I have a cat that is suffering from a chronic skin condition localized to one area on his back. It varies in size from a quarter to about the size of an egg. The condition is indicated by a patch of skin that is raw and constantly secreting. The secretion will harden into a scab that says in place until he licks it off. He has been to the vet 5 times for this problem.
On the initial veterinary visit (over a year ago) he was diagnosed with dermatitis likely caused by an unknown allergic reaction. The vet gave him a cortisone shot and gave me a topical spray (Betagen) to apply daily. For about a month after the cortisone injection he will leave the area alone (not lick it) and it generally shrinks thought it never goes away or completely heals.
On each subsequent visit he was also given cortisone, The 2nd or 3rd time I was given a topical paste (granulex) to dissolve the scab that forms and told to clean the area with peroxide. The thought at that time was there might be some irritant on the skin, and to reduce the irritated are enough to then surgically remove it and the source of the irritation. (by "surgically" he meant a simple cut with probably just a local anesthetic.)
The possible source of the allergen according to the vet was fleas, something in his food or some plant he comes into contact with. Initially I suspected fleas even though I couldn't find any mature fleas after many inspections. He lives with another cat and both are outdoor/indoor. Both cats were treated with advantage at that time and since. But the problem persisted after the flea treatment.
I changed cat foods from Iams to Natural Choice but the problem persisted so I changed again to Eukanuba (what he is eating now). It was suggested that there may be an ingredient that is present in all three brands (like chicken protein for example) that is causing a reaction and to try a food that gets its protein from a different source. I didn't try this mostly because the food was very expensive.
Very frustrated that I haven't been able to resolve his health problem. Any suggestion for courses of action are appreciated.
Shamus is a male (neutered), 5 years old and 17 lbs.
Persistent skin ulcer
-
mamabear
- Formerly mamaof4soon
- Posts: 589
- Joined: Wed Apr 18, 2007 10:39 pm
- Location: The Garden State
Re: Persistent skin ulcer
I believe the dr. is cortisone shot happy and feel that if is isnt working to get rid of the problem that itshould be stopped.
Did the dr. do any skin culture to see if anything grew?
Why are you cats OUTDOOR/INDOOR? Please you can see that there is something that is bringing this about but you have not taken the proper precaustions to keep kitty inside away from dangers from the outside. You are responsible for the two cats and they belong inside where it is safe and YOU HAVE CONTROL of the environment. Then being outside even for a short period means you have no clue what they can be in contact with. Whether you treat them for fleas or not, you can not be there always to protect against the elements and other animals, not even a bee. Please do yourself a favor and your kitty justice and keep them inside only.
DO you have litter boxes in your home for these kitties as well? That is very important as well. Some owners that keep their kitties outside forget that they need to have a potty inside the home as well.
You are frustrated that you havent found the solution to this problem and rightfully so. BUT you have not changed dr's and have been dealing with this dr even though he hasnt helped you. OR you have not changed the diet to a specific one because it was too expensive to do so. But this is your responsibility and if just if the food was the cause and you had changed it you would already know if it was that and thus you would have saved yourself Vet bills by going back as many times as you have. You would only have to do follow care not the whole why is thing still there.
If the dr. didnt do a skin scraping to determine the problem you need to find yourself a new vet. Preferably a feline only vet. You also really need to consider the money and the outcome of your not buying the proper food that was recommended.
Process of elimination would have done already had you started it had you done it when recommended.
Here is a link for INDOORS ONLY. Please read this. If the vet did do any other tests please let us know and let us know the results.
http://www.cathelp-online.com/health/indooronly.php
Did the dr. do any skin culture to see if anything grew?
Why are you cats OUTDOOR/INDOOR? Please you can see that there is something that is bringing this about but you have not taken the proper precaustions to keep kitty inside away from dangers from the outside. You are responsible for the two cats and they belong inside where it is safe and YOU HAVE CONTROL of the environment. Then being outside even for a short period means you have no clue what they can be in contact with. Whether you treat them for fleas or not, you can not be there always to protect against the elements and other animals, not even a bee. Please do yourself a favor and your kitty justice and keep them inside only.
DO you have litter boxes in your home for these kitties as well? That is very important as well. Some owners that keep their kitties outside forget that they need to have a potty inside the home as well.
You are frustrated that you havent found the solution to this problem and rightfully so. BUT you have not changed dr's and have been dealing with this dr even though he hasnt helped you. OR you have not changed the diet to a specific one because it was too expensive to do so. But this is your responsibility and if just if the food was the cause and you had changed it you would already know if it was that and thus you would have saved yourself Vet bills by going back as many times as you have. You would only have to do follow care not the whole why is thing still there.
If the dr. didnt do a skin scraping to determine the problem you need to find yourself a new vet. Preferably a feline only vet. You also really need to consider the money and the outcome of your not buying the proper food that was recommended.
Process of elimination would have done already had you started it had you done it when recommended.
Here is a link for INDOORS ONLY. Please read this. If the vet did do any other tests please let us know and let us know the results.
http://www.cathelp-online.com/health/indooronly.php
Almost 7 years in remission from Graves disease and no meds!
Re: Persistent skin ulcer
I agree with mamabear, your vet isn't being agressive with diagnosis and treatment, see a NEW, more experienced, feline-only vet TODAY.
A skin scrape and microscopic exam and a culture would be the first diagnostic. If that doesn't give the vet any indication, then a cytology should be done on the aspirate, that is, if fluid is actually obtainable from the wound. Since various topicals haven't worked, this could be an immune response to something, rather than allergic response. Your vet should be testing with immunology tests to rule out various viral infections, fungal infections, or immune problems. As a last resort, the lesion should be removed surgically and sent to a lab for a histopath.
Was kitty ever vaccinated in the area of the lesion? If so, the vet needs to rule out vaccine-associated sarcoma. Or, if kitty ever received any other injectable(s) in this area.
Did you at any time ever apply any flea medication other than Advantage? Did you ever use any over-the-counter products? Did you apply any OTC shampoos, flea treatments, or other OTC topical products?
Another potential is eosiniphilic granuloma complex, in which treatment usually requires change in diet to a hypoallergenic diet, and possibly a short course of prednisolone during flare-ups. Stress is also a factor, so the environment must be as stress-free as possible, at all times.
In worst case scenario, it could be tumor activity, may not be malignant, but could be a benign tumor, or even a subcutaneous cyst (like a lipoma, a fatty cyst)....these can get infected easily, and if they become problematic, they should be surgically removed.
The best thing you can do for your kitty right now is get him to a more qualified feline-only vet for additional diagnostics, and a more qualified opinion on whether the lesion should be removed or not. Whatever it is, it is obviously not responding to topical treatments, and this should have been a good indication to your vet that he should have referred you to a more experienced vet in the beginning. It was incumbent upon him to do so.
NEVER use hydrogen peroxide on lesions or open wounds, this is a wives' tale only. Hydrogen peroxide does NOT heal wounds, and as a matter of fact, can aggrivate vital tissues and actually delay healing.
Despite the expense, a hypoallergenic diet, providing it helps and resolves the condition, is cost-effective, since it will save you repeated testing, visits with the vet, expensive (and obviously failure of) treatments, and will help resolve the condition. You will probably have to feed it long-term or even for life, which isn't a bad thing. Prescription diets, or even a quality diet such as Eukanuba varieties are formulated better with novel ingredients as opposed to other off-brands or lesser quality foods. They are also better for overall health.
See a new, feline-only vet TODAY, your kitty has suffered long enough, and your vet should have referred you in the beginning, since he knows he can't diagnose effectively and the treatment has been a total failure.
Indoors ONLY for ALL of the cats, period.
A skin scrape and microscopic exam and a culture would be the first diagnostic. If that doesn't give the vet any indication, then a cytology should be done on the aspirate, that is, if fluid is actually obtainable from the wound. Since various topicals haven't worked, this could be an immune response to something, rather than allergic response. Your vet should be testing with immunology tests to rule out various viral infections, fungal infections, or immune problems. As a last resort, the lesion should be removed surgically and sent to a lab for a histopath.
Was kitty ever vaccinated in the area of the lesion? If so, the vet needs to rule out vaccine-associated sarcoma. Or, if kitty ever received any other injectable(s) in this area.
Did you at any time ever apply any flea medication other than Advantage? Did you ever use any over-the-counter products? Did you apply any OTC shampoos, flea treatments, or other OTC topical products?
Another potential is eosiniphilic granuloma complex, in which treatment usually requires change in diet to a hypoallergenic diet, and possibly a short course of prednisolone during flare-ups. Stress is also a factor, so the environment must be as stress-free as possible, at all times.
In worst case scenario, it could be tumor activity, may not be malignant, but could be a benign tumor, or even a subcutaneous cyst (like a lipoma, a fatty cyst)....these can get infected easily, and if they become problematic, they should be surgically removed.
The best thing you can do for your kitty right now is get him to a more qualified feline-only vet for additional diagnostics, and a more qualified opinion on whether the lesion should be removed or not. Whatever it is, it is obviously not responding to topical treatments, and this should have been a good indication to your vet that he should have referred you to a more experienced vet in the beginning. It was incumbent upon him to do so.
NEVER use hydrogen peroxide on lesions or open wounds, this is a wives' tale only. Hydrogen peroxide does NOT heal wounds, and as a matter of fact, can aggrivate vital tissues and actually delay healing.
Despite the expense, a hypoallergenic diet, providing it helps and resolves the condition, is cost-effective, since it will save you repeated testing, visits with the vet, expensive (and obviously failure of) treatments, and will help resolve the condition. You will probably have to feed it long-term or even for life, which isn't a bad thing. Prescription diets, or even a quality diet such as Eukanuba varieties are formulated better with novel ingredients as opposed to other off-brands or lesser quality foods. They are also better for overall health.
See a new, feline-only vet TODAY, your kitty has suffered long enough, and your vet should have referred you in the beginning, since he knows he can't diagnose effectively and the treatment has been a total failure.
Indoors ONLY for ALL of the cats, period.
..........Traci
-
mamabear
- Formerly mamaof4soon
- Posts: 589
- Joined: Wed Apr 18, 2007 10:39 pm
- Location: The Garden State
Re: Persistent skin ulcer
leanardP let us know what happens, we'll pray kitty gets better soon!
((KITTY))
((KITTY))
Almost 7 years in remission from Graves disease and no meds!