Bark like scab..can anyone help identify the issue?

[jsnap1]

I’ve been dealing with this now growing issue with my cats neck. I will post pictures below. It started out appearing like maybe a small abrasion. I took her to the vet after I noticed it was looking worse a few days later. Our cats are indoor outdoor cats. Sometimes they get little cuts from their adventure or rather… misadventures. The vet gave her some antibiotics and we waited.
it got worse…. Took her back to the vet. Tried steroids…. It’s worse still.
it definitely itches but what concerns me is that the area is larger and the scab looks thick and like tree bark.
Pictures are from when I noticed it scabbing weird, up until tonight. She goes back to the vet on Wednesday but I feel like they are just taking a shot in the dark.

 

[FeebysOwner]

I would think your next step is to get the vet to take a skin scraping for analysis. If they don't know what to look for ask them to get a internal med vet and/or dermatologist involved.

I also think until such time more can be found out about what is going on, that your cats are not allowed outdoors. Odds are it is coming from something outside, and just one of your cats was unfortunate to come in contact with whatever caused it. Watch the other cats too in the meantime, because you have no idea if it is something than can spread from one cat to another.

 

[neely]

Welcome to TCS! Please consider consulting a veterinary dermatology specialist especially since you mentioned taking her to the vet several times and it looks worse each time. Here is a link to help you locate a dermatologist in your area: acvd.org | Find Dermatologist | Veterinarians with specialized training in skin, ears, and allergy

Best of luck and please keep us posted on her progress.

 

[jsnap1]

While yes I have taken her to the vet a few times, they have done what they think may help and then I have to wait and see if it does. She goes again tomorrow, I will be asking about a skin scraping in order to identify what it may or may not be. At first it really just looked like a small abrasion. (I’m a nurse in an ICU but…. For humans). If I don’t get a satisfactory treatment plan for her after tomorrows visit we most certainly will be looking for a specialist

 

[jsnap1]

UPDATE:
Yesterday Molly was supposed to go to the vet…. So naturally she hid (so well in fact that I missed her appt) luckily they got her in first thing this morning.
We all agreed her wound looks worse. Her vet thinks she has Eosinophilic Dermatosis….
but because the normal treatment for that would be steroids and antibiotics of which we have tried, and no improvement….
She was sedated today for a skin biopsy and we should know results in 7 days. In the meantime, antibiotics of a broader spectrum and wound dressing to protect her from scratching at it more. Will keep you updated.

 

[neely]

She was sedated today for a skin biopsy and we should know results in 7 days. In the meantime, antibiotics of a broader spectrum and wound dressing to protect her from scratching at it more. Will keep you updated.

Thanks so much for the update. I hope you have some answers in seven days when you get the skin biopsy results. Fingers crossed the new antibiotics and wound dressing help to keep her from scratching.