Page 1075 - Problem-Based Feline Medicine

51. The cat with skin lumps and bumps

Rodney Clement Straw

KEY SIGNS
● Soft or firm masses on the skin or under the skin.

MECHANISM?
● Masses are usually inflammatory and infectious in nature.
● Neoplasia is less common and may be caused by cumulative solar irradiation (SCC), viruses
(fibrosarcoma), as a sequel to vaccination (sarcoma) or have an unknown etiology.

WHERE?
● Skin, subcutaneous tissue and superficial, palpable anatomical structures.

WHAT?
● Most cats with skin lumps and bumps have inflammatory lesions such as abscesses; neoplasia
is less common.

QUICK REFERENCE SUMMARY
Diseases causing skin lumps and bumps
ANOMALY

● Multiple cartilaginous exostosis (p 1079)
Young cat (less than 2 years old) with hard masses fixed to underlying bone on extremities or
skull, scapula, ribs, pelvis or multiple sites. These are progressive and painful swellings.
MECHANICAL
● Foreign body* (p 1073)
Typically vegetable material such as a grass seed or awn is involved. Relatively acute onset of
swelling, often with draining tracts. Can become chronic discharging sinus and location of
swelling may move in position on the body.
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