Calling All Breeders - Staph Infection & Self Medicating?

Hey everyone,

Ok. I contacted my breeder and let her know about what has been happening to my little lady (more so reminded her it's still happening ). She said she did NOT think it was genetic and she thought it was a Staph infection and that she didn't think my Roxy's wounds were the same was her grandfather's was passed due to an infection. She offered to send me medication -Clavamox 2X daily for 3 weeks and Baytril once daily for 2 weeks. What should I do? I still fully intend on contacting the holistic vet and taking her to see my regular vet or taking her to the emergency clinic tonight (you may think I am a tad dramatic but I want answers ASAP). My breeder also mentioned ONCE again to stop putting clothes on Roxy unless it's cold (What does she think I dress the cat up for?) and to stop using fabric sheets. OH!!! She also said... That the vet that told her it wasn't genetic related COULD be WRONG (She gave me the vet's name - dermatologist; I knew that wench from when I worked at the emergency & specialist vet clinic she was/IS a horrible witch... I wouldn't trust her.... she would through stuff at us and yell at us in front of clients and call us pathetic and idiots)

Ok, fellow breeders please collaborate here... I am posting some new pics of my little lady as of last night.


Thanks everyone,
Jamie

PS. Mew I'm gunna try again to sign-up on yahoo, my name SHOULD be redsiamese on yahoo.








She stills seems in good spirits... here's a pic of her sleeping on my lap (that huge scab is from scratching herself... she got her softpaws off her hind legs and tore her neck apart while I was at school)

I am not a breeder, but I would take her to a good vet ASAP... I think if it was staph infection she wouldn't be alive at this point... I would absolutely not give antibiotics without her seeing a vet... Poor kitty...

That poor cat.
I do not think its good to give baytril and clavamox at the same time.
Does that breeder know that she is doing?
Do you have a website to her cattery?
What is happening when you try to join the sphynx group?
Cleos breeder is in the group also and said cleo looks cute in clothes.

I would discuss what the breeder said to you regarding meds, etc with the vet before I gave her anything. Hopefully this will clear up soon.

I've only seen the Sphynx in shows, and of course, none of them have the problem your girl is having - you wouldn't see them in a show if they did!

Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45

I would discuss what the breeder said to you regarding meds, etc with the vet before I gave her anything. Hopefully this will clear up soon.

I've only seen the Sphynx in shows, and of course, none of them have the problem your girl is having - you wouldn't see them in a show if they did!

Click to expand...

You are so right about this! I hope my little angel can one day make it to a show. I am going to call the after hours clinic

Originally Posted by mews2much

Do you want me to save your pics and post them in the sphynx group if you are still having trouble getting in?

Click to expand...

Yes, please. I am gunna try again to log in...

Oh, that's awful!! Your poor baby!!! sending good vibes your way!!

I posted for you in the sphynx group with the pictures.
I hope someone will help you.

I would ask to have a complete allergy panel done on her. It could still be a disease of some sort, but from the pictures, it looks like contact dermatitis.

No advice here - but definitely check with your vet before medicating. Poor little angel.

I'm sorry your baby is still having such problems.

On the clothes - did you wash them before you put them on her the first time? New clothes have sizing in them and this may be causing an allergic reaction. If you've washed them maybe she's allergic to the laundry detergent or fabric softner. If she's allergic to the detergent or softer then anything you've washed - your clothes, blankets, sheets etc. that she comes in contact with will cause a reaction.

Maybe washing everything in a detergent/softner without dyes, scents etc. may help.

for Roxy.

Please, do not use antibiotics without a vets supervision.

Oh my goodness that poor baby. Have you seen your vet?

Jamie,
I got these replies in the sphynx group.
Jamie:

Being new to the breed, I am not at all familiar with what a staph infection (or any other skin infection) would look like on a Sphynx, so keep pursuing that until you are satisfied with a diagnosis. However, I AM familiar with contact dermatitis, and IF your vet is able to determine that this is not caused by an infection, this is what MY skin looks like when I am repeatedly in contact with substances that cause irritation. Laundry products and skin care products are the worst at giving me this kind of reaction. I have to use only perfume-free and dye-free laundry products (I now make my own, but several good ones are on the market), and I have also found that I cannot use fabric softener dryer sheets at all, even the scent-free ones. They leave a residue on the fabric which will make me itch and turn red so fast! Since a Sphynx is on everything in the house, this would require that you use it on all your laundry, not just your baby's bedding. It is something simple to do and might be worth a try while you are waiting to find out more about an infection. I also have to be careful about what I use to wash me and my babies - I have to use a gentle natural baby shampoo/baby wash or a scent-free hypoallergenic body wash (diluted of course!). If allergies are not the cause and this may still ease some discomfort for her.

Teresa
> infection. She offered to send me medication -Clavamox 2X daily for
3
> weeks and Baytril once daily for 2 weeks. What should I do?
>

NEVER give medicines on spec, "just in case". Baytril especially is a
very powerful medicine! Apart from the dangers to the system of
incorrect treatment, you must not get the system habituated to such
medicines. If you do, then they won't work when you really need them.
Go to a vet!

> My breeder also
> mentioned ONCE again to stop putting clothes on Roxy unless it's
cold
>

The Sphynx breed is a mutation that first appeared in Canada. That
they survived there is because the mutation not only resulted in less
fur with a higher metabolic rate, but also more fat under the skin.
So, like an Eskimo, they are able to keep warm without any trouble.
Dressing them in clothes is NOT like adding fur! Thus their skin
can't breathe naturally and it is more likely that skin problems can
develop. A few minutes for fun - OK - but only that.
If it is too cold to be outside for long, then they won't!

The only time I have heard of cold being a problem was when a check
before going to bed missed a Sphynx. It was left out in freezing
weather and died. But what cat wouldn't?

Tony
I use a laundry detergeant called Free and Clear. It helps with allergies for people and pets!

--
Diana


I have removed all the links to the breeders websites.

1. Yes, it could be a staph infection but have a vet confirm this!
2. Do NOT use the antibiotics she's offered you!

The antibiotics she offers are broad spectrum antobiotics and it's completely unnecessary to use such antibiocs if it's a staph infection you're fighting. First of all, broad spectrum antibiotics are the kind of antibiotics you wanna be very careful with since we don't want bacterias to develop resistance towards them. So don't use them if they're not needed.

Second of all, there are many staph strains that already have developed resistance towards many antibiocs so it's important you use something that'll kill them. The antibiotic of choice should be clindamycin, Antirobe. It's highly effective against staph and it's not a broad spectrum antibiotic.

You may have to treat the infection for 14-21 days. If the infection comes back you need to search for the underlying cause of the problem (and it's not always easy to find). In my case (I've treated a Devon Rex for this problem) the problem was yeast (Malasezzia) and when I finally found a vet worth the name the yeast was treated and the staph infection cleared up on it's own (meaning I didn't even have to give the cat antibiotics, I only treated for the yeast).

NEVER use any medications without veterinary advice. MRSA and other antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria (MRSA is a staph infection) can develop due to the incorrect use of antibiotics - and feline species are particularly vulnerable to MRSA.

Now this doesn't look like a staph infection to me (I am not a vet) so do not panic about what I have said above in relation to your cat, but just please do not use those antibiotics without a vet telling you to, as it could potentially lead to infections resistant to antibiotics, for which there is no cure.

I agree with others who think it looks like contact dermatitis/allergy, I am prone to it myself and it looks like that.

But please go to see a vet, none of us here are medically qualified.

Don't use these antibiotics without the vets approval. I agree with other posters that this is probably an allergic reaction/contact dermatitis or possible yeast infection. She looks miserable and needs to see a vet asap for a diagnosis and treatment plan... In he meantime no clothes, keep her clean and dry, bland diet (in case she is reacting to some type of food). Good luck and vibes for your baby!

Thank you EVERYONE!

Now, I must clarify that Miss Roxy never wears a sweater (only if being transported to the vet since it is -20 or lower here). I was writing that because I was annoyed that my breeder was kind of 'foo foo'ing it off as a sweater issue.

Now, I am waiting to see her vet and get some more tests. Her rash has gone down but is still in her arm pits. This is what ALWAYS happens... it ges really bad and then all sudden it fades away a bit but then magically reappears in a week or two. But each time it comes back it gets worse and worse. Nothing changes to make it 'break out' it just happens! I wish I was in a larger centre again and not away at school... I could get referred to a specialist of some kind

I am glad you all felt the same way I did about the medication... I was kinda shocked my breeder was diagnosing my cat 1400kms away from pictures and a lack of a DVM diploma.

Mew- Thank you for constantly having my back and my lil girl's back.