Hi!
I've been concentrating on my sick cat so much over the past couple of weeks that I've neglected my other one and forgot to give him his Advantage. Consequently his skin has exploded. This is only going to get worse. It's happened a couple of times in the past 3 years and the solution was to give him a cortisone shot. Here's my question: I have a bottle of 5mg prednisone that I can easily have refilled next week. Can I give him some of that instead of dragging him in for a shot? If so, how much? He weighs around 8 pounds. Or is there another way to help his skin? I gave him the Advantage yesterday which will get rid of the fleas, but experience tells me it won't clear up his skin once this break out has started without additional help.
Also, I've always thought the breakouts were caused by a flea allergy, but could it be stress related? He a pretty needy guy and hasn't been getting his share of attention lately.
Thanks!
Kim
prednisone/cortisone
Re: prednisone/cortisone
No, you can't just give prednisone to any cat, not even for this purpose. Since prednisone is a corticosteroid, it must be dosed and prescribed cautiously..... if it is not correctly dosed, or if it is used for any other purpose than the intended condition, it can have serious side effects.
How heavy is the flea infestation, and are you treating the environment as well?
As for how to treat the allergy/skin flareup, ask your vet please, he's the only one who can determine the degree of skin irritation and it it might be related to something else. He might prescribe a mild topcial antibiotic at this point or something else, it really should be left up to him to determine the extent of the irritation.
How is Charlie doing?
How heavy is the flea infestation, and are you treating the environment as well?
As for how to treat the allergy/skin flareup, ask your vet please, he's the only one who can determine the degree of skin irritation and it it might be related to something else. He might prescribe a mild topcial antibiotic at this point or something else, it really should be left up to him to determine the extent of the irritation.
How is Charlie doing?
..........Traci
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Kim D
Re: prednisone/cortisone
Ok, thanks Traci. I'll follow your advice.
I can't treat the enviroment really, unless I blanket the county with pesticide. He's the outdoorsy type. I can't imagine what would happen if he became a totally indoor cat. He'd get awfully depressed. And so would I! He's one of these super fluffy long haired cats who leaves trails and piles of hair fluff everywhere he goes. But he's a real beauty.
Charlie feels pretty good! His nose sure is pink again too. He's still weak but is stronger and getting heavier. But I'm not convinced of anything yet so we'll see how he progresses. So far so good though.
Kim
I can't treat the enviroment really, unless I blanket the county with pesticide. He's the outdoorsy type. I can't imagine what would happen if he became a totally indoor cat. He'd get awfully depressed. And so would I! He's one of these super fluffy long haired cats who leaves trails and piles of hair fluff everywhere he goes. But he's a real beauty.
Charlie feels pretty good! His nose sure is pink again too. He's still weak but is stronger and getting heavier. But I'm not convinced of anything yet so we'll see how he progresses. So far so good though.
Kim
Re: prednisone/cortisone
may have missed something but i would use frontline for a trial...if it is a flea allergy dermatitis then this will help...i have to dissagree a bit with Traci on the prednicsone or the steroid...if used properly, with your vets OK and based on weight dosage it willhelp ease the flea allergy dermatititis only need for a day or so but with your vets OK.
Re: prednisone/cortisone
That was in fact my point, Davet....not to give prednisone to any cat without an exam. Since the kitty in question is an outdoor cat, and we don't know if he's been examined (or bloodwork prior to any corticosteroid use), I wouldn't even suggest it without her vet's direction.
Once examined, general health status determined, no other problems that might be contraindicated with pred, then her vet can give the ok, but I won't.
Once examined, general health status determined, no other problems that might be contraindicated with pred, then her vet can give the ok, but I won't.
..........Traci
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Kim D
Re: prednisone/cortisone
Thanks guys!
My cat has a long record at that vet so I'm thinking some other bloodwork was considered before he ever had the cortisone shots. At any rate he took to it really well.
I will try Frontline next time. I just gave him a dose of Advantage though so he'll have to wait. I didn't know Frontline had that quality. I'm pretty positive he has a flea allergy. When he goes through these breakouts he transforms from the world's fluffiest feline to the baldy scabola from hell. Poor guy!
Thanks again,
Kim
My cat has a long record at that vet so I'm thinking some other bloodwork was considered before he ever had the cortisone shots. At any rate he took to it really well.
I will try Frontline next time. I just gave him a dose of Advantage though so he'll have to wait. I didn't know Frontline had that quality. I'm pretty positive he has a flea allergy. When he goes through these breakouts he transforms from the world's fluffiest feline to the baldy scabola from hell. Poor guy!
Thanks again,
Kim