Feline Eosinophilic Granuloma

Feline eosinophilic granuloma complex (EGC) is not a disease, but rather a reaction to an underlying allergy. EGC actually consists of three separate skin conditions:

• Indolent ulcers (rodent ulcers)
• Eosinophilic plaque
• Eosinophilic granuloma

Eosinophils are a healthy cat’s weapon against parasites, but in cats with EGC, the eosinophils react to an allergen rather than to a parasite. The eosinophils then cause damage to the collagen in your cat’s skin the result of which is the three conditions above. The source of your cat’s allergy may range from food allergies, to atopy (inhaled allergies), to parasitic allergies. Often the cause of the allergic reaction is not found and the EGC is considered to be idiopathic. EGC seems to be a genetic trait in some lines of domestic cats.

Symptoms of Feline Eosinophilic Granuloma

Eosinophilic granuloma, also known as linear granuloma, are often raised and elongated. They can appear on the back of a cat’s thighs, on the cat’s lip and chin, or on the pads of the cat’s feet. The granuloma may come in clusters, or you may find a single granuloma. Either way, the granulomas are often accompanied with hair loss. Frequently these lesions ooze, and some ulcerate, especially those on the bottoms of the cat’s feet. Granuloma on the lips may look to be nothing more than a swollen lower lip, almost as if the cat is pouting.

Eosinophilic plaques are intensely itchy lesions that appear as thick, raw skin. These lesions typically appear on the cat’s inner thigh, throat, or belly. If your cat is constantly scratching at her lesions, she may be reacting to eosinophilic plaque.

Indolent ulcers present as an erosion of the upper lip. These lesions can spread to your cat’s tongue, so if you identify a lip ulcer, it is best to check inside your cat’s mouth to see if the condition is there as well.

Treatment of Feline Eosinophilic Granuloma Your veterinarian might recommend any of the following treatments for your cat’s EGC lesions:

• Corticosteroids such as Prednisolone
• Antihistamines such as Chlorpheniramine
• Fatty acid supplements such as Sogeval Actis Omega Essential Fatty Acid Nutritional Supplement
• Antibiotics such as Clavamox
• Anti-inflammatory medications such as Cyclosporine
• Immunosuppressive drugs such as Chlorambucil

Since EGC is the result of an allergy, if you can identify the source of your cat’s allergy, it is necessary to remove the source from your cat’s environment. Your vet may perform an intradermal skin test to see what kind of allergies your cat has if EGC becomes a recurrent problem. If your cat suffers from a food allergy your vet might recommend:

• Food trials using products such as Hill’s Prescription Diet d/d or Natural Balance Venison and Green Pea
• “limited antigen” or “hydrolyzed protein” diets of hypoallergenic foods such as Royal Canin Feline Hypoallergenic HP 23 or Hill’s Prescription Diet z/d
• Avoiding allergen once it is identified

If you find your cat is allergic to fleas, you can use:

• Flea collars such as Zodiac Adjustable Eight Month Flea and Tick Collar
• Flea prevention such as Frontline Plus

Occasionally indolent ulcers are precancerous, so your veterinarian might choose to do a biopsy to rule out cancer.

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