Pyoderma in cats is an infectious skin disease caused by an increased multiplication of certain bacteria, especially Staphyloccocus intermedius, a coccus found on the skin of our little felines. This multiplication can be due to various causes and will cause lesions on the cat's skin such as erythematous papules, scabs, epidermal collarettes or hyperpigmented spots due to the inflammatory process, among other clinical signs.
The diagnosis is based on the isolation of the microorganism or on the study of biopsies and the treatment consists of antibiotic and antiseptic therapy together with the treatment of the cause that is originating it, in order to reduce the possibility of future recurrences. Keep reading this article on our site to learn more about pyoderma in cats, its causes, symptoms and treatment.
What is pyoderma in cats?
Pyoderma is a infection of bacterial origin that is located on the skin of our cats. It can occur at any age and has no racial predisposition. In addition, pyoderma also favors yeast infections and other types of fungi.
This infection occurs under one or more circumstances that cause inflammation or itching and, therefore, alter the natural defenses of the skin of the cat.
Causes of pyoderma in cats
The bacteria that causes pyoderma in cats is mostly a coccus called Staphylococcus intermedius, although it can also be caused by other bacteria, such as the bacilli E.coli, Pseudomonas or proteus spp.
Staphylococcus is a bacterium normally found on the skin of cats, so pyoderma only occurs when this bacterium overgrows due to skin changes such as the following:
- Trauma.
- Hormonal problems.
- Allergies.
- Skin maceration after exposure to water.
- Immune problems.
- Parasites.
- Tub.
- Burn.
- Skin tumors.
- Immunosupression (drugs, retroviruses, tumors…).
Symptoms of pyoderma in cats
Pyoderma can produce a variety of symptoms, appearing as papulocrustous and erythematous dermatitis. The clinical signs of pyoderma in cats are as follows:
- Pruritus (itching).
- Interfollicular or follicular pustules.
- Erythematous papules.
- Crusted papules.
- Epidermal collars.
- Escamas.
- Crusts.
- Rash.
- Post-inflammatory hyperpigmented areas.
- Alopecia.
- Humid areas.
- Miliary dermatitis.
- Feline eosinophilic granuloma complex lesions.
- Pustules that may bleed and discharge purulent fluid.
Diagnosis of pyoderma in cats
The diagnosis of pyoderma in cats is made, in addition to direct visualization of the lesions, by making a differential diagnosis of other skin problems that our cats may suffer, as well as obtaining samples of the lesions for microbiological and histopathological study. Thus, the differential diagnosis of feline pyoderma should include the following diseases that can cause common skin lesions in felines:
- Dermatophytosis (ringworm).
- Demodicosis (Demodex cati).
- Malassezia pachydermatis dermatitis.
- Zinc-sensitive dermatosis.
- Pemphigus foliaceus.
The presence of secondary lesions, such as epidermal collarettes, hyperpigmentation due to inflammation, and scales strongly incline the diagnosis to pyoderma, but always check with the taking samples To do this, the simplest thing is to aspirate the content with a needle and do a cytology, where degenerated and non-degenerated neutrophils will be identified, as well as coccus-type bacteria (Staphylococcus). This will make the diagnosis of pyoderma even more reliable. However, bacilli may also be seen, indicative of a pyoderma caused by E.coli, Pseudomonas or proteus spp.
The bacterial culture and the gallery of biochemical tests will determine the causative microorganism, mostly Staphylococcus intermedius, which is coagulase positive.
The definitive diagnosis will be given by the biopsy, after obtaining a sample of lesions and sending it to the laboratory, where histopathology will reveal that it is a feline pyoderma.
Feline pyoderma treatment
The treatment of pyoderma should be based, in addition to antibiotic therapy, on treating the underlying cause, such as allergies, diseases endocrine or parasites.
The antibiotic treatment will vary depending on the microorganism that has been isolated. To do this, an antibiogram should be performed after the culture to find out which antibiotic is sensitive.
It may also help to add systemic antibiotic treatment topical therapy with antiseptics, such as chlorhexidine or benzoyl peroxide.
Antibiotics for pyoderma in cats
In general, cocci such as Staphylococcus intermedius are sensitive to antibiotics such as:
- Clindamycin (5.5 mg/kg every 12 hours orally).
- Cephalexin (15 mg/kg every 12 hours orally).
- Amoxicillin/clavulanate (12.2 mg/kg every 12 hours orally).
These antibiotics should be used for at least 3 weeks, continuing for up to 7 days after resolution of skin lesions.
For bacilli such as E.coli, Pseudomonas or proteus spp., they are gram negative bacteria and sensitive antibiotics should be used according to the antibiogram, an example that can be effective is enrofloxacin, due to its activity against to the big negatives. In this case, it will also be used for 3 weeks and it will be necessary to wait 7 days after the disappearance of the clinical signs to stop the antibiotic treatment.
Feline pyoderma prognosis
Pyoderma in cats usually has a good prognosis if treatment is followed perfectly and as long as the disease is treated and controlled. original cause. If this cause is not controlled, the pyoderma will reappear, becoming increasingly complicated if the imbalances continue in our cat.
