Worried about cat’s lesion
QMY cat has been diagnosed with a granuloma at the back of her tongue. A biopsy has shown it is not cancerous. Do you have any experience of this disease?
AGRANULOMA on the tongue is known commonly as eosinophilic granuloma.This is part of the eosinophilic granuloma complex (EGC).
Lesions can occur on the back of the tongue, soft palate or the hard palate.These are red and fleshylooking with white spots.
The problem is unique to cats. The tongue lesions do look like squamous cell carcinoma, a difficult cancer to cure in this site, so it is good that your vet has ruled it out.
EGC lesions are commonly caused by an allergic reaction, with a small number due to bacteria.
Bacterial lesions should respond to antibiotics but with those caused by allergic reaction, steroids are the usual first line of treatment.
EGC lesions, especially in the tongue, should respond quite quickly to a course of steroids. However, without dealing with an underlying allergic cause the lesions often come back after treatment.
Allergies in cats can be down to fleas, food, pollen and house dust mites. Flea numbers soar in summer so flea control is an important starting point, while keeping lesions under control pending other investigation.
QMY two-year-old German shepherd dog has recently had epileptic fits. The vet has tried to find an underlying cause without success, prescribed medication and warned treatment may be lifelong. What do you think?
AEPILEPSY is common in dogs. Around one in 130 are affected and German shepherds are thought to have a genetic predisposition to the condition. Fits that begin in young dogs between six months and six years are often without any obvious cause.
A diagnosis may only be reached after a careful history is taken, a neurological examination, various blood tests and MRI scans (in old dogs).
Fits in dogs are very alarming but after a while owners become less worried and
more concerned about how to minimise them.
Unfortunately this is not easy and only up to a third of dogs remain seizure-free on medication.
That said, there are things an owner can do that are helpful to the vet, such as keeping a diary of the frequency of fits.Videoing the fit and the minutes before it starts is helpful too, as this may pinpoint the area of the brain affected and help decide what tests to perform.
Most importantly, you need to be patient while your vet decides which drug or combination of drugs is best at minimising the fits.
Periodic blood tests will also be necessary to monitor adequate levels of drugs, and any side effects.
David Grant MBE was a vet at the RSPCA Harmsworth Hospital for Animals.W rite to him at Daily Express, One Canada Square, CanaryWharf, London E14 5AP or email pamperedpets@express.co.uk. He is unable to enter into individual correspondence.