Skin lesions with FIV

I have a 15 year old wonderful cat named Charlie. I got him when he was 2 and he had been diagnosed with FIV. He has had a great life and has done very well. However during the last two years he has been developing about 5 different kinds of skin lesions. One ty[e is like an eruption of dry skin that will reveal tender skin underneath. Another is semi bare spots in a circle (not ringworm) with spots. Another is a large knob that has formed and been building up...very strange. He also has an open sore that will scab over then when I use the wash (goldenseal), with the goldenseal balm it has gotten very infected. Taking him in for an antibiotic shot this afternoon. I cannot find a vet that actually wants to treat him, they seem mildly interested in these bizarre sores but not in finding out about them. He is on Cannapet and Hoxsey for pain and inflammation.

I just want to know if anyone else has an FIV cat with these kinds of sores. I cannot find anything online about it.

Basically I'm bumping this up for you, since no one has responded.  I know we DO have some FIV cats on board here, but don't recall hearing about this type of issue with them.  Mostly I read about issues with their oral health.  Could be similar, only Charlie is manifesting on his skin vs in his mouth. 

So I guess you've stopped using the Goldenseal, since it's actually causing the wound to get infected.  The wound that won't heal completely almost sounds like a form of skin cancer that my husband had that had to be surgically removed.  Not Melanoma, bur one step below that.  (sorry, can't remember what it's called ). 

Some people use Colloidal Silver for wounds, some use Vetricyn, some useHybiclens.  I don't know if you've ever used any of those for Charlie.  Whatever you've done, sounds like you've taken GREAT care of him over these past many years.  It's wonderful that he's lived this long already.  Let's hope he still has a few good years left

My cat is also named Charlie! As for your Charlie's skin lesions, I'm not a vet so my idea might be totally wrong but I know that FIV is the feline counterpart to HIV, meaning that it surpresses the immune system meaning that cats with FIV are more prone to infections. These skin lesions *might* be from a skin infection. If this is correct, then the antibiotic shot should help. Best wishes to you and your Charlie.

Mrsgreenjeens, 

thank you so much for your post. I took Charlie to the vet yesterday, got him an antibiotic shot and had a vet that was actually interested in one of his growths. If I can post a picture here I will. She was baffled by it and took a sample of what is inside and will take a look at it. She had a difficult time getting through it as it is a very hard shell type substance. It is more than likely not an option to remove it as Charlie would have to go under sedation and that's not a good idea for him. As for the ulcerated sore, it seems that the real problem is his licking it especially when I put golden yellow salve on it. So his is now wearing a blow up collar and it not happy about it. But she seems to think this will help it at least get over this very bad inflammation/infection.

Here are two pictures of one of the strangest growths. One is when it was beginning and the other is where it is today. it stands out about 3/4 of an inch from his skin and is very hard and pretty well attached. It looks like I need to post the picture of the growth as it is now in another post. I will do that. Again, thank you so much for your post.

 

 
The picture on the left is the beginning of the growth on the right. It has a very hard outer shell and is attached pretty strongly to the skin. It doesn't seem to cause him any pain. Three vets have looked at it and not found it interesting at all. Today the vet I saw showed some interest and took a sample with a needle out of what is inside. She had a very hard time getting the needle through the hard shell. Does anyone know what this is and if it is a good idea to try to have it removed?

Thank you so much Abyeb.  We got an antibiotic shot yesterday, along with using a golden yellow salve and a very embarrassing puffy collar. Just a second ago I posted some pictures of one of Charlie's more interesting growths...interesting to me but not to most of the vets who see it.

JackieL said:

Thank you so much Abyeb.  We got an antibiotic shot yesterday, along with using a golden yellow salve and a very embarrassing puffy collar. Just a second ago I posted some pictures of one of Charlie's more interesting growths...interesting to me but not to most of the vets who see it.

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If the vets aren't interested by the lesion, then it's probably nothing to be concerned about. They probably figure that the antibiotics will clear that up too.

JackieL said:

IMG_5024.JPG

• jackiel
• Feb 19, 2017

The picture on the left is the beginning of the growth on the right. It has a very hard outer shell and is attached pretty strongly to the skin. It doesn't seem to cause him any pain. Three vets have looked at it and not found it interesting at all. Today the vet I saw showed some interest and took a sample with a needle out of what is inside. She had a very hard time getting the needle through the hard shell. Does anyone know what this is and if it is a good idea to try to have it removed?

Click to expand...

Hmmm, that picture almost looks like this particular one might be a cutaneous horn.  They can be located anywhere, although not sure if I've ever seen one with a hole in the middle.   Odd, that's for sure.  Does Charles not scratch at it?  What happens when he does?  Does it ever bleed?

Nope, he never scratches at it, it never bleeds.  Hmm, cutaneous horn, I will look it up. What looks like a hole in the center is really just an indentation. It is very odd for sure.

mrsgreenjeens, I believe you are right. I checked it out and will let my vet know. It does seem that it could be possibly removed by freezing it rather than surgery although it might involve both. Fascinating, Thank you so much!

Jackie