Not OCD?

H

hannahgirl

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Apr 29, 2005
Messages
299
Purraise
1
My cat was licking herself too much and causing damage. Now with a new diet and allergy med (chlorpheniramine), she has been out of her e-collar for two hours without doing herself harm. She has cleaned herself, but not excessively. My Vet wants to put her on OCD medications, but I have had the feeling this whole time that she had real itching - that it wasn't so much a mental thing as a physical one.

My main question is - since the med and new diet are working, doesn't this suggest it is not OCD?...since she is not on anything that would affect her mentally but she is still seeing relief? I am really hoping so...
 
sharky

sharky

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jan 30, 2005
Messages
27,231
Purraise
38
My humble opnion is she has one or more allergies and I wouldnt let the vet give her anything other than allergy meds...
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #3
H

hannahgirl

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Apr 29, 2005
Messages
299
Purraise
1
Thanks, Sharky. I really value your opinion! I am watching her clean herself and as long as she isn't causing any new sores, I will let her continue. I just need to make sure she is cleaning herself a normal amount. Wow, she hasn't seen this much relief in over a year. When a cat is on allergy meds, how long do you keep them on it? I don't think these are seasonal allergies since she has had symptoms, better or worse, for more than one season.
 
B

beckiboo

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Apr 7, 2005
Messages
7,382
Purraise
4
Location
Illinois, USA
Humans with OCD have times when the symptoms are less, and times when they are more severe. I think that if the current treatment of a new diet and allergy medication are solving the problem, you should not add another medication for OCD. If she is suffering from OCD, most likely the symptoms will come back.

If it were my cat, and if the symptoms came back (licking to the point of hair loss), first I would want to change the allergy medicine. Then, if she continued to have bald patches, you could try OCD medication.
 
hissy

hissy

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Feb 19, 2001
Messages
34,872
Purraise
77
If it isn't broke don't fix it. Keep her on the meds she is on and only if she gets worse or has a bad relapse then take her back to the vet and discuss more options.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #6
H

hannahgirl

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Apr 29, 2005
Messages
299
Purraise
1
I felt confident enough to leave her at home without the e-collar on while I am at work. I sure hope I made the right decision. She slept without it last night. Thanks everyone for your help. I had to test it eventually, poor cat was in the e-collar for too long.
 
P

pf.growleypants

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
Jul 21, 2005
Messages
16
Purraise
0
Can I ask what her new diet is??

I'm beginning to think my cat's new affliction (see Hurt paw? post from yesterday) is related to his ear allergy problems. I've been feeding him Natural Balance venison/green pea and it certainly helps but he still shakes his head often. When I fed him a sample of the Wellness salmon that he used to love he started up the ear scratching again (so that is out of the house!). But I fed him some tuna fish this weekend and it didn't seem to affect him at all, so I wonder if it is the soy in the Wellness product. I'd love to feed him a fish flavor again because it made his coat so sleek.... ANYWAY, now with the current paw issue (the last three days he has been constantly licking and nibbling) I'm thinking maybe it is an overall skin allergy.

Two vets, btw, had no clue what his problem is...
 
sharky

sharky

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jan 30, 2005
Messages
27,231
Purraise
38
Originally Posted by Pf.Growleypants

Can I ask what her new diet is??

I'm beginning to think my cat's new affliction (see Hurt paw? post from yesterday) is related to his ear allergy problems. I've been feeding him Natural Balance venison/green pea and it certainly helps but he still shakes his head often. When I fed him a sample of the Wellness salmon that he used to love he started up the ear scratching again (so that is out of the house!). But I fed him some tuna fish this weekend and it didn't seem to affect him at all, so I wonder if it is the soy in the Wellness product. I'd love to feed him a fish flavor again because it made his coat so sleek.... ANYWAY, now with the current paw issue (the last three days he has been constantly licking and nibbling) I'm thinking maybe it is an overall skin allergy.

Two vets, btw, had no clue what his problem is...
Click to expand...
welcome and find a new vet...

have you considered raw food/ homemade food for kitty?? It has worked well for my dog and a cat with kidney issues...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top