Plasmacytic pododermatitis in animals: signs, causes and treatment

Pododermatitis in animals - what is it? Have you ever thought about your feet? What are shoes for and what function do they serve? So, you need shoes so that you can safely walk in winter and summer on hot roads, snow-covered forests, deserts, swamps, taiga and just around the city. It serves as a protective shell for the legs. Imagine a situation if every person on earth were barefoot, what would happen then, how would progress develop? It is very difficult to imagine such a fantasy. Even horses have a kind of footwear - horseshoes, which serve as a protective system for them from stones, debris and even from trampling hooves.

But let's look at the more in-depth world of those living creatures that to this day remain barefoot, living in the wild or in human agriculture. In some cases of their lives, such animals experienced painful sensations on the soles of their feet.

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wounds , swellings and other painful formations . This disease is called Pododermatitis - it occurs regardless of age, and this pathology is also accompanied by corns.

Corns are hardened areas of skin on the soles of the feet that cause severe pain when walking. They are also called bone protrusions, which can cause the development of flat feet.

Plasmacytic pododermatitis and its causes

Etiological factors that could provoke the disease have not been identified. During laboratory examination, an increase in serum globulin concentrations and the presence of lymphocytosis are noted. When plasma cells are involved and immune complexes are deposited in the skin, experts speak of an immune-related disease.

An increase in the concentration of plasma cells and the volume of granulation tissue gives the clinical picture in the form of poorly limited swelling of the fingertip. Constant contact with the floor (ground) leads to damage to the epidermis, its ulceration, and the penetration of bacterial microflora leads to the development of a secondary infection.

Pododermatitis in animals. Conclusion

To protect your pets

from the inconvenience and suffering associated with pododermatitis,
it is enough to pay attention to the conditions of their detention
. Cleanliness is the key to health. A common culprit in the occurrence of this disease is the carpet in the house. If an animal often runs on it, the protective fur on the soles of its paws wears off, which leads to the appearance of micro wounds into which dirt or other infectious agents can get.

If in the summer you keep your pet outside (for example, in a country house) without cages, then the most favorable soil will be grass-covered soil. Do not place them on sand or pebble floors. In cases where you notice some deviation in the behavior of your pet, contact the hotline, you will be advised on questions of interest, and, if necessary, our veterinarians will provide proper treatment on the path to recovery of your animal.

Signs of the disease: what can be noticed during examination

When observing such cats at the RosVet VC, the veterinary dermatologist does not note strict age and breed characteristics. This means that plasmacytic pododermatitis can occur in any pet; it is impossible to predict the disease.

Mainly one central pad on the paw is affected, but it is also possible that several toe pads will be involved in the pathological process.

Clinical picture:

• the formation of a soft, painless swelling;
• hyperkeratotic, alternating stretch marks of the skin on the fingers;
• the color changes from pinkish (dark) to pale blue with a purple tint.

When the pad is ulcerated, granulation tissue begins to protrude and local lymphadenopathy is observed. For a cat, plasmacytic dermatitis in the initial stages does not cause severe discomfort, there is no pain, so the owner of the animal does not always notice the first clinical signs.

Cats with plasmacytic pododermatitis have not been associated with carriage of the leukemia virus or immunodeficiency virus. Very rarely, along with swelling of the pads, the back of the nose may also swell.

Pododermatitis using the example of domestic animals

The most common skin problems, for example in rabbits , is of various kinds of ulcers and fistulas on the paws . Their appearance causes considerable suffering to the animal. Most often, this pathology manifests itself on the hind legs, forming wounds and abscesses . In general, it is a soft tissue disease capable of rapidly worsening symptoms, requiring special care for treatment and prevention.

The inflammatory process on the paws can be divided into groups of its complications:
• Purulent pododermatitis is an inflammation of a wound that has formed and manifests itself due to infection.
• Aseptic (typical for horses) - basically, this form manifests itself when traveling long distances while walking or from bruises, chips, cuts from stones and other foreign objects.
• Laminitis - oddly enough, such pododermatitis is formed from the regulation of the body. It can be caused by improperly selected food or spoiled food.
• Plasmacytic pododermatitis occurs in cats, manifesting as infiltration of plasma cells. The footpads and metatarsal pads are affected.

Duration of the disease

can vary from the first appearance to the chronic form of the disease.
It can also spread from one part of the body to another
.
Another reason for the appearance of an infection may be failure to maintain proper animal hygiene
. The world around us is teeming with pathogenic microorganisms, so wet cleaning should be done a couple of times a week.

Pododermatitis - symptoms

Let's look at the symptoms for different types of pododermatitis:
• Aseptic pododermatitis - the animal tries to limit the movement of the affected limb, thereby trying to relieve the weight load when walking, in other words, the pet begins to limp. When examining the painful area, a red-yellow spotty color is revealed, this appearance is given by the result of rupture of blood vessels and clots of escaping blood.
• Purulent pododermatitis - when examining ulcerative areas, it is very painful to feel, and also manifests itself in an increase in the animal’s temperature. Sometimes detachments of the affected areas appear; the limb is bent all the time to avoid stress.
• Laminitis - accompanied by complete suppression of behavior. The animal has difficulty moving, trembling, sweating, and rapid breathing appear. The painful area has a swollen appearance.
• Plasmacytic pododermatitis does not manifest itself in painful sensations; the swelling may appear purple. They remain soft or moderately elastic to the touch. Spontaneous remission is sometimes observed.

Diagnosis and differentiation from similar pathologies

An accurate clinical picture and laboratory tests help make the correct diagnosis. Biopsy material is taken and examined histologically. Plasma cells are found in stained fingerprint smears.

There is practically no need to differentiate plasmacytic pododermatitis; its clinical picture is unique. But just in case, fungal, bacterial, collagenolytic granuloma, and squamous carcinoma can be excluded. Conducting a study for calicivirus and herpesvirus infection of cats.

Pododermatitis - treatment

• Aseptic - the animal requires complete rest, the painful area is treated with cold bandages for three days, after which warm procedures begin, and novocaine is also given intravenously. In chronic forms of manifestation, they are applied with salicylic ointment and iodide ointment.
• In case of purulent pododermatitis, the site of the disease is washed with soapy water or another disinfectant. You should not self-medicate, since in most cases surgical intervention is required. Treatment takes a long time, so after the infection has been removed, prophylactic agents are prescribed - antibiotics and furatsilin solution. Also, bandages with various ointments are applied to the wound, for example - Vishnevsky, Konkov, Costco and others.

• For laminitis, rest and bath procedures with an anti-infective effect are prescribed. Corticosteroids and antihistamines are used intravenously and intramuscularly.
• Plasmacytic pododermatitis is treated with systemic glucocorticosteroids in a decreasing form. First, large doses are given, gradually moving to small ones. For example, drugs such as prednisolone or methylprednisolone.

Traditional methods are also very effective, for example, calendula solution is a good antiseptic; wounds are washed with it. To stop bleeding, apply plantain or strawberry and blackberry leaves.

Plasmacytic pododermatitis and its treatment

An exact treatment regimen for the disease has not been developed. There is information about the successful use of doxycycline (5 mg/kg by mouth every 8 hours. Course 1-2 months). Systemic antibiotics, glucocorticosteroids, and chlorambucil have proven themselves to be quite effective. Sometimes the affected pad is surgically removed using chrysotherapy and dressings. But, unlike doxycycline, all other methods do not provide a permanent effect.

If you notice that your cat’s paw pads have changed their configuration and color, areas of ulceration have appeared, or suppuration has begun, don’t hesitate! Call the RosVet VC by phone. You can make an appointment with a veterinary dermatologist 24 hours a day.

Causes of limb failure

The occurrence of weakness in a cat's hind legs is caused by a large number of different factors. The main ones include hip dysplasia, hyperparathyroidism, thromboembolism, and inflammatory processes in the spinal cord.

Falls from great heights are often the cause of hind limb failure in cats. There is an opinion that representatives of the cat family perfectly group while jumping, landing on their paws. In fact, this is a myth that is far from the truth. Quite often in the practice of veterinarians there are cases of injuries to the spine, especially the sacral region in cats, resulting from a fall from a height.

When falling from a balcony, roof or tree, there is a high risk of damage to the lumbar spine, affecting the nerve endings responsible for the functioning of the hind limbs, tail and internal organs located in the back.

It is important to promptly determine the cause of lameness, as it can develop as a result of paralysis or a fracture of the cat’s hind leg. Treatment and diagnosis will have significant differences.

Other causes of hind limb paralysis are:

1. Intervertebral disc herniation. With this pathology, the intervertebral disc protrudes, causing the animal severe pain. Disc displacement between the vertebrae leads to compression of the nerve endings of the spinal cord and blood vessels. There is a disruption in the transmission of impulses along nerve fibers to the brain, necessary for the physiological functioning of the hind limbs.
2. Thromboembolism. A disease characterized by the development of blood clots in the area of ​​the femoral artery, blocking the lumen, disrupting blood flow and trophism of nearby tissue structures. An embolus, by its designation, is a solid, liquid or gaseous substrate inside a vessel that does not occur under normal conditions. An embolus can be a particle of a neoplasm, a parasitic microorganism, or a blood clot. If a cat drags its hind paw, experiences severe pain, and sensitivity decreases, then the chances of recovery are quite slim.
3. Inflammatory processes in the spinal cord. Inflammation in the spinal cord can be triggered by infection of the body with worms, autoimmune diseases, and intoxication with heavy metal salts. The clinical picture of inflammation of the spinal cord is expressed by a sharp deterioration in the pet’s general condition, an increase in body temperature to high levels, dehydration and urinary incontinence.
4. Stroke. Rarely occurring, but nevertheless giving serious consequences for the whole organism, is a pathological condition of the brain. As a result of hemorrhage and depending on the degree of vascular damage, paralysis of the hind limbs may develop in pets. Treatment of diagnosed stroke in cats involves taking immediate measures to stabilize the general condition of the body. In the absence of qualified assistance, the consequences are unusually severe, and death is also possible.
5. Hyperparathyroidism of nutritional origin. Due to disturbances in metabolic processes in the body due to a lack of vitamin D and calcium, as well as as a result of increased phosphorus content, disturbances in the functioning of the parathyroid gland occur. Excessive amounts of parathyroid hormone are produced, and the gland itself works under increased load. In an animal with alimentary hyperparathyroidism, the bone structures are disturbed, the cat limps on its hind legs, convulsive phenomena are diagnosed, a shaky gait is detected, the paws move in different directions when walking. Timely diagnosis and treatment makes it possible to completely rid your pet of the disease.

Therapy methods

Weakness in a cat's hind legs requires immediate attention from a veterinarian. There are many reasons for the development of lameness and paralysis of the hind legs in domestic cats, so it is not possible to accurately determine the provoking factor on your own without special equipment.

In a veterinary hospital, diagnostic measures must be carried out, including:

• neurological examination;
• X-ray examination of the spinal column;
• ultrasound diagnostics of organs located in the abdominal cavity;
• bacteriological analysis (carried out if the infectious nature of paralysis is suspected);
• biochemical analysis of blood and urine.

Depending on the reasons why the cat drags its hind paw or refuses to step on its hind limbs, treatment is prescribed. For injuries that cause a disorder in the spine, surgery is recommended.

Failure of the hind legs, which occurs when falling from a great height, implies the use of drugs such as Milgama, Metipred. It is necessary to carry out myostimulation and physiotherapy. Inflammatory processes in muscle fibers that provoke a violation of the conduction of nerve impulses to the hind limbs, treatment consists of massages with camphor oil and alcohol. The animal is turned over, preventing the development of bedsores.

The act of defecation must be stimulated artificially, helping the animal to cleanse the intestines.

When thromboembolism is diagnosed, treatment depends on the presence of necrotization of tissue structures. The absence of necrosis implies the use of antigoagulants, which should be prescribed exclusively by the attending veterinarian. It is important to accurately calculate the dosage of drugs that prevent blood clotting, since an overdose can lead to internal bleeding.

Vitamin deficiencies, which cause paresis and paralysis of the hind legs in cats, are treated more quickly and easily than other pathological conditions. The animal’s diet is radically revised, enriching it as much as possible with vitamins A and B.

Diagnosed hip dysplasia in a pet is difficult to treat. The pet is prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs in the form of injections, as well as medications - glucosamine and chondroetin. Often intra-articular injections or surgery are required.

A fixing bandage is applied to the damaged joint, thereby reducing the load on the limb.