Do you have a cat who seems to always be scratching and are you seeing red lesions on its skin? If so, it's possible that your cat has feline eosinophilic granuloma complex. This syndrome is characterized by a specific skin reaction pattern and can include eosinophilic plaques, indolent ulcers, and eosinophilic granulomas. Lesions are often secondary to underlying allergic disease and tend to respond rapidly to treatment. In this article, we will discuss the symptoms, causes, and treatment of the feline eosinophilic granuloma complex.
What is Feline Eosinophilic Granuloma Complex?
Lesions of the Feline Eosinophilic Granuloma Complex are a reaction pattern that is often associated with an underlying disease state. The lesions themselves are not a primary diagnosis, and further diagnostic investigation is required to determine underlying allergies such as flea allergy, environmental allergy, food allergy/cutaneous adverse food reactions, or mosquito bite hypersensitivity. These types of reactions are what lead to the eosinophilic granuloma complex in cats and the clinical signs are dependent on the lesion type.
What is an eosinophil and why is it important?
Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell that is involved in the body's inflammatory response. They become activated and accumulate at sites of inflammation, such as in allergic diseases. This accumulation of eosinophils is what causes skin lesions to form.
What are the types of lesions seen in cats with eosinophilic granuloma complex?
There are 3 specific types of lesions that a cat can reveal if it is affected by the eosinophilic granuloma complex.
Eosinophilic plaque
These are red, raised lesions on the skin and can be linear, circular, or irregular in appearance. The lesions are itchy (pruritic) and are exacerbated by licking. The eosinophilic plaques are most commonly found in the abdomen and thigh regions. It is not unusual for the lesions to become infected and this may be noticed if they have a moist appearance.
Rodent ulcer and indolent ulcer
Rodent or indolent ulcers are frequently found on the upper lip over the canine tooth. These lesions are painful and have a characteristic 'scooped-out' appearance. The surrounding skin is often erythematous (red) and there may be some scaling present. They can range in size from a few millimeters to several centimeters in diameter.
Eosinophilic granuloma
This is the most serious of the lesions and is a deep, linear ulceration that is commonly found on the medial or lateral aspect of the lower hind leg. A granuloma can also be seen in cats with feline eosinophilic plaques if they become infected. The lip granuloma variant appears as a pink swelling of the chin below the lips. It will appear as a large bump on the lower lip.
How is feline eosinophilic granuloma complex in cats diagnosed?
Through the combination of a thorough physical examination, skin cytology, and perhaps skin biopsy, a diagnosis can be made. In many circumstances, a preliminary diagnosis is established on the basis of the appearance of the lesions.
With skin cytology, your veterinarian will use a sterile cotton swab and rub it against the lesions. Eosinophilic granulomas and plaques will have an increased number of eosinophils that will aid in the diagnosis of the eosinophilic granuloma complex.
In the more severe cases or where treatment is not working as expected, your veterinarian may recommend performing a skin biopsy. A skin biopsy will confirm the presence of feline eosinophilic granuloma complex and rule out other diagnoses such as skin cancer.
Eosinophilic granuloma cat treatment options
Treating the underlying cause is one of the most important aspects of therapy. This includes identifying and managing any allergies, which usually means increased flea control or food allergy/elimination dietary trials. Symptomatic therapy can be used to help resolve lesions while the underlying disease is investigated further.
Topical medications
Feline eosinophilic granuloma complex lesions can respond well to topical medications. Typical topical medications will contain an antibiotic and a steroid anti-inflammatory. The downside of topical therapy is that your cat is most likely to lick the medication. Not only does this affect the efficacy of the medication, but the potential for toxicity is also a factor.
Systemic medications
Glucocorticoids can greatly benefit cats with eosinophilic granuloma complex. Prednisolone or Depo-medrol™ are frequently used and once the cat responds (5-7 days), the dose will be tapered to the lowest effective dose.
For cats that are intolerant to steroids or glucocorticoids, cyclosporine can be used with success. Cyclosporine acts as an immunosuppressant and works well to treat lesions of the eosinophilic granuloma complex in cats.
As most feline eosinophilic granuloma lesions are secondarily infected, antibiotics should be used.
FAQs about feline eosinophilic granuloma complex
What diet should I feed my cat that has feline eosinophilic granuloma complex?
Ideally, a good quality hypoallergenic diet should be fed to cats with this condition. A food allergy is a common underlying cause of feline eosinophilic granuloma complex. A diet trial involves feeding a novel protein and carbohydrate source to your cat for 12-16 weeks. If there is an improvement in the lesions, then this confirms that a food allergy is the root cause.
Can I treat my cat's feline eosinophilic granuloma complex at home?
Your veterinarian is the best person to treat your cat's feline eosinophilic granuloma complex. Symptomatic therapy, including topical medications, can be used to help resolve or manage the lesions.
What are the symptoms of feline eosinophilic granuloma complex?
The most common symptoms of feline eosinophilic granuloma complex include lesions on the skin, which can vary in size and location. Other symptoms may include swelling, hair loss, and crusting around the lesions.
What is the most common cause of feline eosinophilic granuloma complex?
The most common cause is an allergy. It could be a result of flea allergies, seasonal or food allergies.
What is the prognosis of cats with feline eosinophilic granuloma complex?
The prognosis for a cat with feline eosinophilic granuloma complex depends on how well the underlying cause can be managed. When the underlying disease is identified and managed successfully, the prognosis can be excellent. However, if it isn't controlled then there's a high chance of recurrence.
Feline eosinophilic granuloma complex is a skin reaction pattern in cats that is often secondary to underlying allergic disease. The syndrome includes eosinophilic plaques, indolent ulcers, and eosinophilic granulomas. Lesions are typically itchy and respond rapidly to treatment. Diagnosis can be made through a combination of physical examination, skin cytology, and skin biopsy. Treatment options include topical and systemic medications as well as antibiotics if lesions are infected. If you have any other questions or are concerned that your cat may suffer from feline eosinophilic granuloma complex, contact us and we'll be glad to help!