Milliary Exema

This is a condition seen in cats and means little dots (milliary) of exema (inflamed weepy skin). It shows as scabs on the cat's skin - often on the head and neck but can involve all of the body. Occasionally the cat licks the belly excessively at this time, causing a patch of weepy inflamed skin and this is often described as eosinophillic plaque, a description of the cells found when examined histologically.

There is usually a triger factor which starts the Milliary Exema. This can be a flea (all year), Berry Bugs (August/September) or certain plants - usually early summer when the growth is lush. These allergic cats are usually seasonal and flare up each year. Others are a one-off and do not recurr, but some are persistent and need constant treatment, using anti-inflammatory drugs.