Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Two cats with muzzle hair loss from inhaled steroid treatment
By Bizikova, Petra·Published in Veterinary dermatology·2014·Department of Clinical Sciences and Center for Comparative Medicine and Translational Research, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Localized demodicosis due to Demodex cati on the muzzle of two cats treated with inhalant glucocorticoids.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Two cats with asthma developed skin problems on their muzzles after using an inhaled steroid medication for a long time. Their owners noticed patchy hair loss, redness, and crusty skin. A skin test confirmed the presence of Demodex mites, which can cause skin issues. The treatment involved reducing the steroid use and giving a medication called milbemycin, which helped clear up the symptoms within two months. After seven months of treatment, one cat had no more signs of the skin problem.
People also search for: cat skin problems on muzzle · Demodex mites treatment for cats · inhaled steroids side effects in cats
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Feline demodicosis due to Demodex cati is a rare skin disease often associated with concurrent disease and generalized immunosuppression. Local immunosuppression due to the application of topical immunomodulatory drugs, such as glucocorticoids and tacrolimus, or by tumour cells has been suggested as a potential trigger for development of localized demodicosis in humans and animals. OBJECTIVES: The goal was to describe two cats with asthma that developed localized demodicosis on the muzzle as a result of chronic therapy with a glucocorticoid administered via dispensing inhaler mask. RESULTS: In both cats, the muzzle area exposed to the fluticasone-dispensing chamber exhibited patchy alopecia, mild erythema, crusting and scaling. Deep skin scraping revealed D. cati. Discontinuation or reduction of fluticasone and administration of milbemycin resulted in resolution of clinical signs within 2 months in both cats. A negative skin scrape was obtained after 7 months of milbemycin in one of the cats. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Demodicosis should be considered as a possible differential diagnosis in cats with primary alopecia or other skin lesions on the face exposed to inhalant glucocorticoids. Minimization of contact between the inhalant glucocorticoid and the skin can be achieved by wiping residual powder from the face and by keeping the mask tightly pressed to the skin to avoid contact with the surrounding area.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24720463/