Page 1335 - Problem-Based Feline Medicine

65 – THE CAT WITH ABNORMAL EYELID APPEARANCE 1327

Treatment Definitive diagnosis is based on the identification of the
parasite in skin scrapings.
Initial debridement is recommended to remove exces-
sively traumatized tissue.
DEMODECOSIS
Accurate surgical apposition of wounds using 5/0 or
6/0 polypropylene or nylon sutures should be performed
Classical signs
whenever there are sharp discontinuities of tissue.
Debridement without suturing, followed by secondary ● Peri-ocular alopecia, erythema and
intention healing (granulation) may be used whenever scaling.
accurate apposition is not possible, however primary ● Variably pruritic.
healing of eyelid structures is always preferable. ● Rare in cats.
Antimicrobial therapy with antibiotics should be
specifically directed against known common skin flora. Clinical signs
Antibiotics should be considered whenever there is
Typically there is alopecia, sometimes associated with
severe devitalization of tissue, loss of normal tissue
scaling, erythema, crusting or alterations in pigmenta-
perfusion due to disruption of arterial supply, or venous
tion of the peri-ocular skin.
or lymphatic drainage. Appropriate empirical antibi-
otics selections include: Often demodecosis is associated with other systemic
● Amoxicillin–clavulanic acid combinations at disease such as FIV, FeLV, diabetes mellitus.
12.5 mg/kg q 12 hourly.
● Cephalexin 15 mg/kg q 12 hourly.
Diagnosis
Anti-inflammatory therapy with NSAIDs to reduce
Tentative diagnosis is based on suspicious skin lesions.
inflammation and swelling: Ketoprofen 1 mg/kg orally
q 24 hours. Definitive diagnosis is made on identification of mites
in scrapings and/or histopathologic examination of
affected eyelid skin.
NOTOEDRES CATI INFECTION*

Classical signs MALASEZZIA
● Alopecia of the ears, eyelids, face and neck.
Classical signs
● Crusting and excoriation.
● Usually pronounced pruritis. ● Peri-ocular alopecia, and crusting.
● Variably pruritic.
● Rare in cats.
Clinical signs
Alopecia, crusting and excoriation of the ears, eyelids,
face and neck. Pathogenesis
Usually pronounced pruritis. Rare in cats, and appears to be associated with genetic
factors in young cats, for example Rex cats.
Diagnosis Adult-onset disease may be allergy-associated, and in
aged cats Malasezzia has been associated with thymo-
If Notoedres infection is suspected, a tentative diagno-
mas and carcinomas of the pancreas and liver.
sis is often made on the basis of the appearance of the
lesions and the pruritis.
Clinical signs
Other diseases which cause scaling and crusting such as
dermatophytosis and autoimmune skin diseases are Typically there is alopecia, sometimes associated with
usually not pruritic. crusting or pruritis, erythema and scaling.