagnostic tests to find out what is causing the issue, or they may be able to prescribe treatment based on their initial findings. In many cases, a sample of the skin lesion is taken to observe the cells under the microscope. This can be done with a skin cytology, a skin biopsy or a fine needle aspirate. Depending on the type of lesion, the method of cellular collection varies and will be determined by your veterinarian. If underlying issues are also suspected, blood work, fungal cultures and other testing may also be recommended.

Causation

There are many different forms of skin lesions in cats that can lead to crusting or ulceration. The severity and treatment of these different conditions can vary widely, therefore it is extremely important that a veterinarian diagnoses the underlying condition. With most of these conditions, the outermost protective layer of the skin is damaged, making the underlying tissues more susceptible to infection or injury. This skin damage can cause discomfort to cats, which can cause them to scratch, lick or exhibit other signs of pain. The following list includes many of the more common causes of skin ulcers and crusts in cats, but it is not exhaustive: **Bacterial infections** * [Abscess](https://www.petcoach.co/cat/condition/abscesses/) (a pus-filled area of infection) * Pyoderma (a bacterial skin infection) * Folliculitis (inflammation of the hair follicles, can be caused by infection, parasites, allergies or trauma) * Furunculosis (inflammation of the deep layers of the skin and hair, typically caused by infection) **Fungal infections** * [Coccidioidomycosis](https://www.petcoach.co/cat/condition/coccidioidomycosis/) * Cryptococcus * [Histoplasmosis](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/histoplasmosis/) * [Pythiosis](https://www.petcoach.co/cat/condition/pythiosis-1/) * [Ringworm](https://www.petcoach.co/cat/condition/ringworm/) * Sporotrichosis * [Zygomycosis](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/zygomycosis/) **Parasitic** * [Demodectic or Notoedric mange](https://www.petcoach.co/cat/condition/demodectic-mange/) * [Flea allergy dermatitis](https://www.petcoach.co/cat/condition/flea-allergy-dermatitis/) * [Lice](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/lice-in-cats-and/) **Trauma** * Bite wounds * Bee stings * Insect bites * Frostbite * Burns **Immune-mediated** * Systemic lupus erythematosus (an autoimmune disease where the body attacks healthy tissues, there may be a genetic component) * Pemphigus complex (autoimmune diseases affecting different layers of the skin) **Cancer** * Basal cell tumors * Epitheliotrophic lymphoma (a cancer of the lymphocyte blood cells in the skin) * [Fibrosarcoma](https://www.petcoach.co/cat/condition/vaccine-associated-sarcoma/) * Cutaneous hemangiosarcoma * [Lymphoma](https://www.petcoach.co/cat/condition/lymphoma-1/) * [Mammary cancer](https://www.petcoach.co/cat/condition/mammary-cancer-1/) * Mast cell tumor (MCT) * Melanoma * [Squamous cell carcinoma](https://www.petcoach.co/cat/condition/squamous-cell-carcinoma/) **Drug or injection reaction**

Treatments

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AT-HOME CARE

Feed a high-quality diet and provide clean bedding. Be sure to follow the medication directions from your veterinarian.
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SUPPORTIVE CARE

Severely ill cats may require hospitalization for monitoring and IV fluids, but this is uncommon.
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MEDICATIONS

Most causes of skin lesions require medications, yet the specific medication required varies with different underlying causes. Veterinarians prescribe appropriate medications based on an individual cat's skin condition. Topical and/or oral antibiotics are typically prescribed to treat bacterial skin diseases and antifungal medications are used to treat fungal infections. Steroids, such as prednisolone, may be utilized to manage a cat's itching or to suppress the immune system. Diseases caused by parasites are treated based on the specific type of parasite present.
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DEVICES

None
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SURGERY

In cases of skin masses, removal of the mass is often recommended. Heavy sedation or general anesthesia are typically required.
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SPECIALISTS

In many cases, a veterinary dermatologist may be consulted for treatment recommendations, especially in cases that do not respond to routine therapy. Specialists in veterinary surgery or oncology may be needed for more complicated cases.

Cost Of Treatment

The cost to treat skin ulcers and lesions may vary depending on the underlying cause and severity. Most cases may be resolved for under $500. Complicated cases or cases requiring surgery may reach or exceed $1000.

Recovery

Most cats can recover from skin lesions over a period of days to months. In some cases, skin lesions are a chronic, lifelong issue.

Monitoring

Your veterinarian will work with you on how often your cat needs to be seen based on the condition they have.

Prevention

Prevention may be possible for certain parasites and the avoidance of trauma. Be sure to follow your veterinarian's recommendations for regular flea and tick prevention.

Questions about Skin Ulcers and Lesions
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I have a cat that as a kitten was very ill. We got him from 7 months old. We knew he’d had cat flu prior to him coming here. He is now nearly 5 yrs old. He picks huge fights with our other cat. He keeps urinating and scratching at doors and windows around the house. We allow him to go out via the cat flap unlimited. What is happening to him

I'm glad to see that Pippin has been neutered because this eliminates that possibility of hormone-fueled behavioral changes and aggression. Behavioral changes in cats can occur at any point in time, and could be related to anxiety or stressful situations (even rearranging furniture or introducing new people to the home can be stressful to cats). Without a lot more information and observing Pippin's behaviors, I can't precisely tell you why these changes are occurring. It may be best to consult a veterinary behaviorist in your home so that they can observe everything firsthand. You can also try using calming pheromone collars or diffusers (Feliway is one example), and discussing the use of anxiety medication with Pippin's vet. I hope that all goes well!

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Hi! My cat was recently diagnosed with diabetes. He’s taking insulin and taking antibiotics for a Uti. It’s been 4 weeks and he wobles when he’s walking. He can’t jump up on the bed like he used to.He’s blood sugar is 250 it’s better than it used to. I don’t understand why he’s so wobbly.

Cats can develop what's called diabetic neuropathy, where their hindlegs become progressively weak. The best thing to do is try to get his diabetes under control as quickly as possible. Here is a link describing the conditon: http://www.diabeticcatcare.com/DCCCOK/Neuropathy.htm

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My senior cat has metastized cancer.17 yrs old. My vet gave her predizone1 and one half tabs a day.i wanted to know if i can just stop the meds.

Is there a reason you want to stop the prednisone? I would recommend not stopping it and if you feel it is better to stop the prednisone then I would recommend weaning off of the prednisone. I would discuss how to wean the prednisone with your veterinarian. Thank you for using Boop by Petco.

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My dog has an ear infection

Sorry to hear Marley isn't doing so well with his ears. It is not possible to tell from tge picture tve exact nature of the irritation but if it is indeed infected (typically red, hot, painful and smelly), he will need prescription medication from his regular vet. In the meantime I recommend gently cleaning tge outer war with cotton wool and a pet safe ear cleaner to reduce the build up of wax/discharge

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My dog vomited a pinkish colour. Does this look like blood vomit? She doesn’t have diarrhoea or anything else. Yesterday i fed her plain chicken with rice.

That is very red vomit, however, this color could be linked to a number of things including blood in the vomit, inflammation of the GI tract, having chewed on a toy this color, eaten a food item this color, or gotten into a plant or other item this color. If the vomiting continues, worsens, or other symptoms appear such as a painful or bloated abdomen, diarrhea or blood in the stool, or severe distress, I would schedule a veterinary appointment right away to rule out more severe issues. In the meantime I would continue the bland diet for 24 hours, and monitor for any additional vomiting or illness symptoms.

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My 3 year old long haired tuxedo female pees just fine in the litter box, but she preferred to poop on the bathroom rug or on the carpet behind the sofa. Then, she will go weeks and everything is fine only start pooping outside the box again. I have 4 litter boxes and 3 cats. I clean all several times a day. She is the youngest. I've put wee wee pads down and she lifts them up and poops under them. Any ideas to help? Thanks!

A good first step, if you haven't already, is to rule out any health issues with your vet such as arthritis that may be causing the accidents. Secondly, making sure none of the other cats are bullying her away from the litter box may also alert you to any issues. Thirdly, a good enzymatic cleaner may help reduce the smell/discourage use of these areas in the future. That said, if you've done the above and the issue is still happening, it's probably time to call in a veterinary or animal behaviorist that can visit in person to see what may be going on. They may be able to check for stressors that could be causing the accidents where they are, look for issues with refusal to defecate in the box, or see if there is a cycle that is happening that is triggering this reaction. From there they may be able to set up a more tailored plan to help reduce the accidents and encourage use of the litter box at all times. If you're in the US, you can use this website to help find someone available in your area: https://www.dacvb.org/page/about

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Disclaimer

The information contained on this page is for educational purposes only. Treatment should only be provided under the advice of a veterinarian who has examined your pet under the laws applicable to your state of residence.