Lucas has demodex in his ears :(

momto4kitties

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Ok, I took Lucas to the vet today because he keeps getting what looks like earmite infections in his ears, I've used all the ear drops available and he gets better for a couple of days and  then the infection is back.  Well I decided to take him to the vet today and to my surprise and dismay, the vet told me his ears are full of demodex mites.  I'm just soo upset about it!

I've read a lot about demodex but I never thought LUcas could have that. He has been doing so well with the prozac, and now this.

The vet told me this could have been caused by the prednisolone, which weakens his immune system and makes his more suceptible to this kind of infection. and I found this online that describes exactly what Lucas has:
 

Symptoms of Demodectic Mange in Cats


Feline scabies can occur as a localized or as a generalized infection. Localized infections are more common, and can often occur in cats being treated with steroids. Localized infections affect the eyelids, head, ears and neck. Symptoms include:
  • Hair loss on the affected area.
  • Scaly, itchy lesions.
  • Inflammation and irritation.
What saddens me more is that now Lucas has to be on oral  ivermectin for more than 6 weeks and the vet says in order for the ivermectin to work I HAVE to lower his dose or prednisolone, because that is the only way it will work.  Lucas gets sooo sick when I take him off prednisolone for just a day or two, I don't know how he is going to handle this, plus the ivermection, I'm terrified of that medicine and its side effects. 

He also has to take an antibiotic because he has an infection in both ears caused by the mites. 

I've been to 5 vets, and this is the first time they see the demodex, I can't understand this, he has always had ear problems that never went away. 

I need to know if someone had had experience with demodex with their kitties and which treatment they had. 

Thanks in advance.

Tammy
 

feralvr

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OH Tammy..... OMG I am so sorry about the Demodex diagnosis. I do know that what your vet tells you is true, that the pred can allow mange to easily take over the immune system. OH POOR LUCAS... :rub: and I am so sorry that you will have to lower the Pred just to get rid of the Demodex. And, unfortunately, I wouldn't know any other way to combat it either. I hope someone comes along with some more specific experience with this. Loads, loads and more loads to your sweet dear Lucas. You both have been through so much this last year and I know this is the last thing you had expected since he has been doing so well recently. :vibes: :rub: :vibes: :rub: :vibes: :rub:
 
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momto4kitties

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Thank you so much Lauren, as you can tell I'm devasteted with this diagnosis, he is doing great with the prozac, he id well overall, just the ears have been bothering him and I was confident it was something simple.  I was shocked when they told me that.  she says it is something he could have gotten from his mom. I don't know.

My other cats are fine, they don't have it, just Lucas.

I'm sick of him having to suffer so much and this treatment is so long, but I have no choice, Ihave to trust the vet and keep fighting for my boy.  I know God will help us.

Thank you so much for your words and good vibes:)

Hugs, Tammy
 
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momto4kitties

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Thank you so much Laurie, I've read about it and I know it is a long treatment to get rid of it ( 8 weeks in total) , but I never thought he had it, all the vets missed it. 

But the demodex is only in his ears, it has nothing to do with the problem he had in his skin, that was all caused by anxiety.  I thank God it is only in his ears.

I just gave him the first dose of ivermectin, he started foaming as usual, he hates liquid medicine:( I still have to give him the antibiotic Cephalexin tonight.  I've been watching him , I"m very scared of side effects, but hopefully he'll be fine. I'm just afraid of his reaction to the higher doses he will be getting every week and of course of giving him less prednisolone.

We'll see.  I will keep updating.

Tammy
 
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momto4kitties

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thank you soooooooo much, it just makes me want to cry to see his sweet , adorable face and to think he will suffer with this treatment. But I have to stay strong for him.
 

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Poor Lucas.  Just when you get one problem under control, here comes another one.  Both of you have the Patience of  Saints.  
for both of you.
 
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momto4kitties

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Thank you:) When you love someone you have to have that patience and he is my responsibility as his mom, I just want him to get better and I thank God I decided to take him to the vet yesterday, at least I know what he has and now we can do something about it.

I would do anything for my kitties.
 
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feralvr

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It really does make a huge difference when you know exactly what you are dealing with, even if it is not the greatest news. BUT this WILL get cleared up and we just have to hope that Lucas' skin issues don't flare in the meantime. :cross: You and Lucas will get through this, hun!!!! You always do!!!! Ramping up the vibes your way :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes:
 

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Poor dear! But see, Lucas has been doing so well lately--he's strong and healthy now, and he'll have plenty of energy to fight this off and recover. It might be a setback, but he can deal with it. He's one tough kitty!
 
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momto4kitties

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thank you all so much for the good vibes and positive words, that makes me stronger to deal with the situation. Thank

God he hasn't had a bad reaction to the ivermectin, but we will be giving him a higher dose next week and then an even higher dose for 6 weeks, that is very scary. The vet told me to rush him to the vet is he looks like he has lost his balance or if he is acting like he is having alucinations.  I pray to God it doesn't happen.

He is not too happy right now, he has been sleeping all day, he looks like he is sick, that is because he needs his prednisolone and I couldn't give it to him today.  The positive news is that he ate well and drank well. 

My heart breaks every time I have to make him take his medicines.

He was salivating every time I gave him the ivermectin ( medicine for the demodex), and since it is a small dose I put the liquid inside a capsule and gave it to him, it worked like a charm, at least he didn't  have to taste the medicine. 

I will keep updating...

hugs, Tammy 
 

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OH Tammy... I feel for you. I do know how terribly heartbreaking it is to have to give them medicine when they stress so. Great idea about using the capsules. That is exactly what I do if I need to give a liquid. I have empty capsules on hand here just for that. OH I hope these next six weeks go really fast. Think of you often. :hugs: :rub: :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes:
 

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Oh hun............... :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: for your strength, and more :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: for Lucas!!!! :heart3: Just focus on the goal, hun, and then he'll be able to go back on his pred!!!!!! :heart3:
 
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momto4kitties

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thank you Laurie, my fear is that the vet told me Lucas need to be off the pred, she thinks the demodex could come back if he keeps taking it.  I don't think it will be possible to get him off it, we'll see what happens.

She told me she think Lucas has had this since he was a baby, and I think it is true because since he was tiny he had what looked like "earmites"in his ears and we used Tresaderm, otomite and malotic and it never healed completely.

Hugs and thanks for the vibes:)
 

just mike

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thank you Laurie, my fear is that the vet told me Lucas need to be off the pred, she thinks the demodex could come back if he keeps taking it.  I don't think it will be possible to get him off it, we'll see what happens.

She told me she think Lucas has had this since he was a baby, and I think it is true because since he was tiny he had what looked like "earmites"in his ears and we used Tresaderm, otomite and malotic and it never healed completely.

Hugs and thanks for the vibes:)
Oh boy... Poor Lucas!  I have absolutely no words of wisdom to offer on the condition but I can certainly send vibes
 

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thank you so much Lauren, your words always meke me feel better:) How are your kitties? Hug!
Kitties are all doing fine KNOCK WOOD!!!! Thanks for asking :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: I agree with Laurie too and like what she said as it is how I feel too. Focus on the goal - clearing the demodex :nod: and then he will be able to get back to his original pred dosage. It will all work out and as long as Lucas has you, that will get him through anything, hun. :heart3: :rub: :hugs:
 
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momto4kitties

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thank you all and Lauren , I'm so glad your kitties are doing great, thank God! I love good news


I'm feeling kind of how can I say it, devastated right now.  Lucas is not doing good without his prednisolone, not good at all. He does eat, drinks and he is not vomiting, he is not in extreme pain I think, but his eyes, omg his face looks so bad. His eyes are so red and so swollen, there is a discharge coming from his eyes, and it makes him so umcomfortable, this always happens when he is off pred.

Ok, sorry for making this long, I'm just trying to vent and analize the situation by writing this.  I'm wondering if the cause of Lucas's ears, eyes and facial skin problems are due to the lupus or if they are all caused by the demodex in his ears.  What if that is the cause?  The thing is he always gets better when I give him a higher dose of prednisolone, but wha if he gets better because the pred helps with the inflamation and irritation that the demodex is causing in the first place? I'm just wondering.

It is just so exhausting having all this in my head, I'm just trying to do the right thing for LUcas and I can't stand to see him suffer. I almost gave him more pred today, but I decided to wait and see. 

I was so desperate that I was thinking of not listening to the vet and just give him the prednisolone and keep giving him the demodex medicine too  and hope for the best, but I didn't.  I will wait, but if he gets worse, I will take him back to the vet. 

Lucas will be 6 years old in January, I hope this is over soon so he can have a normal life at last ....
 

feralvr

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Tammy...... I just logged off for the night and got to thinking about Lucas and the history of his skin issues. Then I thought..... :think:..... What If he has had Demodex this whole time :shocker: !!! And What If it is not Lupus after all :dk:...... so I logged back on to tell you my thoughts and then I see your post above wondering the same thing. I honestly don't know for sure, but I am cautiously thinking this could be true. Can you ask your vets opinion on this? I really want to know and if that is the case then he should be so much better once the Ivermectin takes control of the mange..... :cross: This would be unbelievable, huh ??!! :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes:

Now I am logging off for the night :lol3: :sleep:
 
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