Cat with pemphigus fungus

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pussikins

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hi

i know its been over a year but being desperate i have been googling so much on pemphigus.

my mum passed away in december and clio, her cat,(18 years old) did not seem to stress too much, which i thought quite odd.

beginning march i noticed that she stopped eating and drinking and started limping. I went to three vets but none diagnosed her with Pemphigus...but from what I am reading I am sure that is what she is suffering from..I was told she had an infection and she was put on antiobiotics....her paws are all clogged up with gunk....I bathe them daily but not much happening..I know its been a long time but did u manage to find any solace or solution ?
 

anacarov

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Hi Pussikins, 

I'm so sorry you're going through this. I know how stressful it can be when you don't know what's going on or what to do. Hopefully, I can shed some light on the situation. I am no vet, but I have such a deep love for animals and my kitties, that I have done a TON of research on illnesses, nutrition, supplements, etc.

First, did you check her gums? Pemphigus can result in the ulceration and crusting of skin as well as pus filled lesions, and if she has any in her mouth, it might explain her lack of eating or drinking. 

Our family cat is also currently 18, and besides having lived with kidney disease for about 6 years, he does still battle with pemphigus, although it has been somewhat under control for about a year now. It tends to break out on his ears and in his paws, just like your kitty. My mother's vet prescribed prednisolone pills and animax ointment. Although this needs to be prescribed by your vet according to your cat's weight, age, status of condition, etc, you could request it from him or her. This is all my mom treats him with. 

I have two kitties of my own. They just got diagnosed with lymphoma and the other with stage 3 kidney disease and hyperthyroidism, and boy, after all the research I've done, I know I will never make the same mistakes again when it comes to pet nutrition and care.

So in addition chemo, medications, SubQ fluids... I supplement with holistic treatments, which has done wonders to their health and overall wellbeing. And I would especially consider this in your case, since pemphigus is an autoimmune disorder, which means you should work on strengthening your kitty's immune system and overall health. I give my kitties C-Caps --> http://www.nativeremedies.com/petalive/products/c-caps-natural-antioxidant-dogs-cats.html, and mix the powder right into their food! Also, raw goat's milk is an amazing treat and so good for so many things!! I buy this one: http://answerspetfood.com/additional.html

I've always been doubtful of vets that 1) prescribe an ointment or medication without a proper diagnosis and 2) prescribe an ointment or medication to treat the symptom but not the cause 3) prescribe Science Diet like it's the be all and end all solution to all problems your pet might have. I know one of our vets tries to push it on me every time, as if she made commission on it! On that note...

Another thing you might consider...transitioning to a raw food diet. It does wonders with pets with immune disorders. I purchase the food directly from my local pet store (NOT the supermarket, 'cause I don't trust the mass produced stuff), but consider Primal and Small Batch Cat (depending on your location). I know you might think, raw food? No way. Not safe. Ecoli, Salmonella...Well, that's why it's important to go with a small, local company. I'm not sure where you live, but if you're on the west coast, you might look into www.bioethicspetfood.com  They come to my local farmers market. They work only with very small farms that slaughter their animals locally and in very safe environments, not like our mainstream, mistreated meats. And if you think about it, these small companies can't afford to have a single case of ecoli or salmonella or they will go out of business. On the other hand, look on the FDA website and tell me how many cans and bags of pet kibble have been recalled due to salmonella in the past year. Believe me, I was nervous when I started them on it, but this is what they were meant to eat! They loved it and now they don't even shed and they have way more energy than they used to!

If you're still a little anxious, you could also try lightly cooking it and making her chicken soup. In my mixer, I'll dice potatoes (with skin), broccoli, carrots, asparagus, a little parsley and rosemary, zucchini squash... (never onions or garlic! Those are toxic). Kibble cooks all the nutrients away! Canned food is not fresh. After all, we're not eating the same human pellet everyday or living out of cans, right? That's why cats develop so much disease at such a young age. Cancer, kidney disease, pemphigus, GI disorders...these could all be avoided with a proper diet and avoiding over vaccination, which kills their immune system over time.

I hope I was able to help. Sorry it got a little long. I've always wanted to help people with their animals, and I think vets are great, but some of them are a little behind in the times...

Sending love and prayers.

Ana
 
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pussikins

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wow ana...I cannot thank you enough !! I live in Malta...a tiny tiny island in the Mediterranean sea and we do not get the same stuff  as you do back home. But we do get SCIENCE PLAN .lol !

But I will definitely try what you are suggesting.  She looks so miserable poor thing and I feel so helpless. 

Her gums seem fine but she has lost most of her teeth. I mash the little food she eats.  This morning she managed to lap up a bit of cream but compared to how she used to eat I feel very sad.She has become a featherweight.

Clio's story is very strange..she was a stray. Mum and Dad used to feed her and she often walked in to the house and out again but was mainly a street cat.

When my father was on his deathbed (august 2009) she used to walk in and circle his bed as though gauging the situation. The moment he passed she plonked herself in a corner and never left that house again....she was a comfort to mama who ended up alone...well not quite because I lost my husband so I sort of moved in with mum. I dont have kids and maybe that is why I adore cats so much. Ayway, long story short...last December sadly mama passed away and I was worried sick that Clio wud take it to heart and waste away.

Well she seemed fine up to about a month ago when I noticed she started to sleep more and eat less...The strays were getting all her leftovers so that made me think. They were getting fatter and she was getting skinnier.

So far none of the vets I have seen have diagnosed Pemphigus  - its just that I hv been googling passionately and am pretty sure she is suffering from this disease.

her paws are a mess and she has a blister on her nose that has now developed a crust.

Am sure you must be asking how I know her age...well I found a photo of her on the bonnet of a car and the licence date showed up as 1995..and she was already a fully fledged cat by then.

And it was definitely her cos her tail is short....had been cut off !!!! :(

anyway ana...I really cannot thank you enough. I will print out all you sent me and devour and let u know!!!!

lotsa love

pussikins  
 
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pussikins

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hi

i am gutted as i type

poor Clio just deteriorated and I had no choice but to put her to sleep.

Nothing was working on her and she had loads of complications.

I have not stopped crying since yesterday.

She came when Daddy died then left when Mummy passed.

Feel so so lonely - thanks for all your help xxx 
 

AbbysMom

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I'm very sorry for your loss. :hugs: May Clio rest in peace. :angel:

When you feel up to it, please consider posting a tribute thread in our Crossing the Bridge forum. :hugs:
 
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