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Cat with Solar Dermatitis
Belka is approximately five year old Domestic Short Hair Cat. Until recently she was a stray but now she is adopted by a warm-hearted girl. Belka's new owner noticed changes on Belka's ear tips few months ago but she was hoping that with better care those changes would resolve spontaneously. Unfortunately ear changes were getting worse so the owner brought Belka to our surgery.
We examined Belka thoroughly and discovered that apart from ear changes she was otherwise healthy. She was also few weeks pregnant. After we performed additional tests on Belka and excluded some differential diagnosis we explained the owner that solar dermatitis is the most possible diagnosis in Belka's case. Solar dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin caused by sun lights. Solar dermatitis is most commonly seen in white animals on body parts which are covered with very little or no hair. (ear tips, nose).
Belka is not completely white by her head and ears are white. She was stray and used to spend lots of time outdoors, exposed to the sun light. By examination we could not exclude one important differential diagnosis: Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Squamous cell carcinoma can appear separately but can also appear as a consequence of chronic case of solar dermatitis. To make a final diagnosis the biopsy and histopathological examination of skin changes are necessary.
Together with the owner we decided to spay Belka as soon as possible (because the owner could not afford to have Belka's kittens either now or in the future) and to perform the biopsy at the same time.
After two weeks Belka was presented to our surgery again. Belka's owner was very worried. In case Belka's ears were affected by tumour or conservative therapy would not prove successful, Belka would need another surgery very soon. We decided to perform more radical surgery straight away and to remove affected parts of both ears lobes straight away. Apart from spaying, Belka would undergo ear cropping surgery. Removed ear parts would be sent off for further histological examination.
Spaying was performed first. In Belka's case this was a procedure of a higher risk because of her pregnancy but still it was a routine operation, commonly performed in every day veterinary practice. Ear cropping was performed next.
Belka's ears after the surgery
Belka went through both surgeries without any complications and she recovered well from the anaesthesia. Now we just have to wait for the results of histopathological examination. In the meantime Belka's owner has to protect Belka from UV light by letting Belka out only during the night and putting sun blocking agents with factor 30 and more over the exposed parts of Belka's body. Belka now looks different then other cats but it is not a problem either for her or for her owner at all.
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Belka during first examination
 Belka is ready for the surgery
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