Steroid shot/pill form question

[PeterDevonMocha]

civvie twix has once again sprung an ulcer on her upper lip. Just noticed it tonight and it isn't horrible, but we are going to call the vet to try and get her in as soon as we can. We have been doing the depomedrol shots because we could never get her to take a pill, that is, until we discovered pill pockets and she took a weeks worth of antibiotics not to long ago (a month?) Anyways, if we can get her a pill form (generally cheaper) what is the advantage/disadvantage other then price of using pill versus shot steroid? Im ALWAYS afraid of twix becoming diabetic but she can't live with these sores either. Thanks for any help!

 

[k kitty]

My cats have allergies and I believe a steroid shot is how my cat got diabetes. But they definatly dont always get diabetes for steroids. this summer my diabetic cat's sister had the worst crazy rash on her tummy (it looked alien) and I gave her a steroid shot and risked it, even though she could be more suseptible due to her brother's condition. That was the risk i had to take but the rash thing was disgusting and growing and had to be taken care of. So, i would say do it at your own risk. With skin issues that arnt as serious I do antihisimines (sp?) and maybe a quick acting steroid. I really dont know your cats condition but sometimes the skin problems are so bad that steroids are the only option but I would try other things first and if nothing works and you are ready to take that risk then do it but be warned, it happened to me and I had no idea there was a connection between steroids and diabetes.
Wish you the best of luck!
Kathy

 

[PeterDevonMocha]

Thank you for the reply. I never knew there was a connection between steroids and diabetes either, until mocha became diabetic and we started researching. That isn't how mocha became diabetic since she never has a steroid shot in her life, but now twix has had about four of them, all spread over the last year and a half. I'm just not sure what else we could do for her, since we were told with rodent ulcers a steroid shot is the way to treat them.

 

[Hillary & Maui (GA)]

Devon,

I think the question should be is there an alternative to steroids for this issue. I don't know if there is much difference between oral and injectable steroids. So, it's a matter of what is needed for Twix to get her over this ulcer.

I'm sorry she has this again. Good luck and hope whatever treatment you use works.

 

[PeterDevonMocha]

Thanks hillary .. I have asked the vet if there was anything else that could treat this, but she said no .. I also read online steroids are pretty much the only way to treat this ...

 

[Hillary & Maui (GA)]

If that is the situation, then use them cautiously and pull out your tester just to spot check her now and then.

Hopefully, with the food changes you made, the steroids won't be such an issue.

 

[PeterDevonMocha]

We do try to keep an eye on her habits, water drinking, peeing, eating, etc .. but I tried to test her once and it was a no go. That's what I'm most scared of .. if she became diabetic, we would not be able to treat her properly ..