Cutaneous horn is a growth on the skin of cats. Why did my cat grow a cutaneous horn? What to do with him

IN veterinary clinics and on the Internet, cat owners periodically ask the question about the appearance of growths on the paw pads of their cats, which look like second claws, only softer. Usually, when owners trim their cat’s claws, they also remove these growths, which grow again. What to do if your cat has growths on her paws?

Growth on a cat

Let's try to figure out what this growth is on a cat. The disease, expressed as growths on the paws of a cat, reminiscent of animal claws or horns, most often conical in shape, dense in consistency, light or dark in color, is called “ cutaneous horn" The surface of the formation is smooth or covered with grooves. Inflammatory phenomena there are, but they are not visible on the dark surface of the paw pads. Therefore, if you put pressure on the formation, it will hurt the cat.

The cause of “skin horn” is papilloma. Obvious growths on the paws develop against the background of malignant and benign tumor processes, immunodeficiencies and infections after injuries.

Today, cats have the following skin formations that can cause serious illness:

squamous cell papilloma;

basal cell papilloma;

carcinoma;

Growths on the paws of cats, like the entire group of these tumors, are always a consequence of the growth and change of papillomas.

The simplest case of “cutaneous horn” is a nail injury in a cat. At the base of the nail, rapid tissue growth begins, which can be benign, which usually happens when a “horn” appears at the site of injury, but can also be malignant. Benign formation grows to a relatively small size and causes some inconvenience to the animal and the owners, but the cat lives quietly with it for years.

Very often there are situations when tissue growths arise against the background of developing viral leukemia. And if you find any tissue growths on your cat's skin, you should see him immediately. veterinarian to rule out leukemia or immunodeficiency state.

Because now skin diseases cats occupy one of the first places among other diseases, which is associated with the feeding habits of cats, environmental deterioration, in a sedentary manner life and inbreeding. These unpleasant factors cause various diseases, the signs of which are skin changes, the appearance of growths or unusual growths.

When you visit your veterinarian, you will be asked to histological analysis growth. Be sure to agree, because the fundamental difference malignant tumor lies in the degree to which tumor cells differ from the cells of the tissue on which it arose. And a malignant tumor is characterized by the ability to grow uncontrollably, destroying adjacent tissues, penetrating into blood vessels and giving metastases, which will inevitably lead to the rapid death of the animal. In case of rapid detection atypical cells Maybe surgical removal neoplasms and complete recovery of your cat.

Thus, a timely diagnosis and timely correct treatment can significantly prolong the life of your cat and save you money.

Sometimes in cats you can accidentally stumble upon a growth on the pads of the paws - a cutaneous horn. He could be a harbinger dangerous diseases, so it is necessary to start treatment immediately. Often the pathology itself does not cause discomfort or pain to the cat; the animal can live with it almost its entire life. Causes of cutaneous horn in cats:

• papillomatosis;
• leukemia virus;
• squamous cell carcinoma;
• cyst;
• injury.

It is important to know: the risk of developing cancer is extremely low. Benign neoplasm goes into malignant form only in 5% of cases.

The cutaneous horn is a growth that consists of acellular keratin. Most often it has the shape of a cone with a smooth or slightly rough surface. Quite hard to the touch. As for color, it can vary from lighter to darker tones. Usually, owners discover the cutaneous horn in cats at the very initial stage, when its length is not so great. Neglected growths can reach five centimeters.

There are cases when a growth that looks like this pathology actually indicates the presence of other diseases, for example, carcinoma. That's why the doctor prescribes additional research which allow us to confirm the diagnosis. A biopsy is performed– the doctor takes tissue and examines it under a microscope. As a rule, pronounced epidermal hyperplasia is observed.

If a neoplasm appears in an animal as a result of infection with leukemia, cells with several nuclei will also be found. Since cutaneous horn in cats is quite often associated with this virus, additional testing may be performed. immunohistochemical staining. The method allows us to determine whether it is related pathological neoplasm with leukemia.

Drug treatment- one of the common ways to combat skin horn. But it should be prescribed exclusively by a veterinarian. Selecting medications on your own risks only complicating the situation.

Under no circumstances should you try to remove a cat’s skin horn yourself, much less cut it off. This can further harm the animal’s health and provoke the development of infections.

Quite often doctors prescribe synthetic retinoids. Their use is advisable in cases where several growths are simultaneously found on the cat’s paw pads. Most often prescribed Etretinate. Daily dose calculated like this: For every kilogram there is 1 milligram of medicine.

Experts recommend strictly observing the dosage, since when using the drug in humans, cases of its accumulation in the body have been recorded. Therefore, veterinarians can also often prescribe Acitretin instead of Etretinate, which is eliminated much faster.

These drugs are aimed at eliminating only external symptoms, that is, removal of the cutaneous horn. Other drugs are needed to treat the underlying disease. For example, Azithromycin has proven itself well. The drug is given to the animal for oral administration at a dosage of 10 milligrams per kilogram of body weight once a day, the course of treatment is from 10 to 14 days.

Creams help effectively fight skin horns. One of them - Imiquimod. Should apply the cream three times a day for a week. But experts warn that the product is not able to insure against reappearance cutaneous horn. In addition, complications of the liver and hematopoietic system were often observed.

One of the most effective ways to treat cutaneous horn in cats is its surgical removal. It is usually prescribed in cases where the neoplasm has spread to large area, and there is no way to cure it.

The operation involves excision of the affected area using a scalpel. After removing the tumor, the doctor places stitches at the intervention site. As a rule, they are removed 10 days after surgery.

Surgery is not a guarantee of complete elimination of the tumor forever. The horn may appear again if the underlying cause remains untreated.

Laser and cryotherapy- These are one of the most progressive methods of getting rid of cutaneous horn from an animal. Laser treatment of pathology is painless, since during the procedure there is no contact between the instruments and the cat’s skin. After a while there are no scars left on the paw pads.

Cryotherapy – more painful way. When it is carried out, there is an impact liquid nitrogen on the affected area, so the cat may experience discomfort. Immediately after the procedure, a dried crust appears in place of the skin horn. Over time, it will fall off and leave no scars behind.

Popular folk remedies:

• One hundred grams of unripe walnuts pour hot vegetable oil and leave in a dark place for a whole day. Apply the resulting product to the affected area of ​​the paws. The mixture must be used within a couple of weeks.
• Take a small piece of propolis and apply it to the affected area using a bandage. It is recommended to carry out the procedure three times a week.

• Take onion skins(about four small handfuls), rinse thoroughly under running water and dry. Then place it in a jar and pour a glass of 6% vinegar. Leave for 10 days in a dark place. Then remove and strain through a sieve or cheesecloth. Use as a compress.

Read more in our article about cutaneous horn in cats.

Read in this article

Causes of appearance on pads

Pets, like their owners, are susceptible to various diseases. Sometimes you can accidentally stumble upon a growth on the pads of a cat's paws - a cutaneous horn. Some owners do not attach any importance to this, others even think that it is a claw. But a skin horn can be a harbinger of dangerous diseases, so it is necessary to begin treating the animal as soon as the growth is discovered.

Often the pathology itself does not cause discomfort or pain to the cat; the animal can live with it almost its entire life. However, if a neoplasm appears, it is necessary to figure out what prompted it. The most common causes of skin horn growth in cats are:

• papillomatosis;
• actinic keratosis (the appearance of flaky spots on the skin when exposed to the sun);
• leukemia virus;
• squamous cell carcinoma;
• cyst.

All these are the root causes, the result of which is the appearance of a cutaneous horn. Therefore, it is so important to detect it in time and begin treatment not only of the neoplasm itself, but also of the underlying disease, so that it does not turn into running form. It is important to know that the risk of developing cancer is extremely small. A benign neoplasm becomes malignant in only 5% of cases.

In addition to these pathologies, the cause of the development of a cutaneous horn can be a common injury. For example, if a cat injured its paw during a fight with another animal.

Symptoms of cutaneous horn in cats

Recognizing a neoplasm on an animal's paw is usually not so difficult. The cutaneous horn is a growth that consists of acellular keratin. Most often it has the shape of a cone with a smooth or slightly rough surface. The skin horn is quite hard to the touch. As for color, it can vary from lighter to darker tones.

Usually, owners discover the cutaneous horn in cats at the very initial stage, when its length is not so great. But neglected growths can reach five centimeters. In this case, you should definitely not postpone treatment of both the neoplasm itself and the root cause that gave rise to it.

Veterinarians usually easily identify cutaneous horn. But there are cases when a growth that outwardly resembles this pathology actually indicates the presence of other diseases, for example, carcinoma. Therefore, the doctor prescribes additional tests that can confirm the diagnosis.

To determine that it is the skin horn that has grown on the cat's paw pads, a biopsy is performed. The doctor takes tissue and examines it under a microscope. As a rule, in the presence of a cutaneous horn, pronounced epidermal hyperplasia is observed. If a neoplasm appears in an animal as a result of infection with leukemia, cells with several nuclei will also be found.

For example, Azithromycin has proven itself well. The drug is given to the animal for oral administration in the following dosage - 10 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. The product is given to the cat once a day, the course of treatment is from 10 to 14 days.

In addition to medications that must be taken orally, creams can effectively combat skin horns. One of them is Imiquimod. To reduce the buildup on your cat's paw pads, apply the cream three times a day for a week. But experts warn that the product cannot protect against the reappearance of skin horns. In addition, complications of the liver and hematopoietic system were often observed.

Surgery

One of the most effective ways to treat cutaneous horn in cats is to remove it. Only a professional veterinarian can decide whether surgery should be performed or not. Usually surgical intervention prescribed in cases where the neoplasm has spread over a large area and cannot be cured by any means.

Although this method helps to get rid of a cat's skin horn quite quickly, it has its own negative sides. Surgery does not guarantee complete removal of the tumor forever. It happens that after some time the pathology makes itself felt again. After all, the root cause remains untreated.

Laser and cryotherapy

This is one of the most progressive methods of getting rid of skin horns from an animal. Laser treatment of pathology is painless, since during the procedure there is no contact between the instruments and the cat’s skin. Moreover, after some time after the intervention, no scars remain on the paw pads.

The second method is cryotherapy, which is more painful. During this procedure, the affected area is exposed to liquid nitrogen, so the cat may experience discomfort. Immediately after the procedure, a dried crust appears in place of the skin horn. But over time it will fall off and will not leave any scars behind.

Watch this video about symptoms and diagnosis skin diseases in cats:

Traditional methods

To stop the development of a cutaneous horn, it is not necessary to immediately go to the pharmacy for medications. ethnoscience has effective means, helping to slow down the rate of growth of pathology. Usually, best result home methods are given if the tumor is in its initial stage. At the same time, it is important to observe the regularity of procedures using folk remedies.

Among the most effective recipes, which can be easily prepared at home, are noted:

Apply the resulting product to the affected area of ​​the paws. The mixture must be used within a couple of weeks.

• Take 6 laurel and juniper leaves each and chop. Add a small piece to them (about 20 grams) butter, as well as 15 drops of lavender essential oil. Apply the mixture to the pads.
• You can treat the growth with propolis. You need to take a small piece and tape it to the affected area with a bandage. It is recommended to carry out the procedure three times a week.
• Crush the dried leaves of celandine, adding melted pork fat. Lubricate the skin with the resulting mixture up to 4 times a week.
• To get rid of grooves on the new growth, you can wipe it every day with vegetable oil. Any type of product can be used.
• Take a small aloe leaf and put it in the refrigerator for three days. Then take it out and secure it with a patch on the affected area of ​​the pads.
• Take onion peels (about four small handfuls), rinse thoroughly under running water and dry. Then place it in a jar and pour a glass of 6% vinegar. Leave for 10 days in a dark place. After the specified time has passed, remove and strain through a sieve or cheesecloth. Use as a compress.

Recognizing the cutaneous horn on a cat's pads is not difficult. But it is not recommended to treat it yourself. You should definitely visit a veterinarian. Only a professional can accurately diagnose and select suitable method treatment of neoplasm.

Cases when growths appear on a cat's paws are not uncommon. Externally, the keratinized layer of skin resembles a second claw, which is why it received the name cutaneous horn. Most often, growths appear on the animal's paw pads (in in rare cases in the area of ​​the nose and eyelids).

Such skin pathology may not cause painful sensations cat, so the pet can live with her all his life. In most cases, growths on the paw pads of cats are benign, however, there are exceptions.

The skin horn can be light or dark in color and has a dense consistency. The surface of the growth is rough due to the presence of grooves. The size of the neoplasm on the cat's paw pad does not exceed 5 cm.

When a growth appears, the pet does not experience discomfort, and the formation itself is most often benign. When pressing on the “skin horn,” the cat may experience discomfort due to the fact that the appearance of the growth is inflammatory in nature.

In 5% of cases, horny growths on a cat’s paw pads indicate oncology. If a skin pathology is detected, the pet owner should not try to eliminate the formation on their own. It is easy to purchase one of the recommended medications at the pharmacy, which will stop the process of skin horn development.

Reasons for the formation of a build-up

There may be several factors that cause formations to appear on your pet’s paws. The most common reasons include:

• Nail injury. During a fight with another cat or when a paw is bruised (during play), tissue begins to grow at the base of the nail;
• Keratosis. The disease appears due to the negative impact of chemical irritants (skin burns or exposure to chemical substances). After such exposure to the surface of the paw pads, the skin becomes keratinized;
• Viral infections. Some diseases can provoke the formation of a growth on a cat's pad. These include leukemia, as well as papillomavirus, a veterinarian can confirm their presence;
• Oncological disease. In rare cases, a cutaneous horn may indicate that your pet has basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma;
• Cyst.

Home treatment

At mild form pathologies can be treated at home. The use of pharmaceutical products helps prevent the growth of the growth in the future. WITH positive side The medicine “Etretinate” has already proven itself. It is prescribed at a dosage of 1 mg/kg of pet’s weight. Give the product to your cat carefully, as it can accumulate in the animal’s body.

The use of Aldara cream is also quite effective in the fight against pathology. It must be used 3 times a week. Apply the product to the cleaned skin covering and rub until completely absorbed. When using the cream, it is important to ensure that the cat does not lick it off his paw pads.

A medicine such as Acitretin will allow you to get rid of the appendage on your cat’s pad. It is recommended to use it under the supervision of a specialist, since the product in some cases causes by-effect. The medicine is quickly eliminated from the pet’s body and has a short half-life.

Azithromycin tablets - another one effective way get rid of pathology. The medicine should be given once a day, and the course of treatment lasts two weeks. The dosage of the product is 10 mg/kg of pet’s weight. Pharmaceutical product inexpensive and yet quite effective.

When to contact a specialist?

A visit to the veterinarian is necessary if available. large quantity growths on hind legs in cats (or on the front legs). If your pet is unwell and the regular occurrence of pain during the animal’s movements should also be a cause for concern.

Except medicinal method The veterinarian may suggest the following treatment options:

• Laser surgery. In this way, it is possible to safely get rid of the growth on the animal’s paws. The laser leaves no traces and allows you to effectively fight the virus;
• Surgical method. Used if the area of ​​build-up is too large. Using a scalpel, skin pathology is eliminated, however, after the operation, scars may remain and formations may reappear;
• Cryotherapy. This is a painful procedure because skin formation treated with liquid nitrogen. A dry crust appears at the site of the growth after the procedure;

Some cat owners use traditional methods. These include the use of aloe leaves, propolis, juniper and bay leaves, as well as the use of vegetable oil.

Prevent occurrence similar pathology It is possible if you carefully monitor your pet’s health. It is important to notice changes in his health status and undergo testing twice a year. preventive examination at the veterinarian.

Changes in the structure of claws and paw pads, the formation of growths or warts in cats - all this should alert the owner. Growths on the paws of cats are a fairly common pathology and are found in all representatives of the species, regardless of breed. Such neoplasms can cause discomfort to the animal and therefore require treatment.

New growths on the paws near the claws are called “cutaneous horn”. This name is due to the fact that the growths usually have a dense structure and resemble an extra claw. They are nothing more than tissue proliferation due to keratinization. The causes of the formation of such growths are in most cases viral.

The growths on the paws of Brittanys and other breeds are usually a different color from the paw pads and nails. They can be light, almost white, or dark brown. Their nature is in many ways similar to ordinary warts. Growths are also caused by papillomavirus, of which there are several dozen. Provoke proliferation and keratinization ( overeducation keratin in the area of ​​the epidermis) may also be leukemia.

The growth itself is in most cases not dangerous and does not cause discomfort to the pet. However, neoplasms require careful monitoring. You should show the animal to a veterinarian and conduct a series of examinations to confirm the benign nature of the growth.

Reasons for the formation of growths

As mentioned above, growths are most often a consequence of the activity of the papillomavirus. Animals are susceptible to this disease to the same extent as people. Infection with the virus occurs against a background of weakening of the body.

Indirect causes of the appearance of tumors on the paws can be considered:

1. Decreased immunity.
2. Metabolic disorder.
3. Elderly age.
4. Viral diseases.
5. Claw injuries.

Separately allocate oncological diseases as the cause of growths. In cancer, the “skin horn” is a consequence systemic violations in organism. Also, growths can appear in response to chemotherapy and other drugs for the treatment of cancer. This is associated with a decline in immunity.

Severe damage to the claw, for example, as a result of a conflict with a relative or a blow, can lead to the appearance of growths on the cat’s paws. This is explained by the fact that at the site of injury, intensive release of keratin begins and the rate of division of epidermal cells changes, which leads to the formation of the so-called second claw.

Another cause of “cutaneous horn” is keratosis. The disease is characterized by the formation of areas of keratinized epidermis. Such areas differ in color from healthy skin, the epidermis becomes hard and rough, peeling is possible. Keratosis is a consequence negative impact household chemicals or sun rays on an area of ​​skin. Epidermal disease can develop after injuries, burns or prolonged contact with chemicals.

Why is “skin horn” dangerous?

In most cases, growths on the hind legs of cats are not dangerous and can be successfully treated with both medication and surgical methods. However, before starting treatment, it is imperative to conduct a histological analysis of the tumor - this will exclude oncology.

Large, dense growths on the paws lead to poor circulation, which may be accompanied by brittle nails or ingrown nails. Often inflammation begins around the growth.

Despite its benign nature, “skin horn” can lead to the development of oncology – squamous cell carcinoma. If the growths are caused by leukemia, there is high risk lethal outcome.

Treatment methods

If you notice a growth on a cat's front paw, you should consult a specialist, but do not try to treat the animal yourself. First of all, it is necessary to exclude oncology and identify the causes of tumors.

If there is only one growth and it is different small in size, practiced drug treatment at home. For this purpose, use:

• Aldara ointment;
• Azithromycin tablets;
• Etretinate;
• Acitretin.

Synthetic retinoids should only be used as prescribed by a doctor. The dosage is selected individually in each case and depends on the weight of the cat and general condition health.

It is important to understand that the course drug therapy is not a 100% guarantee full recovery. The growths go away under the influence of synthetic retinoids, but over time they may appear again.

Several large growths on the paws are a reason for surgical treatment. In this case, surgery is preferable, as it eliminates tumors quickly and effectively. Both traditional removal of tumors using a scalpel and more modern methods – laser removal or cryodestruction of growths.