pododermatitis

Does anyone have experience with pillow foot? A cat was given to me by a neighbor who could no longer care for her. She's 11 months old, fiv and feline leukemia negative, and recently has been diagnosed with this disease. Or at least my vet thinks that's what she has. Her feet started out dry, cracking, with purple type lines. Now it is also swollen. I'm at a loss how to keep her from getting secondary infections,or just keeping her out of pain. She's so young, I just don't understand this disease or how she suddenly got it. I changed her food to wellness core turkey and duck(dry, as refuses all canned,dehydrated, and raw). Does anyone have cats with this disease and how do you manage it? Thanks!

We have not had a thread about this for awhile, and there was never a follow up to see if the treatment worked long-term, but evidently it is an auto-immune type disease and treating the paw pads does nothing.  An antibiotic with immunomodulating qualities, DOXYCYCLINE, is the treatment of choice for this condition, but they may be on it for a couple of months. This will prevent infection and also treats the disease.  If that doesn't control it, you may have to use steroids.   Depo-Medrol has fewer side effects than prednisone and prednisolone and it can be given by a once a month injection. You have a good vet if he/she was able to diagnose this condition as some are not so familiar with it.  Most vets will try the doxycycline and not put you through the expense of additional lab work or a biopsy if the doxycycline works, and if it doesn't work

Here is a good link to explain it in more detail:

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1720

I see you are in Georgia.  So am I.  To add to the synchronicity, I had just answered your post and then one other when yet ANOTHER post came through about exactly the same disease.  We had no posts about this for two years and suddenly two come in only hours apart.  I gave the other person the same answer as I gave you, and you may want to communicate with each other and compare notes about how your vets handle it and how your cats are doing.

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/315771/...wise-known-as-pillow-paw-disease#post_3958870

I'm just now seeing this thread and do not have time to post much.

I have had 2 cats with this condition and you have been given some good information so far!

I know I have posted about this in previous threads. I will come back and write more soon!