Todayโs path rounds are on ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฉ๐จ๐๐จ๐๐๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ฌ!
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
๐๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฉ๐จ๐๐จ๐๐๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ฌ is a rare condition that causes high numbers of ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฌ (antibody producing cells) to accumulate in the tissues of the paws.
๐๐ก๐จ ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
This disorder affects cats!
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
The cause of this disorder is currently unknown, however it has been linked to ๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐จ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐ข๐๐ง๐๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ข๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฌ, with approximately 50% of cases testing positive for the virus. The condition itself is thought to be ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐-๐ฆ๐๐๐ข๐๐ญ๐๐, meaning that some dysfunction of the immune system is the basic underlying cause.
๐๐ก๐ฒ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ?
PCP begins as a non-painful swelling of the footpads of the paws, that eventually progresses to a scaly skin surface, followed by ulceration and bleeding. As the disease progresses, it becomes more and more painful for the cat, and eventually they are unwilling to walk because it is so ouchy! Poor kitties 
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ง๐จ๐ฌ๐๐?
This disorder can be diagnosed based on the swollen footpads, combined with a ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ง๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ (using a needle to sample cells) showing large numbers of plasma cells.
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐๐?
Unfortunately because the cause of the disease is unknown, developing a treatment plan can be difficult! These lesions have been shown to respond to ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐จ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐ฏ๐ medications, to reduce the immune-mediated reaction causing the problem. Additionally, these cats can benefit greatly from some pain medication to help with their sore feet!
๐๐ก๐จ๐ญ๐จ๐ฌ
1-4) Examples of ouchy kitty paws with plasma cell pododermatitis
๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ
Maxie, G. Jubb, Kennedy and Palmerโs Pathology of Domestic Animals, Volume 1. Sixth Edition.
Photos 1-2 ยฉ Julia Case.
Photos 3-4 ยฉ Noahโs Arkive contributor Williams, Grandi licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
