Does my 6-month Persian kitten have a rodent ulcer or chin acne?

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.

Hi there, This appears very similar to something called a "rodent ulcer" or Eosinophilic Granuloma Complex, but it may be something different, like an infection or a growth. Eosinophilic granulomas are often thought to stem from an overreactive immune system or allergies to insects, a protein in their food, or their environment. Many cases resolve with a course of medication. Some cats need to have strict flea control or a prescription diet. Your vet can tell you more about Chibi's specific case after they do a physical exam. Just in case it is an Eosinophilic Granuloma, here is a link to learn more: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/feline-eosinophilic-granuloma-complex-in-cats I hope this helps! Thanks for using PetCoach.

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.

I'm so sorry that you are dealing with this with Vivian. The location is a little abnormal for a rodent ulcer, so I would probably recommend more dermatology diagnostics (especially in an 11 year old cat if she hasn't had problems with this before). That may include a skin scraping or cytology of the area or even a biopsy of the area. Sometimes challenging skin problems require a referral to a veterinary dermatologist for a diagnosis. You can find a veterinary dermatologist near you here. https://www.acvd.org/tools/locator/locator.asp?ids=16_Find_Dermatologist If all results still point to a rodent ulcer, there are other medications you can try that will suppress the immune system. I have included more information on feline eosinophilic granuloma complex below. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=656 Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

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!

He could have an ulcer in a different location, infection, or stomatitis. You could clean the crusty discharge away and monitor but if it continues, he stops eating, or becomes lethargic than he should be examined by a vet. Your vet can do an oral examination to check for lesions, infection, or inflammation in his mouth.

Rodent ulcers, or eosinophilic granuloma complex, are typically allergy related. Identifying and treating the underlying allergy is the foundation for treatment. Have Sophie examined by your veterinarian. Discuss allergy testing, hydrolyzed diets and food elimination trials. Your vet can dispense or administer steroids to decrease inflammation and antibiotics to treat any infection.