It's happening again....

Good luck, Renny, and I am praying for your darling Rambo.

Oh! I saw the pic- poor baby! Good luck at the vet! I will pray this gets solved soon!

Well...the verdict is pretty much certain. Rambo has an auto-immune disorder, possibly EGC (but difficult to test for). When I got home from work on friday Rambo's eye was the worse I had ever seen, and when we got to the vet we found the blisters in his throat as well (probably why he hasn't been eating much dry food and scarfing down the wet). She gave him a shot of depo-medrol (longer-lasting steroid) and within 12 hours his eye was 99% better.

So what next...well the vet is going to compound some anti-histamine for Rambo and we are going to try him on a daily dose of that and see if that can hold off the symptoms. We would like to minimize the need for steroids if at all possible, but we are guessing based on his passed outbreaks that he'll probably need a steroid shot 2-4 times a year when the outbreaks do happen.

It's a huge relief to have a diagnosis, but I am worried about the long term impacts of steroids on Rambo. He is only just 2 years old. Does anyone have any information on this??

Thank you all immensely for your help in getting Rambo diagnosed and now hopefully properly treated.

I'm glad to hear that you have a diagnosis, and the beginnings of a plan of treatment. Sending lots of vibes that this does the trick for sweet Rambo.

I'm glad to hear that they were able to get a diagnosis for Rambo. I have no expierence with his condition though so I don't have any advice but would like to send some good health vibes

I'm glad to hear you finally have a diagnosis-no matter what it is!

I do know that steroids can lead to diabetes in cats. That's about all I know, though.

I 've just read this now (after I pm'd you )- I'm so glad it's working! My sister's cats have to have the steriod shot and antibiotics everytime, and when they were younger it was more than 2 times a year for sure, and they have had this since kittenhood, and they are now both 9 years old, and healthy so far. Other than that, I don't know about the long term side effects. Glad he's feeling better!

Oh Reagan, I'm so sorry about all of this! I hope Rambo recovers from this outbreak and feels better soon, and I hope you find a way to keep him comfortable. *hugs* for you, and lots of healing vibes being sent Rambo's way!

I am glad your making progress in finding out what is wrong ///

long term steroid use can cause many issues but on the bright side it is safer than long term use in humans

Thanks everyone for your support, it's been invaluable. I am very relieved that the vet and I have found some answers, and a treatment that seems for now to work. The vet said we might never get an actually concrete diagnosis, as the testing is expensive and may not even be conclusive. But at least we know the family of disorders we're dealing with and we can treat. We're hoping the steroids will only be required when he has a big outbreak, and the daily anti-histamines will keep the minor symptoms in check. I might never figure out what triggers this in him.

For now Rambo's eye is looking much better, but he's still not eating any dry food as I think his throat is still sore from the blisters. Thank you all for your healing vibes, they are once again working.

I'm so glad Rambo is starting to feel better. Please give his sweet face a for me (if he allows that, of course! )

Originally Posted by rapunzel47

I'm so glad Rambo is starting to feel better. Please give his sweet face a

for me (if he allows that, of course!

)

Click to expand...

Rambo's a total ladies man....he would LOVE kisses from you!! (if you're not careful he might try and follow you home!

Awwww Rambo..I am glad he is feeling better

I'm so glad you finally found out what is going on, its nice to know just what your dealing with instead of flaundering around. Sending Rambo tons of ~healthy vibes~
Glad to hear that he is reacting well to the shot.
I hope in all your worry about Rambo - you remembered to take care of yourself )

Thanks furry4fury....i don't seem to have the time to take care of me...too much to do! Rambo seems to be doing better, but he's not 100%. His eye continues to run, and the conjunctiva is very red. I'm worried it got infected when it was swelled up. Hopefully the meds will start to work. He's still only eating wet food. But the vet just called and his meds have been compounded (low dose antihistamine) so hopefully that will help out as well. I'm leaving him in good hands as I head off on another business trip.

Hopefully when i get back i can start researching any possible natural remedies/boosters that can help him.

Originally Posted by Renny

Rambo seems to be doing better, but he's not 100%. His eye continues to run, and the conjunctiva is very red. I'm worried it got infected when it was swelled up. Hopefully the meds will start to work. .

Click to expand...

I don't remember if I mentioned this or not, but my sister's cats have to have both the steroid and the antibiotics for their ECG episodes- you could ask your vet about it when you get back if he's still not 100% . Apparently it's not all that uncommon, so maybe it could help.

Well it's another stage of the Rambo saga. It's been 2 weeks since his steroid shot (and the vet said it would last a week to a week and a half), and starting about wednesday his other eye swelled up, and both eyes are runny with green discharge. He's also hiding all day in the closet when he's not eating (he's still only eating wet and only small amounts at a time). He runs from me, he doesn't play and he generally is a miserable grump. I'm guess that the eye swelling is the one visible symptom, but I have no idea what else he's feeling. The antihistamine's are having no noticeable affect or benefit except that it makes him sleepy and he rubs his eye less when he's dopey.

So...this evening even though the swelling is down a bit this morning, we are off to the vet. I can't handle seeing his quality of life so low. I don't think I've seen Rambo play in weeks, and he even ignored the catnip. I'm hoping a trial of steroids might help. I'm struggling with weighing quality of life at the moment with the side-effects of a long-term steroid regime.

I'm at a loss of what else to do...i can't handle seeing him like this. Rambo spent his 2nd birthday on the 21st hiding in the closet.

I'm sorry to hear that there hasn't been much of an improvement.
I've got my fingers crossed that your vet comes up with a treatment that really helps Rambo.

Poor Rambo, poor you, hope the vet can come up with something to help him.

There are few things as sad and as difficult as watching a beloved cat suffer.

I'm praying for you both, Renny, and sending strong hugs and get-well-vibes to you and to Rambo.