Kitty with severe allergies. Any help is appreciated.

[mrsgreenjeens]

Wonder what caused this new issue

.  Welll, hopefully the antibiotics will clear it up quickly.  Are you giving her probiotics since she is now eating raw (albeit freeze dried).  It's usually a good idea to give probiotics along with antibiotics just to cut down on digestive issues, although with her other issues, you might check with your Vet if you're not already giving them.  And, just like with humans, best not to give them at the exact same time...give a few hours in between

. 

What freeze dried raw are you feeding her?  I didn't realize that's what she was eating.  Can you really crumble it up so it's almost smooth to make to really easy for her to eat? 

that the abscess heals quickly

 

[oneandahalfcats]

Vet visit went well. The vet is pleased with the drainage. Her lower jaw is abscessed. No steroids till this heals, got antibiotics to clear this up. I feed her freeze dried raw food so I just added extra water. She's trying very hard to eat and is definitely drinking water. I'll update everyone tomorrow. She's going to have a long night because she is not allowed to sleep in bed with mommy due to the yucky draining. Thanks again all!

Glad to hear that things went well. When you say that her lower jaw is abscessed, is this externally or internally? And did your vet chalk this up to allergies or the pemphigus?

 

[vickey]

Just joined this site and don't know where you are one this issue.  I had a cat that licked and chewed her body relentlessly.  She was treated with steroid shots, special food and psychotropic drugs.  The shots helped somewhat but not a cure-all.  One day I took her in for a shot and the part-time vet was there. She had worked along coastal Texas; I live in south Mississippi.  She said there is something going on with this cat and I think I know.  She did several skin scrapes from different areas and found a "mite" infestation that was literally eating her alive.  Here is the remedy: the cat had to be dipped once a week for six weeks in a sulfur dip.  I took her in for treatment but the dip can be ordered and done at home.  Just be SURE that is the problem.

After the first dip my little Chloe slept peacefully for the first time in over a year.  But you have to continue all six treatments to kill eggs and malingers. She never had mites again.  For Years!

 

[mnm]

hmm we had one of Mikki's spots scraped and tested..but nothing showed up... but it would almost be welcomed if it were mites..and I could treat it that simply! So glad you got help for her!!

 

[beauttysmom]

Happy to report VERY GOOD NEWS!! Beautty is doing very well.

My cat unfortunately has an auto immune disease, we have seen dermatologists as well as specialists. She has a disease named pemphigus her body believes her skin is a foreign body and attacks it. In addition to that she has allergies to gluten (i.e. grains) she is also specific protein intolerant. It was a long struggle with a lot of bumps in the road but I have a very understand vet that I trust. We saw the darkest days and even when me, her, and the cat wanted to give up we continued pressing forward. She has flares in the winter because my outside cat turns into an inside cat in our cold Pennsylvania winters. So she is eating the wrong food, I am sure because it tastes good. We see the specialists get a very specialized concoction of medication that puts the auto immune disease back into remission. Oh and before I forget she is also allergic to fleas and their bite. Everything is under control my baby will be turning another year old in April I'm so thankful she is still here with me!

 

 

 

[goholistic]

 
Happy to report VERY GOOD NEWS!! Beautty is doing very well.

My cat unfortunately has an auto immune disease, we have seen dermatologists as well as specialists. She has a disease named pemphigus her body believes her skin is a foreign body and attacks it. In addition to that she has allergies to gluten (i.e. grains) she is also specific protein intolerant. It was a long struggle with a lot of bumps in the road but I have a very understand vet that I trust. We saw the darkest days and even when me, her, and the cat wanted to give up we continued pressing forward. She has flares in the winter because my outside cat turns into an inside cat in our cold Pennsylvania winters. So she is eating the wrong food, I am sure because it tastes good. We see the specialists get a very specialized concoction of medication that puts the auto immune disease back into remission. Oh and before I forget she is also allergic to fleas and their bite. Everything is under control my baby will be turning another year old in April I'm so thankful she is still here with me!

 

 

I'm so glad to read that Beautty is doing well!  

 

 

[catwoman707]

 
Happy to report VERY GOOD NEWS!! Beautty is doing very well.

My cat unfortunately has an auto immune disease, we have seen dermatologists as well as specialists. She has a disease named pemphigus her body believes her skin is a foreign body and attacks it. In addition to that she has allergies to gluten (i.e. grains) she is also specific protein intolerant. It was a long struggle with a lot of bumps in the road but I have a very understand vet that I trust. We saw the darkest days and even when me, her, and the cat wanted to give up we continued pressing forward. She has flares in the winter because my outside cat turns into an inside cat in our cold Pennsylvania winters. So she is eating the wrong food, I am sure because it tastes good. We see the specialists get a very specialized concoction of medication that puts the auto immune disease back into remission. Oh and before I forget she is also allergic to fleas and their bite. Everything is under control my baby will be turning another year old in April I'm so thankful she is still here with me!

 

 

I SO remember you and your beautiful girl!!

I just re-read through this thread and remembered how dark and gloomy things were a year ago for you and her.

I couldn't be happier the persistence and never giving up on her has given you your baby girl back!!

Wonderful, heartwarming news!!  

  

 

[beauttysmom]

IMG_20150302_095428.jpg

• beauttysmom
• Mar 8, 2015

 

[beauttysmom]

IMG_20150302_095442.jpg

• beauttysmom
• Mar 8, 2015

 

[catwoman707]

She's so beautiful!! 

 

[puck]

Any long-haired feline patients I've had with that amount of hair loss (alopecia), in the face of good nutrition, flea control, and indoor environment controlled, had a history of fungal skin infection either primary disease, or secondary to autoimmune disease. These include atopy, EGC, PF, and IMHA. It's a personal problem, not infections, but can be affected by his environment.

Erosions or the plaques visible periocular and across dorsum, are somewhat self-limiting, by keeping him from self-traumatizing lesions (no excess licking, scratching, rubbing, grooming these freshly irritated areas), keeping them dry, but supporting with medicated baths weekly that treat secondary bacterial/fungal infections. Localized therapy to active lesions can limit the size and duration of eroded areas. Feeding him limited ingredient/novel protein food can help (Hill's z/d or Royal Canin Rabbit/Potato, or OTC such as Wellness Pure or Natural Balance limited for ex). Veterinary dermatologists have already linked diet to the inflammatory response EGC and pemphigus cats experience.

Supplementing with omega fatty acids i.e. oral concentrated fish oil (Welactin, so the volume needed is very low every other day) and topical Dermoscent oils, and B-complex to support cellular regeneration, as well as maintaining a SAFE effective dose of cortocosteroids, can greatly contribute to a controlled autoimmune state.  Prednisolone is preferred for cats as they don't need to convert it to an absorbable form of corticosteroid as they do prednisone, and it is easily decreased/adjusted compared to a long-acting injection. And long term use of Depo Medrol could cause liver and heart problems, most commonly CHF, which is poorly managed in cats; fluid around the lungs and difficulty breathing is the first sign of trouble and by then CHF is very progressed.

I emphasize the lowest effective dose of steroid, as many need a higher dose briefly during flare-ups, as a pulse high dose therapy option, and maintain on much less dose less frequently. Probiotics help limit GI issues, ie Fortiflora, Probios, or Proviable. Proviable is a better probiotic option, no additive for flavor that may incite an inflammatory response, better species of cultures and population counts, made by Nutramax Laboratories. Supplements should be limited to those with little to no unnecessary added ingredients, as many animal and seafood ingredients added for flavor to supplements are the catalysts to inflammatory reactions in autoimmune patients.

Prolonged steroid use isn't ideal, so if Atopica (cyclosporine) is an option for your autoimmune boy, take advantage. Broach this subject ASAP with your vet if they haven't already, as many stick to steroids and antibiotics for secondary infections, without considering Atopica, even though we've used in for autoimmune disease for over 8 years now. It can be difficult to convince a cat to swallow, as it's bitter, both the capsule and suspension forms. Getting it compounded is your best option if your vet prescribes it. Often, a low once daily dose is effective initially, then decrease to 2-3x weekly, so a low effective dose indeed! It is costly at first, and if compounded doesn't last long, but effective, which is ultimately less expensive that repeated exams, diagnostics, and expensive antibiotics such as Convenia, Clavamox, or Simplicef. Great medication, that often leads to completely discontinuing steroid administration, better for the liver and GI tract long term.

Especially considering you already started a work-up with your vet, discussing tweaking his treatment plan on the phone or via email should be an option, without taking him in again, unless it's been over 4 weeks since your vet saw him. If he hasn't had a fungal culture of active lesions, he needs one, just in case he needs oral antifungals, not antibiotics, to effectively treat his current infection secondary to his disease.

He's very lucky to have a dedicated owner that has already vested so much emotionally, financially, and lifestyle-wise. I'm a vet nurse and wouldn't be able to make some of the environmental changes you've described trying due to my own need for certain meds and consistencies with cleaning. Initially, finding his effective treatment doses and additional therapies can be a challenge, but then it gets down to Atopica every 2 to 3 days, rare steroid administration, and pure supplements.

 

[beauttysmom]

We use steroids as a last option, I've always been told that too much steroids give cats diabetes. She takes a mixture of drugs during her flare ups. Mostly a line of defense specifically formulated with the pemphigus in mind. I bath her once a month. Like mentioned because her immune system is not working at %100 she is more susceptible to infections. My whole home had to be changed, from laundry soap to hand soap and cleaners. She's my whole world and has loved me unconditionally during my hectic early twenties. It might sound silly but she's stuck it out with me so I owe her the best care I can provide her.

 

[susan borg]

Hi was the cat tested for mites, this happened with my main coon as he got older he had ear mites that spread thru his body, he caught off the neighbours cat, I had to use Revolution spot on to kill the mites... also diet, cats should eat a raw balanced diet, no kibbles mites are also found in the dry kibble....vets are NO GOOD you have to see Dermatologist when it comes to skin problems in cats & dogs, also kibble gave my boy renal failure in the end so please change diet if you don't like raw then feed cooked diet high in omega 3 fatty acids.. 

 

[rita weeks]

m
Meanwhile over in UK I'm having problems with my 11 year old cat Dot. She has an yeasty dermatitis and she eats sleeps and licks herself raw - legs underbelly. She has to wear a cat suit Dermapetwear and this company has gone out of business, so I'm improvising using baby grows with added elastic around neck area. This helps.
Also I use Episooth shampoo every other day, and sudocream or other soothing ointment before putting a fresh cat suit on. The dirty ones are placed in Napisan and well rinsed.
Successful in small dogs is Aqoquel tablets (relatively cheap to buy through vets for dogs) but we need to know whether this is checked out for safety in cat use, if anyone knows.
IVe also known people who say to use antihistamine such as minuscule amount of clarityn or similar but is this safe for cats?
We will have to slog on with steroid and antibiotic injections until a remedy is found and to this end we need to keep each other informed.
X Rita UK

image.jpeg

• rita weeks
• Sep 22, 2016

 

[mrsgreenjeens]

@Rita Weeks, I see your Dot is a Chimera!  Kind of rare, no?  So cute

  And that's very ingenious of you to figure out how to make the little outfits that cover her up since that company went out of business.

As far as using Apoquel on cats, here is a recent thread on that subject:  http://www.thecatsite.com/t/324329/apoquel-for-cats-has-anyone-tried-it    It also touches on the use of Claritin, which I believe many people DO use...that or Zyrtec. 

Is this a new development for Dot, or has she had this for years?  Just curious as wondering if something in her life changed to bring it on or if she's had it forever. 

 

[alisonquinn]

Hey I am going though the same struggle.. I went and saw a natural pet food store and I bought probiotics for the kitties.. it has helped my cat dramatically and I haven't had to use benadryl on him since I have started the probiotics. . It totally helped.. the lady told me u can get some at the vet or check out for natural pet food places. . My cats love it and they have both been doing much better skin wise and throw up wise since. Hope it helps and it was cheap.. like 20 bucks tops I believe for a decent size bottle

 

[msmoose55]

My 9-year-old kitty Bella, whom I'd adopted last October and who was fine then, suddenly around mid-January lost the fur on her legs. Then her tummy fur was gone about 3 days later. And the arms, head, neck, back. There were lesions all over and she was miserable, thoroughly miserable. So what had changed? This was a wild shot, but I thought, "I started using that hair spray about then. And MY scalp itches, too!" I took her to a sage old vet who, after going all over her for parasites (she'd been treated for pin and tape worms before Christmas) and examining her pitiful state said, "This cat has allergies." I said, "Oddly, when I started on this particular hairspray some weeks ago, MY scalp started to itch and have lesions in it, too." He thought that was funny, for some reason. Don't ever laugh at a 63-year-old cat owner when you're about 80!

He said I'd have to have her on meds the rest of her life. I stopped using my hairspray, but instead of his using Claritin or such, he put her on a half tab of Apoquel a day, a med for dogs. Her fur is far better, but her mood is AWFUL. She's borderline hostile. And the poor baby is just not eating, she's a rail!. An antihistamine SHOULD make a kitty's appetite improve. An Apoquel is 3.6mg. The average dosage for a cat is between .4mg to .6mg a day.  Half of 3.6mg is still 1.8mg, which is high, WAY high. I'm beginning to think that apart from my hair spray, I should try a bit of Claritin or Zyrtec a day instead of the Apoquel, and see how she does. She isn't getting any younger, but neither am I. And I think both of us deserve to be happy. 

Bella weighs about 8 lbs. How much Claritin should I give her? And how to break up that tablet into TEENY bits? HELP!!!!!!!!1

Bella's Mom.

 

[mrsgreenjeens]

 
My 9-year-old kitty Bella, whom I'd adopted last October and who was fine then, suddenly around mid-January lost the fur on her legs. Then her tummy fur was gone about 3 days later. And the arms, head, neck, back. There were lesions all over and she was miserable, thoroughly miserable. So what had changed? This was a wild shot, but I thought, "I started using that hair spray about then. And MY scalp itches, too!" I took her to a sage old vet who, after going all over her for parasites (she'd been treated for pin and tape worms before Christmas) and examining her pitiful state said, "This cat has allergies." I said, "Oddly, when I started on this particular hairspray some weeks ago, MY scalp started to itch and have lesions in it, too." He thought that was funny, for some reason. Don't ever laugh at a 63-year-old cat owner when you're about 80!

He said I'd have to have her on meds the rest of her life. I stopped using my hairspray, but instead of his using Claritin or such, he put her on a half tab of Apoquel a day, a med for dogs. Her fur is far better, but her mood is AWFUL. She's borderline hostile. And the poor baby is just not eating, she's a rail!. An antihistamine SHOULD make a kitty's appetite improve. An Apoquel is 3.6mg. The average dosage for a cat is between .4mg to .6mg a day.  Half of 3.6mg is still 1.8mg, which is high, WAY high. I'm beginning to think that apart from my hair spray, I should try a bit of Claritin or Zyrtec a day instead of the Apoquel, and see how she does. She isn't getting any younger, but neither am I. And I think both of us deserve to be happy. 

Bella weighs about 8 lbs. How much Claritin should I give her? And how to break up that tablet into TEENY bits? HELP!!!!!!!!1

Bella's Mom.

Many people use either Claritin or Zyrtec for allergies for their cats.  I read in this thread the dosage for Claritin would be 1/2 tab (see post #5), however, I would think you might want to run any changes by your Vet.   http://www.thecatsite.com/t/321978/attempting-to-sort-out-allergy-issue

This thread also talks about Claritin AND zyrtec, basically starting with post #6:  http://www.thecatsite.com/t/329394/advice-on-benadryl

 

[msmoose55]

Okay, my vet's tech said to stop the Apoquel. No problem! But Bella hasn't eaten a thing all day, and now her youngster pal Bastet, only around 10 months, is also gone off her chow. And she's a little PIG! 

My vet tech suggested Benadryl for Bella, but my Benadryl (I take it at night) is the big pink caplet. How the Heck do I know how much to give a kitty who's only around 8 lbs? That's a whopping pill, even cut in half!

 

[mrsgreenjeens]

If BOTH cats are off their food, I'd take a look at the food itself...maybe there's something wrong with it, and they can sense it.  WHAT is it?  (kibble, canned, etc) Prior to them both going off their food, had  you tried tempting Bella by using any toppers, like crushed treats, tuna juice, parmesan cheese, anything like that? 

If your Vet Tech suggested the use of Benedryl, then they should have told you what amounts to use.  I would contact them again and ask.  Thta being said, here is a very interesting thread on Benedryl:  http://www.thecatsite.com/t/176902/benadryl-dosage  (be sure to read it all, not just the very first posts, although on page two there are some confusing posts, but don't let those throw you off)