Levemir: bald patches at injection sites?

Steph & Quintus & L & O

Steph & Quintus & L & O

Member Since 2017
One of the cats in our francophone group is developing bald patches at injection sites. The injection sites are varied, no massaging. No dermatological issues or parasites other than this (the owner is a vet tech who runs a rescue).

Is this something we've heard of here?

(I have photos but need to figure out how to link them here.)
 
Oh goodness. I haven't heard of that here at all, but like Paula said, I suppose it's possible. Has the kitty ever been on any other insulins? Could it be an allergic reaction to the syringes or the insulin? I don't know if that's really a thing. :blackeye: I hope they can get to the bottom of it though!
 
Hey Stephanie. I don't think I have heard of that before. Does she notice her kitty scratching those sites? It is strange that there is no rash or dermatological issues other than baldness.
 
Ravan has been on Levemir for nearly 6 months & no skin problems. How old is the cat & how long has it been on Levemir?
 
I have seen someone with bald patches from Lantus, but not Levemir. Photos would be good.

Any thinning of hair anywhere else? Any freckles or tiny dark spots?
 
Thanks for all your replies! Sorry I've been off the grid. He was on caninsulin for years previously. Doesn't seem to be any scratching. I think she has changed the injection site again (base of tail) and it seems to be going OK for the moment.
Here's his spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18jP8sXJqOxvlJxmkoYEMxcpGMXbh7XswqIK73rD0ags/edit?usp=sharing -- I'll see if she can add some photos to a tab in it, I'll let you know. I'll also try to upload those she showed me here.
He's 15. Doesn't seem to have anything else going on (the owner keeps a close eye on her animals and I'd expect her to notice if anything else fishy was going on).
 
Skin is pretty and smooth underneath. He is pulling the fur out, it’s not falling. Suspicion: some kind of allergic/inflammatory reaction on injection site.
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The SS is in French? And from 2018. I don't see a way to convert it to English or a tab for 2019?

Does this kitty have lab work ? Is there any other medical issues?
 
The 2018 tab goes on to 2019. No way to convert it to English, unfortunately. He's had lab work done, only notable thing is CKD, stabilised in upper normal values right now. He was poisoned and nearly died sometime during the first semester of 2018, his tongue is smooth from the burn so he can't really groom himself efficiently, but other than that he made a good recovery. He's had a dental done recently (red in the SS). Has had various antibiotics (you'll spot the names in the comments) and chronic coryza (can't remember of the word in English... the common cold cats can get).

Anything in particular you're thinking of?
 
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Cats I've had in the past had allergic reactions to antibiotics but I'm not sure how that would relate to the insulin injections?
I agree with you,it appears he's allergic to the insulin? Just because no one has heard of it happening with Levemir before ,there's a first time for everything! I noticed it looks like faint pink streaks on his side. You said he's pulling the fur out? Is he scratching at all?

I still can't access the recent SS info. I scroll down to 8/2/18 & the rest is empty?

It looks like the Levemir was started 5/5/18 ? Has he had this skin condition going on all this time? Has the vet tested him for allergy to Levemir?

I wonder if she rubbed a drop of insulin onto his ear if it would react in the same way? Anything else New going on? Different food or Laundry soap that she might wash his bedding in?

I'd get him off the Levemir insulin if he's been having a reaction since last May! Was his skin OK with the other insulin?

I found this about Allergic reaction to Levemir (people not cats) https://www.rxlist.com/levemir-side-effects-drug-center.htm

  • injection site reactions (e.g., pain, redness, irritation),
 
Try reloading the SS, it goes all the way down to today for me. She put in the year wrong for yesterday, that’s ehat you must have seen.

He hasn’t been having this issue from the start, it’s been a month or two at the most, I’d say. I’ll check. He’s easily distracted from pulling his fur out so it doesn’t seem to be a huge discomfort (after the video, she called him, and he didn’t go back to it). We’re wondering if it might be stress-related or due to his grooming issues because of his tongue.

He’s on CBD too.

I like your idea of trying a drop of Lev on the ear. Maybe she should try and switch to Lantus.
 
So, I checked: a month and a half. It started linked to molting (?) and he had some matted fur then, so another hypothesis is that he started for a reason and now it’s become obsessive.

All his injections have been base of tail these last two weeks, so what you see him pulling in the video is not a recent injection site
 
Hi Stephainie
Stephanie & Quintus said:
so another hypothesis is that he started for a reason and now it’s become obsessive.
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You mentioned his tongue was burnt by the poisoning and couldn't groom properly, I'm wondering if when he molted he found this way of getting himself clean and now it's become his new way of grooming.

I have heard of cat's that are stressed over grooming and pulling their fur out? could their be a problem there? another new cat brought in from the rescue?
 
Stephanie & Quintus said:
might be stress-related or due to his grooming issues because of his tongue.
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That makes sense to me. I've read of stress related grooming. I am surprised the CBD doesn't help. It's supposed to calm them down besides other things. I give it to all 3 of my cats.
Cornell University has just recently started Testing CBD oil on cats. They always test on Dogs but this is a first for cats! My Vet just start using it on his dog for arthritis. I only use CW "Charlottes Web " CBD OIL by the Stanley Bros.
I read about them years ago helping a little girl with seizures. THey now have CW Paws for animals. My vet said Cornell recommends CW , they said it's one of the top brands & the company is reliable.

Did this start before or after the Dental? I've read about some problems with kitties after having anesthesia.
I just clicked on his SS & 2019 came on. I wonder if you tag Marje and Gracie She might be able to convert the SS to English?It would make it easier to read the info & for people here to advise her what might be wrong.
If I come across any thing else I'll let you know.

As far as switching to Lantus, Levemir is a Neutral solution, Lantus is Acidic & may sting when injected. Some people say their cat twitches or growls when injected with Lantus & that's why they switched to Levemir. So I don't think that would help.
 
" Feliway, a calming pheromone for cats, can help encourage relaxation."
I use this when my cat has to go to the vet. My Ravan gets Very stressed out in the car & at the vet. I spray Feliway on a towel ( not on the cat) & put it in his carrier.It does seem to calm him down.

Just going to the Vet can cause a LOT of Stress in some kitties & having dental work also.
 
JoyBee&Ravan said:
I wonder if you tag Marje and Gracie She might be able to convert the SS to English?
Click to expand...

I'm still not sure what you mean by "converting the SS to English" -- I have no problems technically, I'm the person who created the French version. Translating comments would be... translating, and that would be translation work, not "conversion".

From my last talks with the CG I think she's onto the stress hypothesis now. I don't know what CBD she is giving but definitely not an American brand as she is in France. I'll keep you posted if she figures out anything. Thanks for the help and ideas!
 
Stephanie & Quintus said:
"converting the SS to English" -
Click to expand...

I'm explaining it incorrectly. I'm not at all familiar with anything else but "US".
At the bottom of your SS it has World mmol/L and US mg/dl,I just assumed if her SS had USmg/dl it would automatically change the language also.Sorry, my mistake.

Stephanie & Quintus said:
not an American brand as she is in France
Click to expand...

I thought CW Paws might ship to France,not sure.
 
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