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Post by Ladygardener on Nov 23, 2007 20:08:21 GMT
Has anyone had any experience of cats with excema? My poor wee guy is having another outbreak.  Last time the vet gave him steroids which helped a bit but he won't leave his skin alone at the moment. The wee love is grooming the life of himself. Have apt for vet wed. Have any cat lovers had any experience with this? |
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Post by MamIDdau on Nov 23, 2007 20:57:31 GMT
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Post by Ladygardener on Nov 24, 2007 7:17:30 GMT
Thanks very much for your kind help Aprilaydee. I've saved the site on my pc for reference.
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Post by grannyjanny on Nov 24, 2007 18:41:11 GMT
Sorry no experience of cats but we had a dog who was covered. Nothing from the vet helped. He had become allergic to my soap powder. I changed to Acdo & all was well again.
There is a excellent cream we use for skin problems & it has natural ingredients so possibly safe for animals. It's called neem cream. I always have some in the house.
Janet.
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Post by Shrubrose on Nov 24, 2007 18:46:16 GMT
I suffer from eczema myself LNG so know what the poor love is going through. Steroids, whilst helping in the short term, shouldn't be used in the longer term as they can cause problems. I know this might sound like a daft question, but does he get stressed about anything? Mine gets worse after a period of stress. Also, grannyjanny's advice about washing any bedding in a non-bio powder is good.
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Post by MamIDdau on Nov 24, 2007 19:00:35 GMT
My eczema only flares up mainly when it's warm or changes in temperature. It can be down to things you wouldn't have thought about. Might be allergic to flea bites etc etc etc just a case of trial and elimination.
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Post by grannyjanny on Nov 24, 2007 19:03:23 GMT
I've just googled neem & there is some info on neem for pets. It may be worth a look. Is it very recent or could it be bonfire night. Where we are it went on beyond the night.
Janet.
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Post by Ladygardener on Nov 24, 2007 19:25:34 GMT
Grannyjanny I'm sure I've heard of neem cream from someone quite a while ago. I must check it out. The thing about his bedding is that he sleeps/lies everywhere and anywhere, won't sleep in his doughnut for some time now months and months. Strangely enough he used to lay on the bed too but he's stopped that as well. He just has'nt been himself now I come to think of it. I only ever use fairy non bio on my own clothes so it won't be that I don't think.
Aprilaydee I think he could be allergic to flea bites as the last time it flared up and I took him to the vet he had fleas which he treated. It could be that they are back although he has a flea collar on.
Shrubrose you know now I'm putting everything together he could be stressed as he's also even more cuddly than usual and I was off work for about 5 weeks and went back to work a couple of weeks ago. Maybe he misses me out of the house now? I'm a nurse and do work unsocial hours.
Hopefully we'll get to the bottom of it and get the wee darling sorted soon.
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Post by Shrubrose on Nov 24, 2007 20:06:05 GMT
I hope you do LNG. It's a rotten thing to put up with. If he wants cuddles more so than usual then he's telling you something. Perhaps it's a side-effect from bonfire night? Or that you've been so inconsiderate as to desert him by going back to work! That'll be a tough one to deal with. Give him lots of cuddles and chat and a bit of 'neem' and hopefully he'll be right as rain.
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Post by MamIDdau on Nov 24, 2007 20:17:21 GMT
I don't think flea collars are much cop. Try those drops you get from the vet instead. Other thing to try would be a sort of insect repellant on the collar however it would have to be something non toxic that wouldn't be absorbed by the skin nor would it make your cat uncomfortable (such as citronella-they don't really like the smell).
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Post by skarloey on Nov 24, 2007 23:14:31 GMT
Our Archie gets sores. We took him to the vet about 4 years ago and came home £100 worse off for them to tell us it was wet exzema. It wasn't. He is allergic to fleas. So every (and we make sure it is every) 4 weeks we apply Frontline spot on flea treatment. Sometimes, the treatment wears off in 3 weeks and he starts to get a few sores and a temperature, so we apply the Frontline, clean the sores with salty water and a few days later, he is right as rain. We also get the Frontline online as it's chaeper. Please try this first before you spend any more money on needless antibiotics and expensive treatments.  |
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Post by chickadeedeedee on Nov 25, 2007 1:05:17 GMT
Is your kitty's eczema a kind of lumpy-bumpy scabby sort of thing around the neck +/- the rest of the body?
That may be what we call a ~milliary dermatitis~ That is due to both an allergic reaction plus a bacterial infection resulting from the scratching of the skin. It may be a seasonal allergy to pollens or molds. If this is an all year thing it may be due to a food allergy.
Usually steroids or an antihistamine plus an antibiotic will control the condition. The allergy medication needs to be given as long as the allergy season persists. For some that may be for 12 months.
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Post by carolann on Nov 25, 2007 9:53:41 GMT
My friends cat had it and she took it off cows milk and gave it goats milk it took a while but it cleared eventually. She put one of those lamp shade thingies on it while it was indoors or in the garden so it could not keep grooming, but she would brush and comb him which seemed to take it mind off it.
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Post by Ladygardener on Nov 25, 2007 10:27:40 GMT
Gosh what great advice you've all given me thank you so very much. Skarloey I had no idea you had to apply the front line every 3-4 weeks. I do believe he's allergic to fleas which is making him miserable which is why he's coming to me for cuddles all the time. It's exacerbated of course by the fact that I'm not here as often as he wants me. I will check out online the price of frontline and get some stocks in. Carolann52 I brush him every couple of days but am going gently so as not to hurt his scabs but he does love it. Wee darling. Chickadeedeedee the vet will let me know wednesday if it's also infected and I'll give him antibiotics if he needs them. Aprilaydee I think you're right about the collars. Shrub I'll see if I can find some neem too. I've had this little fella for 7 years and this is the first year he's had any problems. Thanks a million to all of you for your advice and support.  |
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Post by Jonah on Nov 26, 2007 9:09:08 GMT
We had a cat who was allergic to fleas. I thought it was rare at the time, but obviously not as rare as I thought going by the messages on this thread! he used to get itchy and scabby too, especially round his neck. We used to apply the frontline as skarloey said, and it helped keep it under control.
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Post by Ladygardener on Nov 28, 2007 13:56:13 GMT
Just got back from the vet's a little while ago. For £58 my vet has said the cat has excema brought about by goodness only knows what, he could'nt find any fleas but needed antibiotics, hormones, steroids, frontline and to eat less.!!!! He's getting lots of cuddles from me and the vet said if I don't see a change in him within a week to bring him back. Have bought 2 more thingys of frontline to redo him in about 6 wks time. Hopefully all will be well but the vet says this will most likely be an ongoing thing with him having flareups every now and then. Thanks a lot to all of you for your support and help. This little pic I took today.  |
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Post by Shrubrose on Nov 28, 2007 17:56:41 GMT
Well, isn't he a fine puddy-tat! Looks very content LNG. A well cuddled cat, if I might say ;D
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Post by MamIDdau on Nov 28, 2007 20:18:52 GMT
awwwwwwwwwww inney bootiful!!!
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Post by Ladygardener on Nov 30, 2007 18:11:27 GMT
Thank you for your kind remarks about my wee man. He seems a good bit happier now but is'nt happy to be on a diet. Have to admit I would'nt be either too fond of my chocolate |
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Post by Ladygardener on Dec 7, 2007 11:28:21 GMT
His skin is clearing up and he seems much happier.  |
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Last time the vet gave him steroids which helped a bit but he won't leave his skin alone at the moment. The wee love is grooming the life of himself. Have apt for vet wed. 
