? Urgent Advice Needed on Giving Steroids to a Diabetic Cat

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Critter Mom

Critter Mom

Member Since 2014
Hi all,

Excuse me posting this on L&L but I am very much in need of help regarding steroid treatment for a diabetic. I kicked off a post on Health earlier but I've not had much input on possible steroid treatments and ramifications thereof. I know there are a lot of members who post here but not on FH so I thought I'd post a link to the FH thread in the hope that some of you might be able to give me some pointers on short term steroid use - and perhaps suggestions on the least bad anti-inflammatory steroid treatment programme for a diabetic with skin inflammation - to discuss with Saoirse's vet tomorrow.

Essentially we've got a flea problem at the moment and Saoirse has unfortunately developed a major skin irritation; - so much so that she has pulled out fur to leave a massive bald patch today. She has been in a pet vest for a couple of weeks now and I've had to resort to the Cone of Shame again. I really need to find an effective treatment for her that will start to help straight away. Saoirse has had a tough couple of months and she needs a treatment that will enhance her day-to-day quality of life as soon as possible; she needs the break. Being stuck in a pet shirt or in a cone for much longer is not going to do her any good whatsoever.

If there's anything you can think of that will help my girl or any experience of short term steroid use to help with skin irritiation I would be beyond grateful if you could post a reply on the following thread:

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/...id-recommendation-for-flea-irritation.158183/

Thanks,


Mogs
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Mogs, are the flea spot treatment, available to you? I use Revolution year round on all my kitties. Apply it once a month. Once the fleas are gone (and you need to treat the house with something) her irritation should clear up. I don't know if the triple antibiotic ointment with pain relief can be used. Hopefully some one can weigh in on that.
 
Thanks for the reply, Paula. I've given her the spot-on, but she desperately needs help with the irritation now.
 
Mogs, my dog is extremely allergic to flea bites and I use the aloe vera gel, the kind you put on sunburns and it stops the hot spots in their tracks while healing and soothing the spot.
 
I would use pure aloe that you get at a health food store. That shouldn't hurt her tummy - many people use it for tummy upsets, too. Don't know how available that is where you live, though.
 
If I recall, the dermatologist had me putting it on Sasha 2-3 times a day. I looked in her records (I never throw anything away, even though she's been gone for four months) and they didn't put the frequency in the discharge notes, but I'm pretty sure she verbally said 2-3 times a day.
 
my newest cat (Keora) had an itchy spot behind the head that she can contort and wouldn't leave it alone. I even trimmed her back claws.
I took an old sweatshirt of mine , cut off the sleeve and made her a turtleneck ( it had a cuff )
cut some leg holes....
my DH thought she looked like a hipster in her red sweater....

i knew she'd freak out if i put a cone on her.... and she was able to do everything with her "sweater"
i also tried one of his tube socks.... which he thought looked like a muscle shirt....

she did itch under it having her fur smashed but she cuddles a lot and wanted me to rub her shoulder/neck while she healed.
 
We did the same thing with men's tube socks for Sasha when she was itching after radiation. It worked great. Later I got a bunch of doggie shirts for her to cover her bare side where the hair had fallen out. I tried an infant's turtleneck, but it didn't fit comfortably - the armholes were too far apart.
 
@rhiannon and shadow (GA), @Tricia Cinco(GA) & Harvey -

I've had her in a little medical pet suit since the first hot spot appeared. I had to cut the rear end off it because it was too long and also freaking her out so it ended up like a little t-shirt. It worked for the original hot spot (just waiting for the scab to fall off) but now she has been worrying at and pulling the fur out of an area on her lower back. :( In some ways I wonder whether the shirt contributed to the current problem but the cone depresses her. I can't seem to get things right for her. :(


Mogs
.
 
A few years ago, Gabby was experiencing what were probably seasonal allergies and licked most of the fur off of her belly. Here's what my vet recommended:


There are several options—there is a product called Allerderm which is applied once weekly to the skin which can be quite helpful for itchy or dry skin. Additional fish oil omega-3 fatty acids, 200-250 mg daily, are often helpful, but may take up to 2 weeks to really have an effect. Antihistamines are often helpful—we seem to have the best success with Zyrtec, which is over-the-counter, or hydroxyzine which is a prescription medication.

We have Allerderm here, but you may be able to order it online. Zyrtec dosage is ½ of a 10 mg tablet by mouth (in food…) twice daily, or about every 12 hours, try for 7 days. Watch for drowsiness or restlessness, although side effects from Zyrtec are not likely or are very mild. Use plain Zyrtec, or cetirizine, only—no combo meds. The fish oil product we use is AllerG3, or you can use human products

The only caveat is that if your cat is allergic to fish, then a fish oil Omega-3 would not be recommended.
 
@Sienne and Gabby (GA) -

Thank you very much for the heads-up on Allerderm, As a spot-on that spreads over the skin surface it sounds like something that could really help. I've put a call in to the vets to ask them to order some for Saoirse.

Re the antihistamines that's more complicated because of Saoirse's blood pressure issues.

Saoirse is receiving omega 3 from green-lipped mussels (Moxxor).

I'm very grateful for your help, Sienne. :)


Mogs
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{{{Mogs}}}

I understand the frustration. When Cinco had his recurring hotspots, I was ready to tear my hair out. I tried everything that was recommended (most of which has been suggested to you), and nothing seemed to stop him. Ultimately, the only thing that helped was preventing him from reaching the affected area. I found these CoverMe outfits, similar to a baby's onesie ( I tried to modify a baby's onsie without success), and they kept him from getting to any of his spots, so they healed. I don't know if Saoirse would tolerate it, but it's worth a look. I actually got the dog style, which has snaps on top, to make it easier to give insulin and fluids.

You are doing everything you can. Please don't beat yourself up. :bighug::bighug::bighug:

Sending more anti-itch vines.
 
@Tricia Cinco(GA) & Harvey -

I'm at my wit's end right now (and very panicky). :(

That kitty romper suit looks better than the one I had Saoirse in. Which size did you order, Tricia? Also, what did you do to help Cinco keep clean and comfortable (given that he wouldn't have been able to groom himself)?


Mogs
.
 
I'm so sorry things aren't going well. You've gotten many great ideas. Which ones have you tried?
 
Starting the vitamin E tomorrow and the vet's coming to the house to examine Saoirse. Pending his assessment he may prescribe a course of oral steroids and hopefully the Allerderm, too. I think the spot-on could help her a lot if it works; the collar is irritating her as well as her problems with the skin irritation on her back. I tried the Dermallay oatmeal spray around the collar area earlier and it wasn't worth a light. :(

My beautiful girl's coat looks a mess at the moment from where I applied the coconut oil. :(


Mogs
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just adding you could use any sleeve ....
i just wanted one with a wide wrist to imitate a mock turtleneck....her sores went up the back of her head....

DSC02441_zpslt2yaotw.jpg
 
Critter Mom said:
hat kitty romper suit looks better than the one I had Saoirse in. Which size did you order, Tricia? Also, what did you do to help Cinco keep clean and comfortable (given that he wouldn't have been able to groom himself)?
Click to expand...

Sorry I didn't respond, Mogs. I left right after my last post and only now got back home.

Cinco weighed 10 lbs and I got him the size medium at first, but it was just a little loose and he could get out of it (and did), so I got the small. That was a little tight, but he wasn't uncomfortable if I left one of the snaps on the back open.

I took it off every other day and brushed him. He could reach his private parts, so I didn't have to worry about that! I was really surprised that it never got soiled when he used the litter box. I did get the cat one, as well as the dog, and found the dog one easier to use because of the snaps. The cat outfit goes over the head and makes it hard to give an insulin shot. Hope that helps.

Sending more healing vines and :bighug::bighug::bighug:. I hope the vet can provide some more solutions.
 
((((Mogs)))

I always keep Rejuva Spray around here for those kinds of things. i searched on Amazon UK and didn't see it but if you can find a good holistic shop, the ingredients are very helpful like the witch hazel and calendula. The grapefruit seed extract also helps.

Your sweet girl has been through so much. Many vines and prayers.
 
Mogs, I have high blood pressure, and I'm allowed to use Chlortrimaton. Don't know if that would help, or if it's available there, but just thought I'd let you know. How is Saoirse doing?
 
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