My cat has an ulcer-like bump on its lower lip. What should I do?

This appears to be what is commonly referred to as a 'rodent ulcer'. The most common cause for these to pop up in cats is an allergy, typically to something in the food. Sometimes these will resolve in their own, however sometimes they can become infected, long lasting, and problematic. If they become very large and painful it can discourage the cat from wanting to eat. If this ulcer has been present for more than 2 weeks it is probably not going to go away on its own. At that time I would recommend taking you cat to the vet for treatment. Nathaniel may need antibiotics and an immunsuppresive drug like steroids or Atopica. If the lesions keep coming back he may need to be on an immunosuppressive long term and/or a hypoallergenic diet. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

This condition is called Eosinophilic Granuloma Complex , also known as "rodent ulcer", The exact cause of feline eosinophilic granuloma complex is unknown. Some research studies suggest that a form of allergic response (hypersensitivity reaction) may be involved in the majority of cases. This is more likely in cases that are recurrent. Other studies suggest that the condition may at least be partially genetic or inheritable. Flea and insect control is very important in the treatment of feline eosinophilic complex. This is due to the suspected hypersensitivity reaction cause of the condition. Insect bites can trigger an exaggerated immune response in affected cats, causing or worsening clinical signs. Some cats respond to elimination or hypoallergenic diets, suggesting an underlying food allergy as the cause. Most cats diagnosed with feline eosinophilic granuloma complex benefit from a hypoallergenic food trial. Corticosteroids are the most common treatment to control the symptoms of eosinophilic granuloma complex. you will need to visit your vet to get this treatment.

Hi, and thanks for your question. This could be due to an allergy, although it could also be infection or mites. I don't think it looks like an ulcer. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat with a high quality flea treatment, then ask the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveal an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try to discover the cause of the allergy. Three main type of allergies are usually affecting pets: food allergies, flea and parasite related ones and environmental type (allergens coming from trees, pollens, dust etc etc). Some medications can be given by the vet in order to repair any possible skin lesions (like steroids and antibiotics). Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

That looks like some sort of an ulcer on Mickey’s lip. This is generally related to an allergic reaction, a tooth root abscess or an immune mediated disease. Have Mickey examined by his veterinarian who may get a clue to the cause from the rest of the physical exam. He will likely get medications to heal the ulcer quickly. He does need to wear an Elizabethan collar at all times to protect the wound from any further trauma. I hope this helps and best of luck.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Judging from the pictures, this does not look like a rodent / indolent ulcer. It is difficult to say because I cannot see the underside of the upper lip very well but the area you are referring to appears to be on the lower chin area. Rodent ulcers most commonly occur on the upper lip. What you are seeing could be feline chin acne. If this is chin acne, products with benzoyl peroxide for animals can help with the condition and also changing the food and water bowls to metal or ceramic if you are using plastic may help. Chin acne can be difficult to address and resolve 100% but in many cases, it will spontaneously resolve. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further!

Ouch - yes, poor Oliver does appear to have a pretty large oral ulcer. Most of the time, these oral ulcers are caused by an eosinophilic granuloma complex, but they can be associated with ulcerated masses, such as a squamous cell carcinoma or melanoma. I'm glad to hear that you're taking Oliver to his vet as soon as possible. They'll be able to examine him and will likely recommend either taking a biopsy of this lesion so that a pathologist can help to determine the cause of the lesion. Knowing the exact culprit will help to guide the treatment, which is likely to include various oral medications, such as steroids, immunosuppressants, and sometimes antibiotics. I'm really glad to hear that Oliver is still eating and acting normally at home! Until your appointment, you may want to offer him canned food (if you aren't already), as this may be more comfortable for him to eat than dry food. Otherwise, there isn't anything else that you can do at home at this point aside from closely monitoring him for any changes in his appetite, behavior, and water consumption. I've included some articles below for further reading. I hope that everything goes well! https://www.petcoach.co/cat/condition/eosinophilic-disease/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/eosinophilic-disease-in-cats/

Hello. Thank you for using PetCoach. So sorry that Max has not been feeling well. The lesion in the photo could be a rodent ulcer but I have honestly never seen one in a kitten this young. My first thought would be that this is a calicivirus lesion. Does he have any lesions/ulcers inside his mouth? Here is a link to an article about calicivirus in cats: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/feline-calicivirus-infection Many rodent ulcers do not go away on their own without treatment with steroids which is not indicated to do since he has been ill. Most calicivirus lesions will go away on their own within a few weeks. Hope this helps. If you have more questions feel free to post again. Best wishes.