What Causes Eosinothyllic Granuloma Complex in Older Felines?

Eosinophilic granuloma complex, commonly misspelled "eosinothyllic" or "eosinophyllic" granuloma complex, is the formation of skin lesions on a cat that are thought to be caused by a severe allergic reaction. Such lesions are also called indolent ulcers, rodent ulcers or button ulcers. They are red, hairless sore patches on a cat's skin that may be itchy or quite sore and can sometimes ooze a clear liquid. When suffering from eosinophilic granuloma complex, a cat may constantly attempt to lick the lesion in order to ease her pain.

  1. Esosinophilic Granuloma Complex

    • Eosinophilic granuloma complex is a skin condition in which linear or circular lesions form on the skin of a cat. The lesions can be red or pink, hairless or itchy and may be described as "raw" or ulcerated. They can form on the cat's foot pads, stomach, neck, back, thighs and chin and backs of legs. The lesions commonly appear on the chin of a cat, to give it a "pouty chin" look. Some cases of eosinophilic granuloma complex that form on the chin can result in ulcers, which is the erosion of skin that can cause a raw wound or depression to appear.

    Causes

    • The skin disease eosinophilic granuloma complex is often caused by an allergic reaction. It can be caused by a bacterial skin infection, and in some cases it has have no identifiable cause at all. Adult cats and older felines can have allergic reactions to certain proteins that can be present in their food as well as to insect bites such as mosquito, lice and flea bites. Other sources of skin allergens may be plastic dishes, bedding materials and perfumes or chemicals in kitty litter.

    Diagnosis

    • Veterinarians can test the lesions on your cat to determine if she has eosinophilic granuloma complex or another skin disease. A vet may use a hyperdermic needle to take a sample or biopsy of the lesion that will be looked at under a microscope. In addition, a eosinophil count may be performed. Eosinophils are white blood cells that cause allergic reactions and are used by the body fight off parasitic infections. They are the same types of white blood cells that can cause eczema and asthma in people.

    Typical Treatment

    • If there is a discernible cause of eosinophilic granuloma complex, such as flea or lice bites, the first step is to eliminate the parasites. Bathing the cat, using a flea comb and administering medicine such as Frontline or Advantage can all help to get rid of the pests that may be causing the cat to have lesions. Some vets may recommend that you change your older feline's diet to a hypoallergenic cat food, which can be a hydrolyzed prescription diet or a cat food that contains a different type of protein than what she was originally fed. If the skin lesions are infected or caused by a bacteria, your vet will give you antibiotics to give your cat. Some cases may require the use of injectable corticosteroids, which reduce inflammation caused by allergic reactions.