Feline Pododermatitis

Feline Pododermatitis, also called Plasma Cell Pododermatitis, or "pillow foot," is the painful swelling of the pads on a cat's paw. This rare disease does not affect any particular age, breed or sex of cats and, while its cause is still a mystery, treatment is available. Severe cases of Feline Pododermatitis require treatment, while some cats recover within two to three months without treatment.

  1. Cause

    • The exact cause of Feline Pododermatitis is unknown, but one clue is that the swollen foot pad is caused by infiltration of plasma cells. Plasma cells are cells of the active immune system and indicate that the disease involves stimulation of the immune system. Studies have found a link between Feline Pododermatitis and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, so it is recommended that you have your cat screened for this virus as well.

    Symptoms

    • The disease starts with a visible swelling of one or more of the cat's paw pads. The swollen pads are painful and may cause lameness due to hypersensitivity. Eventually, the swollen pads may ulcerate and bleed at the slightest touch. The swollen pads feel spongy and are crosshatched with scaly cracks. Older lesions are more likely to develop a secondary infection. Some cats may be listless, anemic and exhibit a loss of appetite.

    Treatment

    • If the cat is in pain, the vet may prescribe the antibiotic deoxycycline, corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs. Provide your cat with the prescribed medications for the entire length of time as directed by your veterinarian even if all of the symptoms and signs of the disease disappear before treatment is finished. Some cases of Feline Pododermatitis may require surgery. Moisturizing and soaking the feet daily in a antiseptic solution recommended by your veterinarian may help with healing.

    Follow-Up Treatment

    • Cats diagnosed with severe Feline Pododermatitis involving blisters, draining tracts or sores should be routinely monitored by the veterinarian after the initial treatment to make sure that all signs of the disease are completely resolved and there is no recurrence. Keep your cat from walking in areas that may have foreign bodies, such as thorns or glass, or chemicals including fertilizers and herbicides Stopping treatment prematurely may cause the disease to reoccur.