Feline acne
Introduction
- Acne is a common idiopathic dermatosis of follicular keratinization.
- Signs: the chin is the usual site with the upper and lower lips less commonly affected.
- Most affected cats have only mild lesions-comedones but some may progress to have:
- Papules.
- Pustules.
- Furunculosis.
- Cellulitis.
- Cysts.
- Scarring.
- Diagnosis: examination and histopathology.
- Treatment: topical agents, systemic antibiotics, occasionally other drugs.
- Prognosis: some cats can be cured but many require long-term treatment for recurrent disease.
Print off the owner factsheet on Feline acne Feline acne to give to your client.
Presenting signs
- Comedones on the chin.
- Comedones on the lips.
- Secondary pyoderma.
- Severe deep pyoderma with systemic signs.
Acute presentation
- Anorexia, depression, pyrexia found with deep pyoderma.
Concurrent immunosuppression should be ruled out.
Age predisposition
- Possibly more common when older but occurs at all ages.
Cost considerations
- For cases presenting with the most severe signs.
- Most cases.
Pathogenesis
Etiology
- Some factors have been recorded as possible underlying factors:
- Decreased grooming.
- Food soiling.
- Genetics.
- Stress.
- Viruses.
- Immunosuppression.
Predisposing factors
General
- Immunosuppression may lead to deep pyoderma.
Pathophysiology
- Idiopathic keratinization disorder.
- Unknown factors → dilated hair follicle containing sebaceous material and cornified cells (comedo).
- Secondary bacterial colonization → folliculitis, furunculosis, cellulitis.
Diagnosis
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Treatment
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Prevention
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Outcomes
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Further Reading
Publications
Refereed papers
- Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
- Foil C S (1995) Facial, pedal, and other regional dermatoses. Vet Clin North Amer 25 (4), 923-944 PubMed.
- Werner A H & Power H T (1994) Retinoids in veterinary dermatology. Clin Dermatol 12 (4), 579-586 PubMed.
- Rosenkrantz W S (1992) The pathogenesis, diagnosis and management of feline acne. Vet Med 86 (5), 504-12 VetMedResource.
Other sources of information
- Scott D W, Miller W H and Griffin C E (1995) Small Animal Dermatology. 5th edn. Philadelphia W B Saunders. pp 835-7.