Question:
Ok.. so this is not about Shadow. My other kitty that I've unofficially
adopted whom I was fostering (Shamrock)has severe flea allergies. He's had
two steroid shots to clear up the sores and the itch that makes him bite off
all the fur where ever he's itching intensely. His last Advantage(tm)
treatment was June 22 so we're coming close to another treatment. I still
have YET to find a flea in my house, yet he's still biting himself to the
point of bloodshed. The clinic (he's still officially part of the foster
program) originally said to apply vit E to the sores he keeps biting into
himself, told me to apply Advantage like clockwork and that last time we
were there gave him some steroid shot. Are there side effects to these and
since he's still breaking out in sores like crazy should I or should I not
take him back for another shot? Or is it close enough to the date to give
him another advantage treatment? I just got a 6 pack of purple. (still
can't find a dang flea) As far as the "system" is concerned, he's a shelter
kitty atm.
Answer:
He may need another shot and possibly a course of antibiotics.
Its a vicious circle really - the itch causes kitty to bite, which creates
sores, which add to the itch, so kitty bites more, which itches more etc
etc, and the steroid shot is the most effective way to break the cycle so
that healing can start.
With my flea allergic girls [two of] they started off having shots fairly
close together but these got further and further apart over time, as though
they were becoming less sensitive to the allergy - one hasnt had a flare for
a couple of years now so I`m hoping she has developed a natural immunity
[you watch, she`ll have a flare-up now I`ve said that !!]. This is where a lot of people get confused about flea allergy. There doesnt
have to be a flea within a thousand miles of the cat for a flare-up to
happen.
Like I said though, with my girls, the frequency of flares has decreased
dramatically.
Incidentally, has Shamrock had his anal glands checked ?
A problem there can sometimes cause similar symptoms from within. If it looks like it will be an ongoing problem, will they register him as
"Permanent foster" so you get to give him the home and the care that he
needs without it costing you a fortune ?
Thats what many UK rescues often do to ensure an animal with known
[controllable] health problems [known while in rescue] still gets to have a
home but without it having to be with someone who has a bottomless bank
account as such homes are in short supply !! If you're not seeing fleas, and you're also not seeing any improvement
(ESPECIALLY after a steroid shot) my bet is you're not treating the right
allergies... Now granted, allergies can take a while to clear up, but a
small improvement should have been seen after a month...
I disagree. And since it's been to the vet, it would be a reasonable
assumption that if there was infection present, that the vet would have
prescribed antibiotics. And if he did prescribe antibiotics, there is
likely no infection left. Thus, the cat is still suffering from the
original problem. Its not comparable at all.
Flea allergy stays in the cats` system which is why it can flare at any time
without fleas present. That is not the case with chocolate allergy.
I have contact allergies and I have two flea-allergic cats so I am aware of
the difference in cause and effect from personal experience as well as the
knowledge imparted on this subject by top-notch vets. I thought food allergy at first too, or something else since I hadn't seen
any fleas in my house or on any other cats here at the time. The vet didn't
do a panel but did verify based on experience it's fleas. It responded the
first time to steroid, then it came back and this time it really didn't but
he was treated with advantage and the vet said it should clear up with
diligent flea treatment. Obviously I'm afraid to introduce any pesticide
treatments in the house with Shadow's delicate condition and he doesn't have
any signs of flea allergy it's just the young one.
