Claw disease is uncommon in cats but very painful, because the claw is built directly onto bone. Most cases come down to one question: is one digit affected, which usually means trauma, or are many digits affected, which points to a systemic disease such as pemphigus foliaceus or metastatic lung cancer?
Key facts
Disease of claws (including toenail avulsion) at a glance- Species and system: cat, integumentary (claw, claw fold and third phalanx).
- Single claw: usually trauma (avulsion, foreign body) or a local infection.
- Several claws or feet: think pemphigus foliaceus, lung-digit syndrome, dermatophytosis or immunosuppression.
- Classic pemphigus foliaceus sign: sterile paronychia with thick caseous material at the claw folds, with face and pinna crusting.
- Classic lung-digit syndrome: older cat, swollen weight-bearing digit, nail loss, no respiratory signs.
- Not zoonotic except for dermatophytes, which are a possible cause.
What's inside
13 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Anatomy that explains the signs
- Toenail avulsion
- Paronychia
- Pemphigus foliaceus and the claw
- Digital neoplasia and lung-digit syndrome
- Clinical decision framework
- Prevention
- Prognosis
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 4 tables, 1 figure, 3 self-test questions and 8 references, available to NAVLE members.
Read the full study guide
The full guide is part of every NAVLE plan, with diagnosis and treatment tables, figures, a quick review and self-test questions. Start a free trial to try the question bank, or log in if you are already a member.