Bleeding Nipple in Male Cat (warning: photos)

LDG said:

It's hard to tell from the picture, but it sure looks like it's doing better!

Yeah... given his mouth is full of bacteria, you might want the Neo-Predef, actually. Maybe it's got a mild infection that needs something a little stronger than saline solution. You have any neosporin around, as he can't lick at it now?

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I'm really hoping I can take the collar off by tomorrow...he'll be so relieved and FREE!  It's looking much better (didn't get a picture last night). I did put neosporin (the basic kind without the pain relief) on it the first few nights after the saline solution. But then I stopped because the neosporin kept the area very "wet" and I figured it needed an opportunity to scab up.    Plus, the neosporin was getting EVERYWHERE and I now have to clean neosporin "stains" on my rust-colored sofa and neosporin smudge marks on my flooring.    But he's worth it! 

I'm also stopping to pick up some kitty nail clippers to do his back feet just in case they are the culprit here.

Oh geez... I didn't even consider the feet! :doh3: But glad it's looking even better! (I didn't know neosporin stained - but given it's greasy, makes sense. ).

for becoming CONE FREE!

Very glad he's looking better and you are hoping to get the collar off tomorrow.  Good luck with the claw clipping! 

Thanks! I'm holding out...the swelling has gone down, but it's still a little pink around the edge (as in irritation).

He did let me clip his back nails tonight, so that actually went pretty well.

GoHolistic said:

 
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He did let me clip his back nails tonight, so that actually went pretty well.

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  Just reminded me I need to do Mouse's....  he's good but squirms a lot!

I am so
I checked on the nipple this morning just to be sure, and I found this:


I was so hurt and disappointed when I saw this. He's obviously trying to rip his nipple off with his teeth or something, so back on the collar went. 

I don't know what to do. I can't keep the collar on him forever. I guess I'll have to take him to the vet so they can have a look at it.

By the way, I went online to buy the Neo-Predef, and didn't realize it was Rx only, so I wouldn't be able to get anything like that anyway until I took him to the vet.

  Poor Sebastian,   poor you.      So sorry it's going to have to be a stressful vet trip for you guys.  It must be really itchy or something for him to go straight back to it like that.  Hope you manage to get a quick answer to what's causing it, it's just something really simple, and there's a quick and easy solution so you can get back to collarless kitty.

Oh no! POOR BOY!

And sorry - I didn't realize the neo-Predef is prescription only either! (I don't think Carolina knew when she recommended it).

Awwwwwww.......

Awww, poor baby, that's awful!  I hope the vet is able to figure out what is going on. My vet has just decided that Angel is just one of those itchy kitties. (I just continue giving him a 1/2 a generic clariton every nigh).  (One day I'll save up enough for an allergy test. Why do they have to be so expensive!!)

I was trying to help w/ only giving him cooling/neutral foods, but having to be on Rx food  only now, I can't anymore.    It's more important to keep the cystitis away! 

For you & Sebastian!

When's the dreaded trip?

Thanks all. I don't know why he keeps bugging that one nipple. When it had healed the first time, I did gently pressed around the area for any lumps or bumps, but all felt smooth and soft like a belly should.     I'm still on round two with the collar and waiting for it to heal for the second time. After it completely heals (if this is before the vet appointment), I'm going to put some bitter "no lick" stuff on the area and see if that deters him. I already bought it, checked the ingredients and tasted it myself (it truly is awful     ), but I do want to wait until it is completely 100% healed before putting it on so as not to irritate it even more.

The appointment isn't until late next week (10/17) or early the week after that (10/22). I still have to confirm. I see one of the co-owners of the practice and she only takes appointments on Tuesdays and Thursdays (although she's in and out of the practice all week for various things).

This appointment is also to do another blood panel and exam related to his IBD/pancreatitis/whatever it is he has. 

Maybe he'd be more comfortable in a baby onesie vs. the collar? :dk:

LDG said:

Maybe he'd be more comfortable in a baby onesie vs. the collar?

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He actually doesn't seem to mind the collar. I'm sure he'd rather have it off, but he acts like it's not even there. I think it bothers me more than him.

The problem with the onesie is that the affected nipple is his left inguinal nipple, which is the farthest one down. Because of where it's located, it kind of sits in between his knees, so I don't think the onesie would even cover it. If it did cover it, it would probably only be for a short while before it starts to ride up his abdomen. I can certainly try it, though. I appreciate the suggestion.

Well, if he doesn't mind the collar.... I got the feeling it bothered him. Tuxie had to have one once, and he would NOT stop backing up: completely freaked out.

...But the onesie may bother some cats more than the collar.

Okay, I'm going to have to start asking for prayers for ME because this cat is driving me mad. We have a vet appointment this Friday in which I'll discuss this issue with the licking and biting, but I really think we're dealing with Psychogenic Alopecia here.

I've noticed the excessive grooming and hair pulling over the past several months, coincidentally around the same time as all his medical issues, vet visits, etc. It has turned into biting and licking to the point where his nipple bleeds. It had healed for a second time, so I took the soft collar off and applied some "no lick" spray. This deterred him for a short while, but once the spray dries and/or wears off, he's back to licking/biting. His stomach looked pink last night so I don't know if was from the spray or his licking. I'll stop the spray. But he also started biting a different nipple farther up on his belly. When I woke up this morning, two nipples were red and raw (almost bleeding), so I put the soft collar back on before I left for work. 

This most likely is not allergies because he's been on prednisolone (steriod) and a hypoallergenic diet, and it started even before going on the pred. I think it is a stress/OCD issue. I plan to stop at the pet store on the way home tonight and buy a couple Feliway diffusers. They didn't work for Caesar's anxiety, but maybe they'll help Sebastian. L-theanine helped Caesar, so I might try that, too. I may need to buy a onesie to help the stomach heal this time.

Any other suggestions?

Hun, at this point, I wouldn't treat symptoms. If the holistic vet that is the long drive away is trained in Chinese Medicine, that would be my next step. In my experience, Chinese Medicine is superior at treating stuff like this. Western Medicine will treat the symptoms or suppress his immune system. Chinese Medicine will address the "energy imbalance" and resolve the problem.

I wasted six months trying to treat Chumley's "allergies," his "food intolerances," trying to "treat" his symptoms of over-grooming, biting himself, mowing his abdomen clean, and horrible diarrhea.

A little trial and error to find an herbal I could easily get into him, and he has no "food allergies," no "intolerances," no diarrhea, etc. It took time for him to heal. But his system was out of whack, that's what allergies are: a symptom of a malfunctioning immune system. Westetn options are stop the triggers, reduce the stress, etc., not fix the underlying problem causing the immune system malfunction. (And I'd consider the possibility that this stress/OCD problem is because he is actually uncomfortable). :rub:

I'm with LDG, I'd try other approaches that will listen to his body. Time to slow down and try to relax enough to watch and see what's happening. You all must be so frazzled with everything that's been going on.  He must feel your frustration and worry about things too.  I hope you can take some time to look after your self and try not to get all run down as we all know how cats pick up on this.  Go with the onesie and the Feliway, and anything else cooling and calming you can find for him - and for you!  Are there any animal behaviourists near you that might have different ideas to try and break the cycle he's got in to with the biting and licking?

On the Western medicine vs alternatives like Chinese, I err towards LDGs views on suppression of symptoms as do many of my friends (despite working in allied health fields).  The condition is still there and symptom often changes to something else.  One example has been friend refusing to treat their family's very severe eczema with steriods becauseof worries about asthma coming out if the skin erruptions were prevented.. They got huge flack off the medics but the homeopathic route had a much more positive effect and the asthma that had been a major worry never developed. Can't be proved but everyone around them believes it was right to stay away from the basic suppression.  

I agree w/ LDG. When I finally took Angel to a vet w/  Chinese Med. knowledge, He found that he had more heat in his body, so hence, me only feeding him "cooling or neutral" foods.

(that is until he had to go on the Purina UR!)    It's been a long time ago, so trying to remember, but he had also mentioned a spleen imbalance,(?) so gave us some tea pills to try, but were very hard to crush!

(Laurie, do you remember this?) 

I also thought of another thing you could try. I looked up on my Bach Flower Essence chart for pets, & Crab Apple is recommended for excessive grooming. It may be worth a try.

Quick update...

I've been using Feliway diffusers and Spirit Essences (flower essences) for Sebastian's overgrooming / hair pulling / self-mutilation for about 3 weeks now. I wanted to give it enough time before I posted an update. The Spirit Essence I am using is called Obsession Remedy. What a difference! I'm not sure which is attributing to the change, or if it's a combination of both, but it's working. I do unplug the diffusers when I'm not home; they get warm and that makes me nervous. I do feel as though it's the flower essence that is doing most of the work. I had actually plugged in the Feliway first for a few days before starting the flower essences (I was waiting for them to arrive in the mail), and I saw no change. I'm not sure how fast cats respond to Feliway. The Spirit Essences, however, require patience. You have to continue with it for at least 2 weeks, but their website says you may not see results for 6 weeks. I started seeing a difference in 2 weeks, and I'm hoping he continues to improve.

He's still grooming (because this is his happy activity when he's feeling good), but it's not obsessively so. His hair pulling is less, and he's stopped trying to rip his nipple off.  

I plan not to buy more Feliway diffusers after the two I have run out. They are ridiculously expensive. So, I'll have to see if the Spirit Essences continue to work after the Feliway runs out. If so, I may consider buying Happy Tummy to help with his IBD.