PetCaseFinder

Peer-reviewed veterinary case report

Cat with itchy skin develops rare yellow swelling from cutaneous

By Ravens, P A et al.·Published in Australian veterinary journal·2013·Small Animal Specialist Hospital, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed

PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →

Original publication title: Unique presentation of normolipaemic cutaneous xanthoma in a cat.

Species:
cat

Plain-English summary

A 7-year-old female Domestic Shorthair cat was brought in for severe itching that had been bothering her for several years. She was diagnosed with allergies and treated with medications and a special diet, which helped control her symptoms. However, five months later, she developed a non-healing, ulcerated lump in her armpit, and later, a firm yellow swelling on her belly. After tests, it was found that she had a rare skin condition called cutaneous xanthoma, but she did not have high fat levels in her blood. The cat was on a home-cooked diet of kangaroo meat and pumpkin to help with her allergies, and no cancer was found.

People also search for: cat skin problems · cat itching treatment · cutaneous xanthoma in cats · home diet for cat allergies · cat lump under skin

Abstract

CASE REPORT: A normolipaemic 7-year-old female spayed Domestic Shorthair was initially presented with a history of pruritus for several years and diagnosed with concurrent atopic dermatitis, flea bite hypersensitivity and adverse food reaction. The hypersensitivities were controlled with cyclosporin, allergen-specific immunotherapy, topical flea control and a restricted diet. Five months after initial presentation, the cat developed a non-healing nodular ulcerated cutaneous lesion in the left axilla and also developed immune-mediated haemolytic anaemic (IMHA). The IMHA was stabilised, but the axillary lesion persisted and progressed to a diffuse, firm, yellowed subcutaneous swelling over the ventral body approximately 20 months later. Histopathology was consistent with cutaneous xanthoma. The cat was normolipaemic and being fed a home-prepared diet of lean kangaroo meat and pumpkin to manage pruritus associated with adverse food reactions. No underlying malignancy was detected on routine screening tests. CONCLUSION: A diffuse, planar form of cutaneous xanthoma occurring without associated lipaemia has not been previously reported in cats.

Find similar cases for your pet

PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.

Search related cases →

Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24571300/