Those who have decided to take in a cat as a pet know that few pets are as independent and genuine as these felines, which also have impeccable hygiene habits and for this reason do not tolerate harsh environments. unhygienic.
This need for hygiene that is so implicit in cats can sometimes lead to some problem, although we must clarify that it is not due to the hygienic habits of felines, but rather certain causes predispose them to licking cause a disturbance.
We are talking about acral lick granuloma in cats, in this AnimalWised article we explain everything you need to know about this disorder.
What is acral lick granuloma?
Cats lick themselves for long periods of time due to their hygienic habits, however, excessive licking could cause a skin lesion known as granuloma or acral dermatitis, a condition that most commonly affects dogs but can also occur in cats.
Acral granuloma occurs when the cat repeatedly licks an area of its body to lose hair and erode the top layers of the skin, this causes itching, which in turn leads to increased licking.
Another mechanism that causes the injury to worsen is that the damaged cells release endorphins, hormones that act as analgesics and that cause licking to cause pleasure and not pain.
As a consequence of the lesion formed by licking, the cat is susceptible to secondary infections, changes in pigmentation and thickening of the skin.
Causes of acral lick granuloma
The causes of acral lick granuloma in cats are diverse and can sometimes be aggravated by the hygiene habits of this animal, we can distinguish the following etiologies:
- Allergies
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Cancer
- Bacterial infections
- Fungal infections
- Mites
- Joint diseases
- Injuries
Acral lick granuloma symptoms
The symptoms of this condition are all located in the area of the body where the lesion is developing, generally located in the distal zone of the legsfront or rear.
Depending on the severity of the injury we can observe the following signs:
- Bumpy, swollen affected area
- Red area in acute or hyperpigmented lesions and black in chronic cases
- The center of the lesion is ulcerated and moist, red in color and sometimes also crusted
Diagnosis of acral lick granuloma
To make the diagnosis, the veterinarian will take into account all the symptoms present as well as the cat's medical history, however, the priority will be to establish what is causing the granulomaacral, for this the following tests may be carried out:
- Cytology (study of cells) by scraping the affected area.
- Biopsy of affected tissue.
- Allergy tests.
- Radiography to evaluate if there is joint pathology.
Acral lick granuloma treatment
Treatment of acral lick granuloma in cats will vary depending on the underlying cause, however, the following therapeutic strategies exist for different aetiologies of the disorder:
- Antibiotics
- Allergen Removal
- Topical treatment with analgesics and antipruritics (reduce itching)
- Topical or injected corticosteroids in more severe cases
- Mechanical devices that prevent licking in the case of obsessive-compulsive disorder
The prognosis for acral lick granuloma is guarded since it is a condition that is very difficult to cure, especially when it is necessary to to obsessive-compulsive behavior.
