I just found out that a lump on my cats chin is eosinophilic granuloma complex. I'm waiting for a call back from the vet to ask more questions (I just got a voice mail from the vet with the biopsy results and I'm annoyed at myself for missing the phone call!) So in the meantime I've been doing some of my own research. I'm hoping that this is food allergy related. She just turned 1 about 6 weeks ago and we switched her from kitten food to adult food, so it would seem to make sense that she might be allergic to the new food. What doesn't make sense is that it seems like grain is the main cause of food allergens (from what I've been reading) and neither the kitten food nor the adult food is grain free, so if grain was the problem, wouldn't she have had issues with both foods?
Its on her chin, so the food bowl could be a problem too. She has a ceramic bowl, but I am thinking that switching her to glass or a flat plate might be better.
So I guess my 3 big questions for the moment are:
1. I know that steroid shots are a very common treatment for EGC. I also know that these shots have side effects. Samantha has a heart murmur, that has been checked by a cardiologist and for the moment is not causing her any problems. However, she's young and the cardiologist said that while she doesn't have heart disease right now, she's at the age where it might start to develop and show itself, so in about 8 more months I have to take her back to have another echocardiogram done. I can't seem to find the answer to this question, but if steroid shots end up being the best treatment method for her, are they going to affect her heart? Especially since she has a murmur?
2. For those of you who have dealt with EGC and the cause appeared to be food allergies, has switching to an allergen-free food solved the problem? I'm wondering if I can switch her food and then avoid the steroid shots, assuming that the food is whats causing the problem.
3. Is it weird that she had no problems with the kitten food she was eating (Iams kitten), but now might have problems with the adult food? The adult food is Royal Canin SO, which she doesn't need to be on, but I have 2 cats that are on it, and the vet has recommended just feeding everyone (I have 11) the same food to keep things simple since it won't be bad for any of the cats who don't actually need to eat it. I guess the grain thing is the question. If grain is the problem, then wouldn't she have reacted to both foods? Or could there be another allergen in the SO food?
I'm really hoping that this can be solved/treated without the steroids. She's been a sickly little cat ever since I got her, and I know that steroids can weaken an immune system. Since she already seems to have a weak immune system I just want to stay away from that option as long as I can.
I'd appreciate any insight anyone has.
Its on her chin, so the food bowl could be a problem too. She has a ceramic bowl, but I am thinking that switching her to glass or a flat plate might be better.
So I guess my 3 big questions for the moment are:
1. I know that steroid shots are a very common treatment for EGC. I also know that these shots have side effects. Samantha has a heart murmur, that has been checked by a cardiologist and for the moment is not causing her any problems. However, she's young and the cardiologist said that while she doesn't have heart disease right now, she's at the age where it might start to develop and show itself, so in about 8 more months I have to take her back to have another echocardiogram done. I can't seem to find the answer to this question, but if steroid shots end up being the best treatment method for her, are they going to affect her heart? Especially since she has a murmur?
2. For those of you who have dealt with EGC and the cause appeared to be food allergies, has switching to an allergen-free food solved the problem? I'm wondering if I can switch her food and then avoid the steroid shots, assuming that the food is whats causing the problem.
3. Is it weird that she had no problems with the kitten food she was eating (Iams kitten), but now might have problems with the adult food? The adult food is Royal Canin SO, which she doesn't need to be on, but I have 2 cats that are on it, and the vet has recommended just feeding everyone (I have 11) the same food to keep things simple since it won't be bad for any of the cats who don't actually need to eat it. I guess the grain thing is the question. If grain is the problem, then wouldn't she have reacted to both foods? Or could there be another allergen in the SO food?
I'm really hoping that this can be solved/treated without the steroids. She's been a sickly little cat ever since I got her, and I know that steroids can weaken an immune system. Since she already seems to have a weak immune system I just want to stay away from that option as long as I can.
I'd appreciate any insight anyone has.
