Immune-related skin problems in cats - signs and care

Abstract

Practical relevance Cutaneous immune-mediated diseases in cats can present with clinical signs of erythema, hair loss, scaling/crusting, and erosions with or without pruritus, mimicking many differential diagnoses such as hypersensitivity dermatitis and infections (eg, parasitic and fungal dermatitis). Veterinarians are encouraged to become familiar with the characteristic clinical features of various immune-driven skin disorders to permit early diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Clinical challenges Diagnosis and therapeutic management of feline immune-mediated skin diseases can be challenging. Although immune-mediated skin diseases in cats are rare, these can be associated with severe systemic clinical signs, which can lead to poor quality of life and owners electing euthanasia. Aims In the second of a two-part article series, the clinical presentations of the feline immune-mediated skin diseases erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis spectrum, plasma cell pododermatitis, proliferative and necrotizing otitis externa, pseudopelade, alopecia areata and auricular chondritis are reviewed and differential diagnoses, diagnosis and therapeutic approach are discussed. In Part 1, the equivalent is discussed for feline immune-mediated skin diseases related to the pemphigus complex, cutaneous lupus erythematosus, and thymoma- and non-thyoma-associated exfoliative dermatitis. Evidence base The information in this article is based on a review of the existing veterinary literature.