Need advice from others who have cats suffering from allergies

hbunny

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Over the weekend Wurp had an extreme exacerbation of his allergies.  It's all my fault, I wasn't on top of the game this fall.  He takes his Zyrtec (been on it forever) for seasonal allergies, Pepcid 1/4 tab when he has GI upset related to all this, and I have a spray for his itchy spots, ear drops for his ears, etc.

I have him back on all his allergy meds--he only takes all of them during the times of the year when it is at the worst.  I really didn't realize how bad things were getting until last week, and started him on Zyrtec again for the fall--but it always takes about a full week for him to show improvement.  Well, while I had him up on the counter checking him out I saw a flea on the back of his neck.  He has a severe flea allergy, and will break out horribly from a flea bite.  I guess we are bringing them in to him and Shortstack, because they never ever go outside.  I have used Advantage II all summer monthly on both of them, but apparently that one bit him and set things in motion.  I dosed him again immediately, even though it had only been 2 weeks since the last dose.  Cotton is also being picked all around us (and compacted and hauled up and down our road) and stuff is flying through the air like crazy, that affects his (and my) allergies pretty bad.  I think the combo of it caused his exacerbation.

He was in a grooming frenzy from Wednesday night onward.  Since he is VERY hairy, excess grooming = puking.  He puked five or six times in two days, one hairball (sorry for the TMI) the size of a large-diameter cigar, other times small puffballs with the gooey slime sort of stuff.  I brushed and brushed, combed, trimmed hair, and still he went back to it.  By Saturday night he had scabs, some the size of a pencil eraser, all around his neck, at his tail base, up his back.  I started his Pepcid Saturday night and at least we've had no more vomiting, and he is eating again.  He got so bad Saturday morning he was just sitting over his water bowl but not drinking.  He would howl at me for food (normally he is silent, since he is deaf) but then not eat.  He would smell it, I guess it made him nauseated.

Yesterday he apparently felt better.  He ate a LOT yesterday at both meals, and finished off Shortstack's food as well as his own.  He still has itchy ears, neck, and on his back. 

Is there anything I can do to provide some relief until I can get him in and they give him a shot?  Should I bathe him in something like Aveeno oatmeal wash (I've heard others have good success with this).  He allows me to bathe him--he doesn't like it, but he doesn't go all rowdy either.  I'm up for anything to make my old dude feel better.  I feel so bad--I blame myself for not getting him back on his meds sooner!

Our vet can't see him until Wednesday, and I just hate seeing him suffer with it.  I'm up for any suggestions!
 

mrsgreenjeens

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Gosh, I honestly don't know.  I've not heard of using the Aveeno Oatmeal wash, but then again, I just never paid any attention to stuff like that   I did just manage to find a post which mentions this product:  Aveeno Baby colloidal soothing baby bath.  It's mentioned in this thread:  http://www.thecatsite.com/t/294570/zyrtec-for-cats/60#post_4114000 (post #78)  (you've probably posted in it


If nothing else, can you CALL your Vet in the morning and ask what you can do until your visit on Wednesday to give your furbaby some immediately relief?
 
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hbunny

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Well I asked when I called, but all the tech said was get his meds going and use his ear drops [emoji]9785[/emoji]️️ I just hate seeing him miserable. I'm going to call again tomorrow and I'll update.
 

lavishsqualor

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If you happen to be in the Orlando, Florida, area I'd be happy to lend you my Drs. Foster and Smith Itch Stop Shampoo, Conditioner and Spray.  It has hydrocortisone and lidocaine in it and will really calm the itch down for at least a day or two. My female tuxedo Thirteen has skin allergies.  She takes an allergy pill and gets periodic shots of prednisone but this helps in between those.  I think the shampoo is soothing to her because she doesn't complain a bit, even when we have to leave it on for five minutes before washing it off.

I know how frustrating these allergies can be so you have my sympathy.
 
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hbunny

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I'm going to try to order some of the Drs. Foster and Smith Itch Stop line today @LavishSqualor.  I didn't know it existed!!  Anything to help my itchy boy.

Once again, it is a diagnosis of allergies.  Stay on current regimen of meds.  No infections, no funky labs, nothing...just allergies, and a large bill!  Ugh.  But at least I know nothing else is going on.  I just feel helpless, I know he is miserable.  The Zyrtec makes him eat like a horse and sleep a lot.  It gets better the longer he takes it, I guess he gets more used to the effects of it, but he is just eating and sleeping now, and when he is awake he is scratching.  He swatted Shortstack last night over nothing, other than he was in his sight.  I guess he is just aggravated and grouchy.

At least no prednisone shot....for now....I'm kinda glad about that.  They make him grouchier than he already is normally!  Do they affect your cat's moods?
 

lavishsqualor

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No, not her moods, but they absolutely effect her appetite!  Thirteen is a tiny cat; she only weighs about six pounds, so eating more is actually a good thing. One thing my vet mentioned that I'll share with you too.  Watch out for plastic grocery bags like the ones from Target or Walmart. My cats love to play with them as I put the groceries away but my vet claims that they are very allergenic to cats.  Since then, I've taken to using canvas bags and I can absolutely tell a difference with Thirteen,  The fur on her ear is much less sparse and she scratches much less.

Good luck with your boy!  He's certainly lucky to have you.
 
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hbunny

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Thanks, I try very hard. He is truly my baby.  We've been through a lot of hard life changes together.

The thing about the bags is interesting.  I've noticed they make me itchy and red if I carry them on my wrists or arms.  I normally don't let him near plastic bags, he loves to lay on them though.  I had one that was a chewer of plastic bags, so I am in the habit of not letting them hit the floor at all.  Straight to the trash, I don't even save them anymore.

Wurp gets grouchy--I thought at first it was just because he had been to the vet, but I noticed it is usually a couple of hours afterwards that he gets all, for lack of a better term, pissy.  He doesn't get this way when he goes for other things.
 
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