Feline idiopathic ulcerative dermatitis

For a few months now my cat has been scratching his right ear until it bled. The following link is where I first described the ordeal of trying to figure out what was causing his scratching: http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=209063

After different tests - blood panel, limited ingredient diet, test to determine an ear infection, test to determine ringworm, and a few other tests - my vet did a skin biopsy. The results came in and Nico has feline idiopathic ulcerative dermatitis. I have an appointment next week with the vet to talk about treatment options, but in the meantime, does anyone have experience with this?

I do not have any advice but I am going through something very similar with mine. I will be watching this thread.

Although this post is old, I thought I'd share my cats long struggle with Feline Idiopathic Ulcerative Dermatosis and how we overcame this.

Two years after adopting an 8 yr old persian cat from a shelter he developed hair loss on his neck (between the shoulder blades). It looked just like ring room at first- an outline of a red circle. I decided to save the money and not have a biopsy, since my vet was pretty sure it was ringworm. We treated him with a combo anti-fungal/anti-bacterial cream for 2 weeks and it got worse. It scabbed over and was getting larger than a silver dollar.

We tried evey skin scraping test -(for mites, parasites etc) and it was negative. The sore was just getting larger - though my cat never acted like it itched or bothered him. We tried numerous medications - Oral steriods - oral antibiotics- all were no help

Finally 4 months later, we spent the money and had a surgical biopsy done - as well as partial removal of the ulcer. The pathology report showed feline idiopathic ulcerative dermatosis. My vet told me that the cause is unknown, but they think it may be from a past injection. My cat had a steriod injection 3 months prior for a stomach problem. But my vet also said it could from an unknown allergy.

So we put him on Hills Z/D hypoallergenic food - stopped letting him go on our patio and tried silver sulfadiazine on the ulcer. We stopped the cream after 2 weeks as it was turning his hair crazy colors, but stayed with the hypoallergenic diet and outdoor restriction. The ulcer and scab healed within a month and slowly over the next 2 months his hair grew back.

Four months later, we discussed with our vet about slowly introducing some things back into our cats life (he was miserable and cried daily about not sitting in our closed in patio "outside"). Nothing happened, so we assumed he wasn't allergic to anything outside.

The Hypoallergenic food (Hills Z/D) gave him loose stools and diarrhea from the beginning, which he never had before, but it cured the ulcer. The diarrhea became fairly bad 6 months later so we switched him to regular food and gave him treats- yes very stupid we know now.

Today is 7 months later and the hair loss has returned on the bottom of his neck with a tiny scab starting. I assume it was the food (since we only changed it 1 month ago). We are going to the vet this afternoon to have a new prescription for food. The vet suggested Royal Canin Hypoallergenic Prescription food, since the Z/D gave him diarrhea.

My vet seemed perlexed as food allergies are not known to be the cause, but 2 pathology reports showed feline Idiopathic Ulcerative Dermatosis and it was cured by diet and returned when we put him back on a regular diet. Not sure if hypoallergenic food would work for anyone else, buy it cured my cat and his ulcer was large, disgusting and hung on for months until we switched his food. The food had an immediate effect, but it was slow to heal, so stay with it.

Good luck.

Originally Posted by sheridaaz

The vet suggested Royal Canin Hypoallergenic Prescription food, since the Z/D gave him diarrhea.

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This is the same food I feed my cats for another condition, but I know it is prescribed for the condition your cat has... I would discuss it with your vet - I feed this food in dry (only available in dry), and Z/D wet.
Here is the info on it: http://www.royalcanin.us/adx/aspx/ad...ADULT%20HP.pdf

I'm glad the food helped your cat. I've tried both of those foods, Atopica, hydroxyzine, oral steroids, etc, without luck. Every time it scabs over and looks good, he goes nuts and tears it up again. My cat itches like crazy in this spot and has been scratching at it from the beginning. He's indoors only and I don't know what kind of allergen could be doing this. Does anyone have ideas aside from steroids and diet? I've been battling this for over a year and my cat is miserable.

Thanks.

Ok, here goes. I hope someone can help me about this.

We rescued a domestic cat 3 years ago & here is her story.

She was a meer 6 ounces when we first weighed her, only smaller when we got her! She is now a healthy 12 pounds!

She has been fixed & declawed(front only) & pretty healty since birth except for her dermatitis! Well if it is dermatitis!

She has been treated by numerous specialists all over new york area & $$$$$$ later we are still at a standstill!

She seems to be in OK spirits but I am done with putting her through this!

She gets a scab between her shoulder blades & scrathes & tears at her neck violently where some nights she wakes us & we go to comfort her. Thank god, & I know people think this is inhumane, that her front claws are off, otherwise she would have been bled to death by now. We have a soft e-collar on her & we also wrap the area with dressing to prevent her from hurting herself.

She has been on numerous creams, compounds, anti-biotics! and no result. They are toying around with the idea of taking off her front claws so she won't harm herself. Depsite this I think that is not the solution as she is still in discomfort. We have changed her diet so many times, removed scented products from the house, everything trying to establish her 'allergies'.

We are still seeing specialists, but I am hoping on this forum that someone may have additional help. I do like the doctors & specialists that we see now but we need a solution, before I start tearing my own hair out. I just don't want her to be in pain or discomfort anymore, I think that this is unfair to all involved. Note: She is soley indoors, she comes out on our back deck with us on occasion but never for too long.

Thank you in advance

berniemc9 said:

She gets a scab between her shoulder blades & scrathes & tears at her neck violently

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Do you use any spot-on flea products on her?

berniemc9 said:

Thank god, & I know people think this is inhumane, that her front claws are off, otherwise she would have been bled to death by now.
 

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 I've never seen a cat capable of scratching between their shoulder blades with their front feet. How large is the dermatitis area?

berniemc9 said:

She has been on numerous creams, compounds, anti-biotics! and no result.

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Do you know what creams and compounds have been tried? Has she ever been on oral cortosteriods?

berniemc9 said:

They are toying around with the idea of taking off her front claws so she won't harm herself.

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I thought she was already declawed in front? Do you mean take off her back claws? Please don't let them do that to her, it would be harm in and of itself. Doesn't treat the problem either and would be akin to chopping off someone's fingers so they couldn't scratch an itch, rather than dealing with the actual source of the itch.

berniemc9 said:

We have changed her diet so many times,

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What diets have you tried (wet/dry/brand/flavour), and for how long? What does she eat now?

re: flea products: all flea products have been administered at the advice of specialists.

re: her front claws: her front claws were removed due to chronic diabetes patient in my home. The area of concern is mainly on her back between her shoulder blades but she did have other areas, all up near her head, but that can be reached with front or back. I am not going to defend decisions that were made.

re: the creams & compounds : one is , a coumpound of alum/tran/silva/tacro, i just got a new batch of this in at a cool $150!

re: declawing front: Yes this was a typo, front are off. The specialists want to remove the back. Before you get all humane about this, bear in mind that we have not done this, don't want to either. But she is in chronic pain & if we are humane in a sense by keeping her nails on, well why not attack me for keeping her alive & letting her suffer all these months? I don't appreciate the tone! I have spent well over $7,000 in vet bills to help this animal & I am asking you for help here on this forum & not asking to be attacked! I made that point that this does not solve the underlying problem, therefore respect my feelings in this matter too! I am suffering not only mentally but financially!

re: her diet: again all of the changes were again, consulted with specialists. Since she is in pain, and out of it with all the drugs I am letting her eat her favourite food, wet meow mix. She is soley on wet food cause with all the drugs there is risk of constipation & dehydration, so she is getting what she needs from her foods too. She has a water fountain that we fill with fresh bottled water every day & with her meds I flush her mouth with water to ensure that she is getting hydrated. We tried precsription food, & she refused to eat it! I am not going to make her eat food she doesnt like, she is going through enough already.

Again, I am looking to see if someone has had similar experiences. I am trusting her care with the doctors that currently see her but if anyone has advice as to how to make her more comfortable I would appreciate that, without being attacked! Every decision that we made for our pet was well thought out & with the advice & help from specialists! We are all baffled here at the extent of her pain & discomfort! I joined this forum looking for remedies that I can use & not to be attacked! I am going through enough mental issues dealing with a sick animal & some comfort would be greatly appreciated.

I am sorry you feel you have been attacked.... I can't find that in this thread.... in any case, here are some hugs to you.... I know how it is to deal with a chronic case.... It is really frustrating...

About the diet..... food for thought - no pun intended :lol3: - have you thought about a raw diet?
I know You said she is going to have what she wants - she has had enough already..... I totally understand that :nod:
Here is my experience on it: My cat Bugsy was on the brink of a potentially life threatening surgery for his IBD. We tried everything - everything to solve his 14month non stop daily diarrhea..... Every dingle diet - wet, dry, prescription, single protein, every medicine - long and short term.... several rounds, natural and traditional - to a point that is affected his liver - not only my checking account.
I was always adamantly against raw. Strongly against raw. But I was out of choices..... I had three choices - 1-let him suffer and potentially let that develop into something really serious, i.e. lymphoma; 2-put him through exploratory surgery and not be able to treat him anyways, as he is no longer able to take meds due to his compromised liver; or 3: give raw a try. I picked 3. And it worked immediately.
And I am not joking when I say immediately. I transitioned him slowly - it took 8 days for him to get to 100% raw..... But on that very day he had 100% formed, solid poop. Not a sign of diarrhea. And that was it - I never looked back, and he has done wonderful ever since.
Apparently his problems were caused not by the proteins on the food, but by the additives in them..... and there is no way to get around it but to feed a raw diet.
By making that change I might have saved his life - and a whole lot of grief on my part......

Nobody is here to attack you..... nobody is here to judge you..... and I hope you do accept the ideas we offer you..... Because one thing I learned from my situation with Bugsy, is that when we play the same game, things don't change.... We do need to change things to have different results..... and I SO wish I have made that move way back when......
All the best for you and your baby

Berniemc9, I'm sorry that you feel so defensive about this. I'm asking you a lot of questions so that I can try to help your CAT, it is not my intent to attack *you* at all. My real concern is with the so-called "specialists" that don't seem to have provided your kitty with any relief, despite the vast amounts of money you've forked over. So lets start this again, shall we? 
 

berniemc9 said:

re: flea products: all flea products have been administered at the advice of specialists.

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berniemc9 said:

re: her front claws: her front claws were removed due to chronic diabetes patient in my home. The area of concern is mainly on her back between her shoulder blades but she did have other areas, all up near her head, but that can be reached with front or back. I am not going to defend decisions that were made.

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berniemc9 said:

re: the creams & compounds : one is , a coumpound of alum/tran/silva/tacro, i just got a new batch of this in at a cool $150!

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I have no idea what that is, do you have a link? And if it isn't working, why are the "specialists" still using it? 

Again, has she ever been on oral corticosteroids (prednisone, prednisolone) or been given a Depo-medrol injection? I'm not the biggest fan of steroids, but they have their place and this seems like one of them. At least until the source of the itching can be sorted out. If she has been given them and they didn't do anything, that in itself is a clue. 

berniemc9 said:

re: her diet: again all of the changes were again, consulted with specialists. 

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Not a ringing endorsement, I'm afraid. Vets don't tend to have the first clue about what cats should and shouldn't be eating, and that includes "specialists". So for instance, if your girl has a corn (or chicken or fish or soy or yeast or whatever) allergy, and all the foods the vets have tried have had some form of corn (or whatever) in it, then that doesn't exactly help the situation. Has she ever been on an allergy elimination diet? That's where you feed a simple, novel protein food exclusively for at least 8-12 weeks. Preferably NOT a prescription food, which are over-priced, poor quality diets anyway. 

berniemc9 said:

Since she is in pain, and out of it with all the drugs 

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What are the drugs that she's on?

berniemc9 said:

She is soley on wet food 

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Great that she is on wet food, much better for her than kibble. However Meow Mix might potentially be part of her itching problem. It contains a number of ingredients that tend to be hyperallergenic, like wheat gluten and fish. If a raw diet, as Carolina mentioned, isn't possible, then I'd suggest a grain-free canned food with a novel protein source like venison or duck. Innova Evo 95% and Natural Balance are a couple brands that come to mind. 

berniemc9 said:

I am trusting her care with the doctors that currently see her 

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Have you ever taken her for another opinion elsewhere? To be honest, I'm not so sure these vets are really doing right by her, but I also don't have all the info, obviously. I just see a few red flags in this situation that would have me going to another vet if this were my cat. 

My cat also has feline idiopathic ulcerative dermatitis. Last April she began scratching patches high on the neck behind both ears and between the shoulder blades. She made awful sores, and we went through the vet tests until it was diagnosed as iu dermatitis. The z/d diet cat food seemed to help and for about 3 months we thought she was done scratching as the sores healed. Then she started up again. The vet advised against declawing b/c it's difficult to keep her inside. She figured out the doggie door. Now we just do maintenance - she takes an oral steroid and uses cream. She has one huge sore on the right side of her neck that she scratches open - quite deeply sometimes. She wears a kid's tube sock that has been cut to fit. It prevents her from scratching b/t the shoulders but it doesn't cover high on her neck. She doesn't seem to notice it. Sometimes she wears the soft cone. That she hates. The sore goes through stages of almost healing, then she rips it open again. It is a very odd condition, and I hope you are more successful with helping your cat. good luck.

I rescued a spayed abandoned kitten of about six months of age.  Bella.  She's a sweet kitten, pure white with peridot green eyes. She came inside and worked her way well into my indoor colony.  Then this disastrous disease started.  She may have been bitten by one of the other cats -- "very shallow" was the vet's diagnosis -- maybe only a scratch.  But then the thing grew and grew and grew. And the scabs are so tough they are difficult to trim with toenail clippers.  She keeps on and keeps on digging -- we were at the vet again today and the vet cleaned off as much scab as possible (we were looking at removing all the scab and underlying tissue.  It seems to have spread from the initial site. Since she came back from the vet today, she has turned the back of her neck into hamburger. 

Because she was so difficult to catch and medicate, I have been keeping her in the bathroom.  She has seen some improvement on twice daily oral prednisolone.  But the spread worries me.  She's had blood tests, scrapings, cultures and finally two biopsies came back with idiopathic ulcerative dermatitis.

I am at my wits end (and pocket book's end).  I love her dearly but the isolation has made her withdrawn and frightened at everything, including (or especially including) me.  She will let me pick her up and medicate her without any problem.  I can get her to relax and purr and enjoy being stroked if I am able to devote quite a bit of time with her. Unfortunately, I have the rest of the indoor colony to care for as well as two large dogs.  I don't know what to do.  I will keep her on the steroids.

The vet has been researching, too.  We have no answers.  I am very concerned that the kindest path may be to euthenize her -- although I've never given up on a baby before -- and I'm a senior human.  She's just a very unhappy little baby.  I think I may try the socks, though, to keep her from causing so much damage.  She uses front and back feet to dig -- very effectively.  There are bloody footprints everywhere she's been (fresh today). She pretty much hides behind the toilet or in her little carrier -- which gives her a sense of shelter as well as the ability to see around her (mesh sides).  It is so hideously sad.

Hello...

I am going through this with my 6yr old female cat Kara.  Have yet to get a pathology confirmation but the vet did say it was UD.  I am going to get the other tests just to make sure.  I feel so bad for everyone on here...going through this horrible experience with their cat...and also for the poor cats too.  I hope we can find some solutions to help our babies.  In the meantime I just want to share with you how I have been trying to keep my cat from ripping her skin open again...she also did that in the beginning (behind her neck) it too over a month but I got it almost healed up...but it still itches her constantly.  I have been putting a cotton sleeve from a t-shirt on her neck..I cut it and sewed it to fit her neck...then I put a thicker tube sock on top of that...but also I had to have her wear this cat jacket on top of both.. which is effective for keep the neck wear in place as well covering the back area of her neck.  This particular jacket is very well made and it appears to be comfortable...I purchased it from a woman in London...and she ships it to you for $22.00. (my cat has scratched the 1st one so bad I just ordered another one)  Also sometimes I put the Thundershirt on her...which for some reason she stops the scratching while she wears it...but as soon as I take it off, it starts back up.  She scratches with the cat jacket on too but can't rip her skin through it.

You can order the cat jacket from mynwood cat jackets ( you can PM me for the web address).  The Thundershirt is sold at Petsmart for $39.00...and is for cat anxiety.  Btw...I take these items off my cat for periods when I can just sit and watch her, so she can groom herself.  But I too am going crazy trying to find a real solution to the itching which is what's making her scratch.  I hate that she has to wear all this armor and soon it will be too hot..I can tell she is just not the same happy cat wearing all this stuff.  If you do order the cat jacket from Mynwood Cat Jackets please tell the owner Belinda sent you from Stamford CT.  And if anyone wants to write me at my private email please do as I need someone to talk with about this terrible problem and I don't usually come on this site.    Again, I am feeling all of our pain, and best of luck with your cat's condition.

p.s.  I have two cat..they are sister's and I rescued them 6 yrs ago from the nyc animal shelter.  I think Kara was was bitten by her sister Kaos on the neck as they play fight and I notice Kaos goes for the neck.  Probably was just a tiny one but just as one woman said...it grew into this mess.

I can see that this thread is rather old, but I have been searching to connect with others who have cats suffering from this rare disease (IU Dermatosis) also.  My LB went through a year of major suffering before I even got the correct diagnosis.  My first vet was a very sweet lady, but she surgically removed 4 lesions which did no good, because this did not solve the problem.  My new vet is doing much better & did do a biopsy to get the correct diagnosis.  He was surprised & said he'd only seen this 2 other times in his career.  Hence, he thought it was just the more common problem of food allergies. 

I put infant size tank tops on him to protect his wounding himself.  I slowly learned to alter them but cutting off the bottom & adding more padding to the back, so his claws could not get to his back anymore.  So that has stopped the re-wounding of his back when it did get some healing.  He is on a hypoallergenic diet of duck & pea only from Science & he takes a steroid liquid every other day & sometimes that increases for flare-ups!  His back is very scarred & hair will not grow there anymore.  I am now researching the raw food diet as I am hopeful it will be better than this hypo allergenic kibble?  We shall see ... oh yeah, he has injections sometimes also which help.  My problem is that I know there is a health concern for long term steroid use & I do want him to live as long as possible.  

I am glad to meet all of you here on this forum.  I wish it were more pleasant circumstances, but sharing & caring does bring a measure of comfort to those who are struggling with a like issue.

Please feel free to ask me any questions & I will do my best to answer asap.

amitiptryline 10 mg with rear claw caps is helping my cat.  we tried grain free food, she doesn't care for it, sigh, and we have other cats in the house with other food issues that we cannot isolate so she always has access to other food anyway.  (urinary tract and sensitive belly, sigh).  unfortunately she chews off the claw caps periodically and digs her self open that way.  we are going to discuss rear declaw with our vet; we would never do it unless her health was at stake.  she was a stray, we know nothing of her history (was she inoculated?  did she have topical flea treatment?  a nasty flea collar?) and she was young and not spayed, but very friendly and likes being in the house, does not try to get back outside.  we were hoping it was outdoor allergy caused and keeping her in would do the trick, but no.  we hoped Depo Medrol injections would do it, but no.   topical steroid cream, the amitriptyline, and claw caps are working the best, (she also had a depo shot a few weeks ago just to cover all the bases).  I'm going to try wrapping her in soft cotton bandage or something as well.   i found research that Topomax also can help.  hope any of this helps.

Hi @Min Fish and welcome to TCS!

This is a pretty old thread so your advice may not be read by those who were asking.

Perhaps you would like to introduce yourself and your girl in our New Cats on the Block forum? 

Hello ... so sorry to hear of your trials with your kitty.  I have been struggling with this for years.  The only thing that has helped my baby is a grain-free diet, which fortunately for me, he has accepted!  I know it won't work with some cats.  Secondly, I have bought little infant sized tank tops & altered them by cutting off the bottom & padding the back heavily.  It does really help to prevent him from wounding himself too badly.  We have tried other medications and all they do is make him vomit & have diarrhea to the max!    So, have given up on all that.  I had to go thru 2 vets to find one who would not insist that he be vaccinated anymore.  I fully believe my baby's problem began then as he was a fully completely healthy kitty before he was vaccinated at the time of his neuter.

My vet is very kind & patient which helps me to cope with the knowledge that his life will be shortened for the continual use of the steroid to control his condition.  He will be 4 years old in October & has suffered much unfortunately.  He has always been skittish & afraid of strangers & runs to hide when anyone visits or even comes to the door.  It has been very difficult.  

One thing important that I have learned in research & reading is that there is no one answer for all kitties with this condition.  What works with one will not work with another.  I think we have to just trust the best vet advice we can get, try everything possible & do the very best we can to give them the best quality of life possible as long as they are able to have at least a moderately comfortable existence with this dread disease??!  Just my thoughts & opinion.

Having said all that, my vet has been honest with me & told me that he estimated his life span to be at most maybe 8 years.  However, if he develops diabetes or kidney failure that would make it shorter possibly.  I have been preparing myself for this eventuality, but also just loving him all I can while I can  I am retired senior citizen so being with him is quite easy & he is an equal comfort to me as I am to him (hopefully).

We just had another visit & check-up yesterday & the vet informed me that LB has developed a heart murmur.  He didn't see that coming ... more of a worry about the kidneys & diabetes he thought.  So, this could lead to congestive heart failure & he cannot know if this will shorten his original estimate of lifespan or not.  I have noticed that he has slowed down a bit & sometimes his breathing is different, not exactly labored, but just different.  He tires easily too.  But, he is getting older too, so we just don't know for sure if this newly developed heart murmur is a cause? 

I pray everyday for my little guy & all the furbabies & their families who face other health challenges also.  I pray especially that we will all know when it comes the time to realize their suffering outweighs any quality of life anymore & we will have the strength to do what's best for them.  

My vet comforted me with the knowledge, that if LB were his cat, he would be doing the same for him as I have done all along.  I feel I have done my best with what resources I have had & in the end that's really all that any of us can do!

I wish you all the best with your treatment of your sweet baby!   

Mom2LB

we did the claw caps, bandages made from old tshirts, hydrocortisone cream, neosporin cream, kept replacing the claw caps, and we have had very good results.  then we hit a plateau . then my hub starting using my scar oil (rosehip, frankincense, and helichrysum, with a drop or two of other goodies because it was FOR ME, all stuff you really aren't supposed to use on cats)...we are seeing wonderful results.  I have no idea what Artemis's trigger is but the allergy meds and steroids weren't working. 

I want to note again these oils are NOT really considered safe for cats.  I'm not suggesting anyone use them.  but for the sake of fighting this condition I want everyone to have all the info.  I'm watching my cat like a hawk for adverse effects, and I'm considering just using the rosehip which i believe is fairly benign, to see if we get similar results.

Min Fish,

Wow!  I think that's wonderful that you are getting some results with your rather unusual treatment.  I do hope you will continue to see improvements!!

I am really believing with my LB that giving him distilled water for drinking was one of my biggest gains in his improved overall health.  He really laps it up & I think it's been helpful in that it removes toxins that were already in his body (from vaccines?) and it prevents addition of any new toxins & unhelpful additives.  I feel a great health improvement myself from drinking the distilled water as well.  It is worth the time & effort & cost of having fresh distilled water daily.  I know there is controversy over this & not all people agree to the health benefits of distilled water & I just ask that people research it for themselves & make a decision based on their own health needs/desires.

LB will keep his shirts.  In his case, I think they are not only protection but they are a measure of security.  I have removed them briefly during good periods & thought I was giving him more freedom of movement, but I soon realized that he would, seemingly out of the blue, scratch & wound his back for no apparent reason.  He is just highly sensitive to all noise, movements, etc. that other animals take in stride?  I do take care to remove his shirt every morning & brush & massage him thoroughly ... he enjoys this so much, he will wake me quite early to get his "treatment"  So, that's the only time he is without a shirt & there's been no more wounding of his back since.  

Well, thanks for the update & I will post any significant news or changes with LB (good or bad) as they occur.  Sometimes, I feel weary from my baby's continual health challenges, but mostly I feel so very blessed to have his company & companionship along life's bumpy roads!!  

Have a great day!!

Mom2LB