Clinical management of thermal dermatitis in a domestic shorthair cat

Thermal dermatitis is a burn-associated skin injury that can result in tissue damage, inflammation, and secondary bacterial infection. This case report describes the diagnosis, treatment, and healing progression of thermal dermatitis in a domestic shorthair cat. The patient presented with a suspected hot-water burn on the left body region, with clinical signs, including alopecia, erythema, moist exudation, and purulent discharge. Based on the anamnesis and physical examination, the case was diagnosed as second-degree thermal dermatitis complicated by a secondary bacterial infection. Treatment involved systemic antibiotics, topical antiseptic and antibiotic therapy, vitamin supplementation, and routine wound cleansing. Over an eight-week follow-up period, the lesion showed progressive improvement, culminating in complete wound closure, re-epithelialization, and hair regrowth. It was concluded that consistent multimodal therapy effectively achieved complete healing in this case.

■ INTRODUCTION

Dermatitis is one of the most common dermatological disorders in veterinary practice, arising from parasitic, fungal, bacterial, and thermal causes. The skin serves as the body's protective barrier, maintaining homeostasis and preventing environmental injury. Direct exposure to external stressors makes it vulnerable to disruption. Thermal exposure is particularly significant, as it can cause tissue injury, inflammation, compromised barrier integrity, and an increased risk of secondary infection (Alautaish et al., 2024).

Thermal dermatitis occurs following contact with high temperature sources and manifests with varying severity, ranging from mild erythema to deep dermal destruction and full-thickness necrosis. Clinical outcomes depend on the injury depth, extent, and promptness of therapeutic intervention. If inadequately managed, thermal skin injuries may lead to complications, including bacterial contamination, delayed wound contraction, and compromised healing (Bond et al., 2020).

Given these complications, an early and accurate diagnosis is essential for appropriate case management and prognosis. Diagnostic evaluation requires a systematic approach, including anamnesis, physical examination, and assessment of lesion characteristics. Therapeutic management focuses on wound cleansing, infection control, inflammation reduction, and supportive measures for tissue regeneration (Wang et al., 2021). This case report describes the diagnostic workup and management of thermal dermatitis and documents the therapeutic response following veterinary intervention.

■ CASE

Signalment: A male domestic shorthair cat named Como with a black-and-white coat.

Anamnesis: The cat presented to Klinik Kumi Pet Store and Care with a history of suspected hot-water scald injury on the left side of the body and redness of the left eye.

Clinical Findings: Lesions on the left lateral body region included alopecia, erythema, moist exudative wounds, dull and broken hair, irregular wound margins, purulent discharge, and malodor. Conjunctival redness was also observed in the left eye.

Physical Examination: The findings were consistent with a partial-thickness thermal skin injury of moderate severity, without gross evidence of full thickness necrosis.

Laboratory Examination: No hematological or biochemical examinations were performed.

Differential Diagnosis: Thermal dermatitis, chemical dermatitis, traumatic dermatitis, and infectious dermatitis.

Diagnosis: Thermal dermatitis, consistent with a suspected second-degree burn, complicated by a secondary bacterial infection.

Prognosis: Fausta.

Treatment: Treatment included intramox LA 150 (15 mg/kg BW, IM, every 48 h), cefixime 100 mg (10 mg/kg BW, PO, BID), vitol 140 (0.5 mL/kg BW, PO, SID), aminoplex (0.5 mL/kg BW, PO, SID), and ADE fish oil (1 capsule, PO, SID). Topical therapy consisted of 0.9% NaCl irrigation, chlorhexidine cleansing, and Enbatic cream, with an e-collar application to prevent self-trauma.

■ RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

A male domestic cat presented with a thermal wound affecting the left dorsal body region, most likely associated with hot-water exposure, at the Kumi Pet Care Clinic based on anamnesis and physical examination. Clinically, the lesion was characterized by alopecia, erythema, moist exudation, and partial-thickness skin loss, findings compatible with second degree thermal dermatitis involving the epidermis and superficial dermis (Figure 1A and B).

Figure 1.Clinical presentation and healing of thermal dermatitis in a domestic short-haired cat. A-B. Initial presentation showing erythema, alopecia, and moist exudative skin injury. C-D. Wound healing from Week 1 to Week 8, showing reduced inflammation, wound contraction, and hair regrowth.

Thermal injury compromises the structural and protective functions of the epidermal barrier, predisposing the affected tissue to opportunistic bacterial contamination and secondary infection. In the present case, this was reflected by the appearance of purulent discharge, malodor, and crust formation, all of which are commonly associated with early wound contamination and active inflammation. These findings were considered indicative of the inflammatory phase of wound healing based on gross clinical assessment, although no hematological or biochemical examinations were performed. With continued treatment, the wound progressed into the proliferative phase, as demonstrated by the formation of healthy granulation tissue and early re-epithelialization, before ultimately entering the remodeling phase, which was characterized by complete wound closure and gradual hair regrowth.

The therapeutic regimen appeared to support each phase of wound repair. Systemic cefixime therapy likely contributed to bacterial control, thereby limiting inflammatory extension and reducing the risk of further tissue damage (Omrani et al., 2025). Meanwhile, topical wound care using chlorhexidine and enbatic cream helped reduce the superficial microbial burden and maintain a favorable local healing environment. Oral supplementation with Vitol 140 and Aminoplex may also have supported tissue recovery through improved nutritional status, immune support, and collagen synthesis. In addition, routine irrigation with 0.9% NaCl facilitated the removal of wound debris and exudate, while the application of an Elizabethan collar (e-collar) played an important role in preventing self-inflicted trauma and preserving wound stability throughout the healing process (Pournamdari et al., 2019).

Clinically, the wound exhibited a favorable healing trajectory. By the second week, there was a marked reduction in inflammation and exudation. By the fourth week, granulation tissue and re-epithelialization were clearly visible, indicating active tissue regeneration. By weeks 7-8, the wound had undergone complete closure, accompanied by early hair regrowth, consistent with advanced remodeling (Figure 1C and D).

■ CONCLUSION

This case demonstrates that early diagnosis, appropriate infection control, and consistent multimodal therapy are essential for the successful management of thermal dermatitis in cats. The complete recovery observed within eight weeks is in accordance with the expected healing course of partial thickness thermal injuries under appropriate veterinary care.

References

1. Alautaish H., Naji H.A., Saud Z.. Clinical study of common bacterial, fungal and parasitic skin diseases in cats. Advancements in Life Sciences. 2024; 11(3)DOI
2. Bond R., Morris D.O., Guillot J., Bensignor E.J., Robson D., Mason K.V., Kano R., Hill P.B.. Biology, diagnosis and treatment of Malassezia dermatitis in dogs and cats: Clinical consensus guidelines of the world association for veterinary dermatology. Veterinary Dermatology. 2020; 31(1)DOI
3. Omrani Z., Pourmadadi M., Rahdar A., Ghotekar S.. Recent advances in cefixime-loaded nanomaterials for treating bacterial infections. BioNanoScience. 2025; 15(3)DOI
4. Pournamdari A.B., Tkachenko E., Barbieri J., Adamson A.S., Mostaghimi A.. A state-of-the-art review highlighting medical overuse in dermatology, 2017-2018: A systematic review. JAMA Dermatology. 2019; 155(12)DOI
5. Wang V., Boguniewicz J., Boguniewicz M., Ong P.Y.. The infectious complications of atopic dermatitis. Asthma & Immunology. 2021; 126(1)DOI