Acne and ear yuckies

[xsbarbcat]

Poor Maggie, we've been fighting smelly, goopey ears and chin acne for over a year. She is three and was fine until a year ago. Nothing has changed in her diet or environment. The ears have been treated with cleaning and drops, amoxicillin twice and right now is on clindamysin. The ears improve while she is on antibiotic, but don't completely clear up. She was treated for ear mites as a last resort though none were ever seen in the stinky gunk from her ears. The vet checked her for FIV and leukemia. All she has prescribed for the acne is hot packs twice a day, using OxyDex one of those times. WE use only metal bowls. She says the only thing she can think of is a food allergy. She put her on Royal Canin Rabbit and green pea formula just yesterday, and she hasn't touched it. We have four other cats in the house. None have these symptoms, though we have one that is diabetic and on hi-factor formula food and one that is CRF and on special diet. Needless to say, all this food juggling is a real chore.
I am about at my wits end.

[Traci]

See a new vet promptly. Put simply, your vet (preferrably a new feline-only vet) needs to examine the ear exudate more closely on either slide exam, cytology, and/or do a culture and sensitivity test to rule out other forms of mycobacteria, polyps or even cysts, in which to treat appropriately and successfully. Pseudomonas also need to be ruled out, since many will not respond to common antibiotics, they demand a more agressive treatment protocol.

Food allergies may indeed be culprit, and your vet needs to address this more seriously. There are various veterinary prescribed diets available you can try, but ideally, a hypoallergenic diet with only one novel source of protein your cat has never been exposed to is the appropriate choice, with the diet attempted for at least 4 weeks to detect any favorable response. If kitty isn't taking to the Royal Canin, by all means, ask for a similar veterinary diet in another brand.

Again, see a new vet more experienced in feline medicine, dermatology, etc.

[xsbarbcat]

Thanks for your input. I'll try to locate one in our area. I've been seeing this vet for 10 - 15 years. She is very good with feline diabetes and has kept my daughter's 20 year old cat alive with FCRF for 7 - 8 years, but I do feel she hasn't been able to solve this problem.
Barbara