News! I took Lucas to a new vet today

Hello everyone:

I took Lucas to a new vet today and I have to say I'm feeling very good about him. He has a great clinic, it is a little far from where I live, but I had to take Lucas there because he is one of the best vets in our area.

First of all, I like the fact that he is patient and he listens, I explained  to him everything that has been happening with my Lucas, I told him about the Lupus, the FIV, the food allergies, I told him about all the meds he has been taking and all the foods I've tried.  He checked Lucas, he took samples of skin, and he told me that since Lucas has been on Prednisolone for so long it was important to do a complete blood work with a liver panel.  I absolutely agreed.

Do you all remember that I posted here once that my other vet sedated Lucas to take a blood sample?  I remember everyone told me it was crazy to do that, well, this vet took Lucas' blood withou sedation and it was so easy, Lucas didn't even care,he acted like he didn't feel a thing.  I feel awful for not changing vets sooner.  My poor baby sedated for a simple blood test, anyway, he gave me some of the results today and they were good, the only thing is that Lucas is a little anemic.  So he prescribed a vitamin.The thyroid results will be ready on Friday.

Ok, the important thing, about the food allergies, the vet told me what Lucas has is NOT an allergic reaction, he says it is a cutaneous manifestation of the Lupus.  He even showed me pictures of cats with Lupus that had the same lesions Lucas has.  He says that stress is causing the Lupus crisis and that what he has is not allergies.  He says he is sure Lucas is not allergic to food.  I explained to him that I saw reactions immediately after Lucas ate some foods, but he says no, is not allergies what he has.  I decided to trust his diagnosis, I have to.  In fact it doesn't really makes sense that he could be allergic to every food in the world.

  He prescribed  HomeoPet Anxiety relief, I have to give him 5 drops three times a day to help him with stress.  He didn't even mention Prozac, I'm just so happy he believes in Homeopatic medicine and he reccomended Natural canned food for Lucas.  I told him about the Nature's Logic I just bought and he loved the idea, I guess I will have to try harder to get Lucas to like it.

I have to say I feel relieved, I hope the vet is right because not being able to feed Lucas  the way he needs has been killing me.  I'm  not happy about the Lupus thing, but there's nothing worse that not knowing what to feed him.

He also prescribed Clavamox, I know that antibiotic is hated by a lot of people here,,so I don't know if I should give it to him.  I know it can cause bad diarrhea.

I feel emotionally exhausted with all that's been going on with Lucas , I hope he can get better and I hope the results of the blood tests are good.

I know I'm not supposed to post pics here, but I just wanted  to show  the results I got today and the stress medicne he prescribed.







Tammy

Hi Tammy,
I am so glad you took him to another vet
So...... How do you treat the Lupus? Just keeping the anxiety down and treats the issues that come along? Is that the approach? and what is the Clavamox for? Does Lucas have an infection?
I hope he gets all better soon.....
Here is the thing with Clavamox: It is really a shot in the dark..... The majority of cats do fine..... But cats with low immunity can get really BAD side effects to it - and get really, really sick - this is what happened to my Bugsy and Perla, for example. Lucas is immune compromised, so I would be scared of giving it to him. He might do well, he might get really sick - you will not know until you use it..... One thing is for sure - none of my cats will ever use it again.
If it is a skin related infection, I would be much more inclined to ask about convenia..... or even clidamicyn..... Just my feeling.... for what is worth.
and tons, tons of going your way

Hi Carolina:

Well, the Lupus will be treated with the prednisolone and treating the stress, but he told me he  won't do anything else until he sees the other test results, he will call me to tell me the results in the next couple of days because those tests are not done here, he had to sent them to the US.   He told me Lucas can't be off prednisolone for now, he told me to give him 5mg everyother day as a start and depending on how he does we could start giving him a lower dose. I'm just glad the vet believes that Lucas has the Lupus, because the other vet didn't and that didn't help lucas at a ll.

I once gave Clavamox to Fuzzy and he did well, but I don't know about Lucas, I'm a little scared.  He prescribed it because Lucas has very inflamed gums and he has scratched so much that he could develop an infection.  I don't really know if we have the antibiotics you mentioned avalilable here and well I didn't remember exactly  what was said here about Clavamox.  I will just give him half a dose to see how he does.  I don't really think he needs an antibiotic, but I could try it and see how he does.

I just gave him his dose of the anxiety drugs and he is sleeping, it has been a very stressful day for him, but he behaved so great at the vets, he is an amazing boy. 

I pray to God the vet is right and Lucas doesn't have food allergies. 

Tammy

Sorry Tammy, but IMHO if his problem is inflamed gums and a **possible** future** infection on the skin - no way I would give Clavamox.
Bugsy has stomatitis - Clavamox is not the best choice for inflamed gums..... That I can tell you..... and considering the consequences he can face.... I would not put him through that - but again, that is me. I would ask him for another antibiotic. Clindamycin for one. He HAS to have that in there, if this vet does dentals.
Clindamycin information: http://www.petplace.com/drug-library/clindamycin-antirobe/page1.aspx

Convenia would be another good one - the only problem with it, is that if there are side effects, you can't stop the treatment, as it is a long term injection. But it is quickly replacing CLindamycin for the results on the gums, and it is one of the most effective ones (if not THE most effective one) for skin infections.

I will just don't give him the antibiotic, I don't think he needs it anyway.  I'm very outspoken with my other vet, but this was my firts visit to this clinic and I don't really feel comfortable telling the vet what to do or what to prescribe.  If Lucas was in danger, of course I will say something, if he wanted to give him Metacam I would have said something, but since I don't really have the knowledge to say which antibiotic is right for this or that I couldn't really question his decision.  I only knew Clavamox caused diarrhea to some kitties.  I did read Clavamox is used for skin infections in cats, that is why he prescribed it and I think he did  it because Lucas' back looks so bad, it really looks awful Carolina.  He is almost hairless.

I still have orbax pills here, they were prescribed to Lucas by  the other vet for skin infections, I just don't think I have the complete dose he needs to take.  I will just wait and see if he improves on his own without the antibiotic.

Tammy

I'm just happy that Lucas might not be allergic to food after all, I feel relieved and hopeful, I want to be positive and hope that everything can be solved without making Lucas more stressed.  I hate making him eat something he doesn't want.

Oh Tammy, FINALLY a vet that makes some sense!

Well, I'm perfectly willing to believe his skin issues are from the discoid lupus and not food allergies. I think you've had a very bad cycle of stress going - with you so worried about the food, that stresses Lucas, which prevents him from getting any better, which stresses you, and on and on. I think just KNOWING it's not the food will help calm you, which will help calm him. And hopefully the homeopathic treatment for anxiety will also help him! :cross:

But having a vet you're comfortable with - and that is competent! - will go a long way to helping both of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :heart3:

Oh Thank you sooo much Laurie!   Yes, stress is a vicious cycle that is difficult to break.  I will just try to forget about the food allergies and now focus on him getting relaxed and happy.  They were so good to him and treated him soo well, I just loved it.  Our other vet only focused on the food and never believed he had Lupus and that didn't help at all.  I can't wait for the other test results. 

Lucas is such a sweet boy, every time he goes to the vet and we get home he gets sooo excited and happy,  he was so happy to be home that he ran from room to room  and started "talking to us", just the cutest thing.

I hope the anxiety remedy helpes when we move, we will be moving to the new house at the beginning of march. 

At last I will be able to get a good night's sleep tonight.

HUgs, Tammy

You may be new to this vet, but why not ring and ask what the Clavamox was prescribed for and tell them what your new worries are? 

Don't worry about it, I will deal with the Clavamox situation the  way I feel is best.

Good news Tammy !!!   So glad you feel good about this new vet.  I hope Lucas responds to the new regime set up and his tests come back the way you want them to.  I know you've been thru a lot with the little stinker Can't wait to see your next post on his progress.  The Clavamox had me a little skeptical as it has others but sounds like you will deal with that issue on your own.

Thank you!  I decided not to give Lucas the Clavamox because he doesn't really have an infection, the skin looks healthy and he doesn't have a fever.  If he needs an antibiotic I will then take action and find the right one for him.  For now, he is fine without it. 

He has been a little sleepy and tired today because yesterday at the vets he had a very stressful day.  I'm trying to keep him as calmed and relaxed as possible.  I gave him his stress medicine and the vitamin and he even liked the taste of both, so no problem there.

Hugs to all who care about my Lucas, I will keep updating

Tammy

I hope the stress relief helps him relax enough to eat. I'm wondering if that isn't part of the problem with his eating.....too stressed. 

Im glad things went well with the new vet. I know when I changed my dog vet I was so upset I had waited so long, their approach to treating my old dogs arthritis made a huge difference. 

Sending vibes to Lucas!

THank you so much!  Well, Lucas never had any problem eating, what he didn't want was to eat raw meat.  But he has a great appetite, he eats a lot.  Is just that we all thought he had food allergies, including our last vet. 

In  fact the vet says it is stress because the only parts of Lucas' skin that are all red and hairless are the areas that Lucas can reach with his mouth, the stress is making him bite his hair off.  HIs face is red too because he scratches it with his legs.  But the areas of the skin that he can't reach so easily with his mouth and legs are all healthy and not red at all.  He also licks his belly all the time, that is why he keeps getting a red belly.  And the lupus also plays a big part on all of this. 

Hi Tammy - Just saw this thread - sorry late getting here. Just want you to know that I am very happy that you got another opinion. AND that Lucas does not have food allergies - it is from the Lupus and stress. You really have been threw the ringer lately with your sweet baby boy - I just hope that things will now start to turn around for you and for Lucas. He SO deserves to feel better and not have to suffer with these skin issues. I am glad to hear that he is eating a lot and feeling better. I really want that to continue :cross: Mega healing vibes for Lucas today :heart3: :rub:

Aw thank you so much Lauren!  Lucas is doing a little better today, he is a little sad since he went to the vet, it was as always a stressful experience for him, but I can tell the anxiety remedy is working because his skin was soo red and now it isn't, I  feel so relieved! 

Oh yes Lauren its been awful what we have been through, now that I know what is going on I can help him.  I will do everyting in my power to make him happy.  I will get him food that he likes and is healthy too, I will spend more time playing with him and I'll just keep being his human  I hate that he has been suffering most of his life, that isn't fair, I want him to be happy

AW Tammy - he IS happy, he IS soooooo happy, sweetie :heart3: Don't you know this - regardless of his condition - Lucas couldn't be more loved, more cared for, more comforted. Each day he is loved by you IS a happy day for him, I am sure. No matter how awful and irritating his skin it - it doesn't compare to the love you give him. That is a gift..... :heart3: I really believe this. I DO, of course, want him to recover and NEVER have another flare up - but for now you ARE doing everything in your power to make him comfortable. He couldn't ask for a better momma - he has the best You DO deserve an applause for how well you have dealt with the ongoing health issues of your baby. I just really think he is not suffering as badly as you might think - he has you.... :heart3: and I think that is all he really needs................. :heart2: :heart3: :heart4:

THank you soo much Lauren!   Your words brought happy tears to my eyes, I know I've driven some of you crazy with my problems with Lucas  and I appreciate everyone's patience and understanding.  You all help me so much just by listening and with your thoughts and suggestions.  I"m just so greatful!

Lucas is doing better, It seems the anxiety remedy makes him a little sleepy, but that is good because he needs to sleep and relax , that way he doesn't scratch and his skin can heal.  He is such a sweetie.

Once again thank you
 

Tammy

For Lucas today !!!! I am sure the anxiety remedy will at first have some slight sleepiness as a side effect - but most side effects will dissipate after it's use for a couple of week's. I hope he is doing great today !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! to you too, Tammy