My mother has a 16 year old cat who has either been on prednisolone pills or
depo medrol shots for the last 12 years for granulomas. She hasn't
developed diabetes yet.

I don't think that twice a year is over kill on this if you can keep it
under control using other methods along with it.

I had a cat who had severe asthma she took theophylline on a daily basis
along with lasix. I did like you and minimized everything that could
trigger and event. I was pretty good at watching her body language and
could tell when she was about to have an attack and could increase her
prednisone accordingly prior to the attack to minimize it. But sometimes it
didn't work and she still ended up with a shot.

Sometimes you have to outweigh the risk verses the benefits.

Celeste


"cybercat" wrote in message
...
Some of you know that I have a cat with allergies and asthma, "EGC" immune
system problems. Because she gets both lesions of the lip and linear
granulomas on her legs, AND asthma attacks and congestion AND general
itchiness to the point of scratching her ears raw, my vet and I decided
early on to try Depo Medrol (steroid) shots. They work great! However,
there is a risk of serious side effects such as diabetes if they are given
too often. What is two often? My vet said more than once every two months.

Well, I worked hard to minimize allergens in the house and switched her
food around, with some success. She went a year with no lesions of any
kind, first time in the 5.5 years I have had her!! AND no asthma attacks.

Until this morning. She had a coughing/wheezing fit and I took her right
in. She is fine except for some new plaque buildup, the congestion, and
slightly runny stools, which she has had for a while. I thought maybe my
giving her new flavors of Fancy Feast did it--the fish flavors instead of
beef and chicken--but the vet said diarrhea is another side effect of the
allergy complex EGC. She gave me a liquid medicine (metronidazole) and a
little syringe, I am to dose her 0.5 ml twice a day. It is supposed to
restore her normal gut flora.

So, I am thinking she needs to have two Depo shots a year, that it might
not be the best thing to try to take her down to one a year. She's been
frisky and happy, but itchy and congested, too.