My 10 year old cat has extreme skin allergies. She pulls her fur out and licks and bites herself.?

I treat her for fleas. I take my cat to the vet, so please read my entire post before jumping on me! She has always gotten cortisone shots for this condition. However, I have made the decision to seek alternative treatment, since the need for cortisone injections has become more frequent. This treatment can cause serious long-term side-effects. The last time she had a shot, the vet drew blood to check for problems. I had an appointment on Monday for her with an herbalist-holistic vet, but the doctor called in sick and I couldn't see her. So far, I've been unable to re-schedule the appt. due to my job. I bought a fish oil supplement for my cat, and I've been putting a few drops on her food. But she doesn't like it - it's very strong and oily -and I've not been able to give her the full dosage. I also give her a quarter of an antihistamine pill (vet says it's okay).


Does anyone know of anything else I can try? I hate to have her put back on the cortisone injections. Help! Please

My 10 year old cat has extreme skin allergies. She pulls her fur out and licks and bites herself.?
The most common foods cats have allergies to are chicken, fish, corn and wheat. Mine is ok with those, HIS allergy is from the various preservatives that are used, we haven't been able to pin point which one or which combo it is yet.





Some foods are a lot better for a cat with allergies--find one with minimal ingredients (all chicken no fish for instance) and try for one week. Shift to another if that one shows no improvement. There is a lamb and rice one for allergy cats too that is easy to digest, I think Royal Canin makes that one--it should be carried by a pet supplies store.





I know it's hell on the cats. And steroid shots bring down the immune system, which isn't good especially long term doses of them. Sometimes supplementing half their food with a raw diet helps a lot since it reduces whatever is causing the reaction from the dry/canned foods. Or even baked chicken as a partial diet can help if the cat isn't allergic to the chicken.





Has the vet ruled out environmental items like dust, pollen and mold? Some cats are highly allergic to these.





I also suggest going to the yahoo groups pages and signing on with the Handicats group, as the people over there have experience with a lot of chronic problems in cats. They can help you narrow things down somewhat.
Reply:Try neem shampoo. You can get it on ebay, it works wonders on conditions like that.


Neem is a tree from India.
Reply:my cat is almost 10 and she scratches and bites and stuff too





she has no 'known' skin allergies





we take her to the vet too





anyway, my uncle put one of those cone things on his dog to make him stop scratching





well, good luck. i know how it is to watch your pet suffer and i hope you find a way to help your cat





= )
Reply:my dog has the same problem he 2 has skin problems male dogs have glands just inside their bottom and last time they where emptied the problem soon went i don't know if cats have the same type of glands but it is worth asking the vet he dose however still have very dry skin so i use a cream some times when he get very itchy i use the cream mt Doctor give me for exma it helps him i think
Reply:Have you tried a hypoallergenic diet trail? Skin biopsy? Impression smear? Fungal cultrue?


There is also an in vitro allergy test, if you can determine the allergens responsible you can start allergen specific immunotherapy aka allergy shots. It takes a few years but can be better than steroids. Though it hasn't been studied much in cats (more in dogs, who don't tolerate steriods any where near like cats)





Fatty acid supplement hasn't been shown to help. But it's always helpful to try! Good luck with the holistic vet, hope they can give you some new options
Reply:Skin conditions for both man and beast are often caused by diet. (food allergies) Both my dog and myself have been down this road, it's no fun. have you tried addressing this by changing Kitty's food ? to something free of allergens (usually wheat or corn) Topical treatment for the hot spots:Bio-Groom Lido-Med Anti-Itch spray
Reply:Do you also have her on flea control? Revolution is very good for cats, especially with FAD. You can also give her Capstar. This is a pill that makes the fleas fall off of her in 30minutes. It is fast, effective and does do harm to the cat's organ system.





2ndly, you need to do 100% flea control in your home. Only adult fleas live on your cat that's just 5%, the other 95% (eggs, larva, and pupae) is in your home. They live in the carpets, floor boards, bedding, etc. You need to vacuum frequently (dispose of the bag or cup outside) and do whatever necessary to rid your home of fleas.





You will also need to treat any other pets in the house for fleas too.





The flea allergy problems will not go away without you getting rid of the problem, not just by treating the symptoms.
Reply:Maybe it's something in your home. Do you shampoo your carpet often? She might be sensitive to floor cleaners or waxes. Do you have plants in your house? Have you tried changing her litter? Always use metal containers for a cat's food and water. Plastic can cause allergies. Does your cat sleep with you? Try using a perfume free detergent for your wash as well as a perfume free fabric softner or try using white vinegar instead of fabric softner. Notice what your cat sleeps on or spends a lot of time on... is there something in the material that could be bothering her? Do you spray your hair when the cat is around you? How about spraying perfumes? Air fresheners? Candles? Potpourri? If she has a particular cushion she lays on, what is it filled with...? Have you tried changing her diet or perhaps making your own cat food? Most cat food is made of scraps and really isn't very good for your cat. Making your own in batches and freezing it in containers that can be thawed daily for feeding isn't as inconvenient as you might think.





I wish you all the best with your cat. You sound like a very kind and considerate owner who takes good care of their pet. Wouldn't it be wonderful if all pet owners were like you?





God bless you both!
Reply:Have you had her allergy tested so you know for sure what she is allergic to? My vet has a test that cost 120.00 and it test for 25.00 different things....fleas, pollen, foods etc. etc.





This may not be an allergy at all. Some cats over groom because of stress have you tried her on drugs such as Prozac.





I would get the test done so you know for sure what you are dealing with.
Reply:We have 8 cats. There are a few things you might try. First of all, we had a time when we had allergic kittys, had treated them for fleas, and still had problems. We found a vet that suggested that many cats have allergies to plastic or acrylic water bowls. We switched to a glass water bowl and that alleviated much of the problem. Secondly, as far as the fish oil supplement goes, if she doesn't like it, try opening a can of tuna packed in water, and after putting the fish oil supplement on the food, pour a little of the tuna water over it to mask the scent. The odor of the tuna water should overpower and complement the odor of the fish oil. We have tried these with our allergic cats and it has seemed to work well.
Reply:Try a natural food for your cat,,with no corn in it,,there are 3 different cat foods that are all natural,,read the ingredients to make sure there is no CORN in it,,,most animals are found to be allergic to corn in the foods,,,if that doesn't work,,more test need to be ran on her to find what it is she /he is allergic to,,check to find a rub on conditioner for her coat that is for cats that has oils in it for dry skin...and best of luck
Reply:I had that issue and I switched my cats food to Iams. I tried all the expensive all natural stuff and only Iams worked. I have a friend who has a dog with the same problem and guess what she has to feed her dog. Iams and only Iams.
Reply:If you have been treating your cat all these years with cortisone injections for Flea Allergy


Dermatitis, it is time for you to really DO something about the fleas. Your cat needs to be on a flea preventative. I recommend Advantage. My own cat had a serious reaction to Revolution, as did one of my co-workers. I also don't believe in treating for things that my cat doesn't have (earmites, worms). Advantage, IF used religiously, will get rid of the festation in your house. It will take 3-4 months, but the fleas do not have to bite your cat to be killed. All they have to do is jump on her. Another thing about Advantage is that, unlike Revolution, it DOES NOT go into the blood stream. It goes into the fat layer just under the skin and spreads throughout the body that way. Until you control the fleas on your cat, she will ALWAYS have skin issues.


Advantage is used once monthly. Once you get the flea problem under control, if she still has skin issues, then you will need to start food trials to see if it is food allergy related. In serious cases it can take up to 12 weeks to see any kind of difference. I used to work with a Veterinary Internist, and we did many food trials on animals with skin problems.


Hope this helps.
Reply:i would hate for u to put her or him back in cortisone injections again too but do what's best for the cat so it will be better i would love for it to be back on track again cause i love cat's and i care for them cause my brother hate's cat's and try's to torture my cat so i save him from my evil brother
Reply:Cats are very susceptible to food allergies. They are particularly likely to be allergic to the grains and potatoes necessary to create dry food, but they can also be allergic to protein sources. No allergy food from the vet works very well. You should consider putting your cat on a single source unique protein canned (or raw) food with no gravy, and no grains, fruits or vegetables as fillers. You may have to try several sources of protein before you find one that works. Be persistent, it often takes a while to allow the allergens to leave the cat's system. Raw rabbit is actually the easiest way to detox your cat and provide it with a species appropriate food. I think you'll be surprised at the change in your cat.
Reply:Hi there,





Have you considered a diet change to raw? You said you work with a holistic vet so I would hope they have recommended that to you. If not... let me share with you what I know about nutrition because it affects every part of the body.





Many brands of manufactured cat foods claiming to be "healthy" really are not. In fact they are made of the lowest ingredients possible. I'm not saying that a cat can't live off them... just the same as you could live off hot dogs and Mac and cheese forever, but better choices can and should be made for your feline friends. I would not venture to say that any manufactured food is "best" for a cat but a grain free organic wet food would be a good start. Feeding canned is certainly better than feeding dry in all cases.





Cats were never meant to eat dry food, also known as cereals or kibble. We, humans, make them eat it for convenience to us. It has nothing to do with them or their nutritional needs. It's completely species inappropriate.





In the wild, cats derive their entire liquid intake from their prey. They do not have a thirst mechanism because they don't need it when eating a species appropriate diet. They get all they need from what they eat. So they do not drink water. Regular ol' house cats have descended from those same wild cats.





So in a home environment, your kitty does not get the moisture it need from dry food and are almost always in a constant state of dehydration. Water fountains are encouraged to TRY to get your cat to drink more and your kitty may even enjoy it. But it will never meet its water intake needs drinking from a bowl.





Deadly feline illnesses such as diabetes, kidney failure, obesity, stones, urinary tract blockages and Urinary Tract Infections (FLUTD), with and without deadly crystals run rampant these days. Cats are not taking in enough water to stave them off. Proper water intake through a species appropriate diet alone can prevent most of these conditions.





Overall, wet is a better all around better for any cats diet, be it canned or Raw and they should never be fed dry cereal kibble if we wish to most closely match their wild nutritional and dietary needs. Kibble meets our needs… not our cats.





It is also bogus that kibble cleans teeth. DRY FOOD DOES NOT CLEAN TEETH. It's an old myth that has been scientifically disproved for years, but old-school vets drilled it into people's heads for so long (and sadly still do) that people still believe it. Cats can not “chew”. They do not have chewing teeth. They have meat ripping pointy carnivorous teeth. They do not have molars. They may “crunch” a piece of food once to crack and break it… but they are absolutely unable to chew a hard piece if food. Want your cat to have clean teeth? Give them an appropriately sized raw bone. :o)





I personally feed a Raw Meat and Bones based diet to my cats and they are very healthy on it. I HIGHLY recommend it. Once I got the hang of it and felt comfortable with it it's a snap to prepare. It's something you might want to consider someday. They are obligate carnivores after all and must derive ALL their nutrients from meat based sources. They are unable to absorb them from any other source. Despite thousands of years of domestication they remain strictly carnivorous. True and honest meat eaters and that is what they need most. Protein from meat!





If you are interested in feeding a raw diet some great places to start learning are catinfo dot org , catnutrition dot org, and felinefuture dot com/nutrition.





If you would like to try raw with your cats and don’t want to get all technical about it but want to try a trusted, time tested and balanced raw diet you can order from felinespride dot com. I purchased this myself when I first started and my cats loved it!





If raw is not an option for you please be aware that there are three Categories of Pet Foods:





-"Grocery store" foods – (Generic Brands and cheap name brands) Those foods found in grocery stores and mass-market retailers are made with lower-quality, less-digestible, inexpensive ingredients and are therefore a cheaper alternative. While easy on the pocketbook, "grocery store" foods normally do not provide your cat with the healthiest, most nutrient-dense ingredients.





-Premium foods – (Iams/Eukanuba, Purina One, Hills Science Diet, Nutro and such) Foods often found in grocery stores, pet stores, and veterinarian offices that contain higher-grade ingredients, but still include many elements of "grocery store" food, such as artificial colors, artificial flavors, chemical preservatives, and "filler" ingredients such as corn and wheat products, by-products and even animal digest. Yuck! Premium foods are usually more expensive than "grocery store" foods because their ingredients are sometimes of a higher quality, and are therefore somewhat more beneficial and digestible. But don’t be fooled, some of those same so called Premium brands are sometimes worse than grocery store foods, but they charge prices like they are better. They aren’t!





-Healthy foods – (Wellness, Merrick, Eagle Pack, Drs Foster %26amp; Smith) The newest addition to the pet food market - provide pets with the highest quality, healthiest, and most nutritious ingredients. They are typically available for purchase online or direct from the manufacturer. Some better retailers are starting to carry them now. Complete Petmart carries a few healthy brand foods. Foods in the Healthy class contain nutrient-rich ingredients. Formulated to provide optimum health benefits for pets, these foods often use real meat as the primary protein source, carbohydrate-rich whole grains like brown rice and barley and whole, fresh fruits and vegetables. They should not contain artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors. They will almost always be fortified with additional vitamins and minerals, and will use the best natural sources for fatty acids to help build healthy skin and a beautiful coat. Because healthy foods use high quality ingredients, you should expect to pay a little more than you would for other types of pet food. Remember, though, with healthy foods you can feed less since healthy foods are more nutrient-dense than other types of food so it often evens out or cost’s les than feeding foods filled with cheap non-nutritional by-products fillers.





With all that information in mind, when you are choosing a new cat food, study the ingredients. All ingredients on pet food labels are listed by weight. Meaning whatever ingredients are listed first on the list, there is more in there. The first ingredients listed should be whole meat ingredients, protein sources, such as Chicken or Turkey. NOT just the word “meat”! Who the heck knows what that is? The word Chicken Meal is ok, but it should be a secondary ingredient, not first. Meal is the meat dehydrated and ground into a powder.





The ingredients also should NOT include any by-products or animal digest whatsoever. Those are disgusting left over animal parts that are scraped off the filthy floors of meat and poultry plants. They should just go into the trash but they put them into pet food instead. EW!!!! Also make sure there are no artificial colors or flavors. And make sure there is no BHA and BHT used preservatives. These preservatives have been shown to cause cancer in both cats and dogs. Bad Bad stuff and it’s in almost every cat treat on the market. :(





So, in summery of the ingredients… if you see the words by-products, Animal Digest, the word “meat” alone, Corn, Corn Gluten, Wheat Gluten, or BHA or BHT… stop reading, put down that product and move on to the next.





Be aware that when switching to a Healthy, Holistic or Organic food, you will pay for what you get. Good foods are not cheap. They are pricey and will cost you more than cheaper products, just like steak costs more than hotdogs. But again, you will be feeding a better food and improving the over all health of your pet. This in turn leads to less vet visits for illness now and more importantly later in life in their geriatric years. You will also feed less of this food on a per animal basis because a smaller amount of food contains what your cat needs. Overall healthy foods are well worth it, if only for the piece of mind that the ingredients are better for your cat than cheap crap.





You can start your research for a healthy cat food here if you are not ready to try feeding a Raw diet: onlynaturalpet dot com





If you want to buy in a store, Complete Petmart is a good store and carries quite a few natural, organic, and holistic blends. Also check with your local feed/grain stores.





I highly recommend you take the time to research for yourself, but the information I have given should get you off to a good start. Good luck choosing a new healthy food!





********IMPORTANT*******Don’t forget to switch your Pets food slowly over a period of 10 to 14 days, if you can. Mixing 25% new to 75% old. Then 50/50… then 75% new to 25% old. And finally switch over to 100% new. Take it slow as not to upset their digestive system.





Side note… Please don’t feed Iams / Eukanuba. It’s ALL fillers, byproducts, animal digest and CRAP. Read the ingredients! There is nothing good for your cat in that food. Not to mention they conduct the most appalling animal testing you have ever seen. Iamscruelty dot com to see the terror they create.

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