Swollen bottom lip

Yes that is what she called it becuase at first I thought she said melanoma and was about to freak out. There is a plastic place mat under her automatic waterer.

Here's more information on EGC: http://www.vet.uga.edu/vpp/clerk/Starnes/

that complicated name is the medical term for rodent lip ulcer. get rid of the plastic mat. when i got rid of mine Abi's lip problem never came back.

i learned this on TCS and it WORKED !!!

My Daisy had that a few years ago, she was allergic to a plastic plate, I change to stainless steel dishes and it has never happened again.

That's really interesting. I knew about the plastic dishes, but I didn't think a mat would be harmful.
I'm glad it's not bad and easily treatable. Poor Phenom!
And on the scorpions too!

Originally Posted by Abigail

was it Eosinophilic Granuloma ? that's the medical term?
do you have a plastic mat under her food or water bowl?

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My Pinky has this and it flares up once in a while when I fail to clean the plastic mat under the food bowl, fail to sterilize the ceramic dishes often enough, or fail to clean out their water fountain. I've had vets call it rodent ulcer, and I've had others say it is related to feline acne. Regardless of what it is, I have to keep things sterilized for him. It will clear up on its own without a steroid shot so if it happens again, sterilize and see if it goes away on its own before you run him back to the vet.

I have a plastic desk chair mat under my kitties litter box.
After learning about the mats....
I will take cleaning it more seriously.
Thanks for the info.

I've got one under Rosie and Sophies wet food bowls but it's being binned tonight after this

I had no idea the place mats would do it. Well its going to the garbage when I get home tonight. Her lip looks much better today. She was even in a good mood and came on the bed for some morning loving. I am glad they will go away on their own cause $27 for the injection and $39 for the office visit is quite expensive!

I need some clarification about cats and plastic mats.

Is the rash reaction an allergy, bacteria that grows on the mat, as in plastic feeding bowls or maybe a little of both?

What is going on that causes such a severe reaction?

i don't think it was bacteria cause the mats are only a few weeks old and they have glass dishes ( I use our plate for them and change them our every few day). Their water bowl is plastic bt never caused any problems. She has had this happen once before but it went away. Lee said he noticed her lip was a little swollen the last few days (why he didn't mention it to me I don't know). The vet said there could be a hereditary link to it.

It sounds like your vet feels there might be a genetic component to this?
I wonder if that rules out probable issues when we use plastic mats?

Phenom is receiving great care from you.
I am sending healing vibes that this will pass once and for all.

She siad it could be. This wasn't my regular vet though. i had to take her to my old vet since my cat vet was out yesterday. She said she has seen cases where it was hereditary. I am hoping that Phenny doen't get it again. She is feeling tons better today though.

Originally Posted by Phenomsmom

She is feeling tons better today though.

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I am so glad that your sweet girl feeling better today.
Keep us updated about her progress so that we keep her in our thoughts.

Thanks! And I will def. keep you all posted about her lip!

Brandi, you should get rid of the plastic water bowl, too. Just to be on the safe side. You could also try one 500 mg. capsule of salmon oil (Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids) squeezed over her food every day for six weeks, and then cut back to one capsule a week for maintenance. I'm a member of a German EGC forum, and that's one tip I got there that has really helped.
Lei, a lot of experts believe there's a genetic predisposition towards EGC, but that it is triggered by allergies, whether to bug bites, pollen, food, or chemicals. It's often just called "idiopathic", i.e., they can't determine any cause. As it's an auto-immune disorder, genetics probably do play a role. Jamie is one of five litter mates, and thus far he, his sister, and one of his brothers have had it. One brother is already deceased, so there's no way of knowing if he would have developed it. The sole female started with the "plaque" form of EGC (skin lesions and hair loss; she was being fed Whiskas ) at a very early age, i.e, a few months, while both boys have had rodent ulcers on their lips. Jamie had his first outbreak at three, and his brother at seven.

Do you know if there are any automatic waterers that aren't plastic?

Originally Posted by Phenomsmom

Do you know if there are any automatic waterers that aren't plastic?

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Funny you should ask - Robert just threw our Fresh Flow out, because it was "making funny noises", and I've been looking all over for a stainless steel fountain, so far with no luck. I've found glass and ceramic "decorative" fountains, but they don't have filters.
Ditto automatic feeders. Jamie smashed his this week, and I've been looking for a sturdier one where I could at least put a china or steel bowl inside, like with his old model, but no go.

Hmm. I guess I will be searching. I just like this one cause it hold a gallon of water and the girls won't be left without with that much water in it (unless that knock it over and that would be BAD)

I leave four water bowls out at all times (kitchen, living room, study, and bath), just in case. That works, too. If one gets knocked over, there are still others to use.