Page 1089 - Problem-Based Feline Medicine

52. The cat with non-healing wounds

Gregory Burton

KEY SIGNS
● Erosion, ulceration.
● Nodules or plaques with ulceration or fistulae.
● Serosanguineous to purulent exudate +/- tissue grains.
● Subcutaneous fibrosis.
● Extracutaneous symptoms may be present.

MECHANISM
● Non-healing wounds occur where there is a failure of re-epithelialization, dermal fibroplasia
and or angiogensis.
WHERE?
● Skin (diseases involving the epidermis, dermis, panniculus and cutaneous blood vessels)
and mucocutaneous junctions.
WHAT?
● Most cats with non-healing skin wounds have infections (mycobacteria, aerobic and/or anaerobic
bacteria, or fungi). Neoplasia, allergies, immune-mediated and metabolic diseases are less
common.

QUICK REFERENCE SUMMARY
Diseases causing non-healing wounds
ANOMALY

● Cutaneous asthenia (p 1100 - 1101)
Congenital disease resulting in hyperextensibility and fragility of the skin. Kittens present with
spontaneous tears or necrotic, slow-healing crusted ulcerations.
● Epidermolysis bullosa (p 1101)
Congenital epidermal basement membrane disease with signs evident shortly after birth. Skin, foot
pad and mouth ulcers particularly at frictional areas. Nail shedding is common.

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