Scabs from insulin?

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meeko&dafni

meeko&dafni

Member Since 2015
Hello,
I have been giving my cat insulin injections for about 1 month now. At first she was fine, then 2 weeks later I noticed she was scratching now than often. Then I noticed she had a lot of tiny red bumps on the back of her neck. Took her to the vet and she said it didn't seem like fleas, probably a reaction to the insulin. So I started alternating injection sites. The scabs seemed to become less, then today I noticed more and a chunk of fur missing from the side of her face. Has anyone else experienced this with their cat?
 
Have you considered the possibility of food allergies? Squeaker developed them just shortly after becoming diabetic and wounding his face and neck became a daily event. Now, however he can eat the foods that he had an allergic reaction to then. At least for Squeaker I had wondered if his system was just "over sensitive" to the food in the beginning.
 
Anitafrnhamer said:
Have you considered the possibility of food allergies? Squeaker developed them just shortly after becoming diabetic and wounding his face and neck became a daily event. Now, however he can eat the foods that he had an allergic reaction to then. At least for Squeaker I had wondered if his system was just "over sensitive" to the food in the beginning.
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I completely changed her diet from dry food to wet food, fancy feast, once I found out she was diabetic. She was fine in the beginning , no scabs and loves the food. I just have to bring her back to the vet I guess. Thank you for your reply and tboughts.
 
Scott was having this with his Lantus shots. Be sure there is no insulin on the outside of the needle when you inject. That took care of Scott's red bumps and scabs.
 
meeko&dafni said:
Hello,
I have been giving my cat insulin injections for about 1 month now. At first she was fine, then 2 weeks later I noticed she was scratching now than often. Then I noticed she had a lot of tiny red bumps on the back of her neck. Took her to the vet and she said it didn't seem like fleas, probably a reaction to the insulin. So I started alternating injection sites. The scabs seemed to become less, then today I noticed more and a chunk of fur missing from the side of her face. Has anyone else experienced this with their cat?
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Yes! Oreo had scabs on his back years ago and actually had 2 prednisone shots. Then I changed their diet to grain free but was still feeding wet and dry. He wasn't diabetic then though. After the diet change I noticed the scabs went completely away!

But they're back now :( He started on ProZinc insulin on April 21. He stayed on that for about 2 weeks and then was changed to Lantus. I noticed a chunk of fur gone from the top of his head and one bald spot with what looked like an injection site high on his right back near his shoulder blade. He started licking that spot and making it red. Then scabs started to appear down his back and even on his legs today I've noticed. He had his curve test yesterday and so I had the vet look at it. Of course he cant' have a prednisone shot, so the vet opted for a one time shot of Convenia. Yesterday it seemed to calm down his licking, but today he's at it again!

What could be wrong?
 
Sounds like allergies, either food related or environmental. I believe some have used Zyrtec for allergies, I think more environmental. What proteins are his Fancy Feast? You could try sticking to one kind for a couple weeks to try and rule them out :).
 
I used the list from Dr. Hodgekins site, showing foods that have less than 10% carbs. So, starting on May 4, I stopped all dry food and began feeding Fancy Feast Classics: Chopped Grill feast, Tender beef feast, Tender Beef and Chicken, Turkey and Giblets, Tender Beef and Liver feast. That's what I'm giving them right now. Also since May 4, I have been also giving FF Savory Salmon feast, and Salmon and Shrimp feast. Plus I've been giving PureBites treats (they aren't crazy for that) and Bonita flakes (pure tuna flakes). They LOVE the tuna flakes!

So the vet said to stop the fish and the treats altogether. He said it would take at least 8 to 12 weeks for the offending proteins, if that's what's causing this, to leave his sytem completely, and to know if that's what was causing these scabs. That makes sense because I never gave them Salmon before I switched to all canned and no dry. I've also never given them Bonita flakes, so both those things are new.

Oreo is still ravenous for food, in fact all of them are! So the vet thinks they aren't getting enough fiber in their canned food. I thought canned food was complete? That's what I get for thinking. Well, he suggested Purina DM DRY food! At $39 for a 6 pound bag. No, I don't want to go that route, so instead I asked if I could possibly add something like psyillium husk powder to their food. His vet is now out of town for a week so I will have to wait for his answer. :(

It makes sense that now they aren't getting as much fiber as before, but with Oreo's sensitive system right now I don't want to change much of anything or chance it with something the vet hasn't approved or hasn't been given by a lot of people with good results. I've got a can of organic pure pumpkin puree and was thinking that might be an option until I hear from the vet. What do you think about pumpkin?
 
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One more thing. Oreo used to have dandruff before he started on Lantus. Now it's gone. What's that about?
 
Justgin said:
One more thing. Oreo used to have dandruff before he started on Lantus. Now it's gone. What's that about?
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My cat too. I related it to her being healthier and cleaning herself more often now that she feels so great. Idk what else it could be.
 
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