Cat looking bad

My Cat was diagnosed with a "hot spot" about a month ago. He lost a
patch of hair, had a sore develope that he kept licking till it got
badly infected. He was tested for ringworm, (negative I assumed since
I never heard otherwise) and I use advantage on him continuously since
he is allergic to fleas. The "hot spot" cleared up, after intravenous
antibiotics, as well as oral and topical. But almost as soon as that
one spot began to be better, he started to lose all the hair on his
left side. The hair loss has started to spread to legs, neck and the
right side. With the hair loss he developed more sores that looked
very much like the "hot spot" only smaller, after bathing these with
the topical antibiotics the vet gave me, the sores turned black and
some of them became raised. He does not appear to be in any discomfort
at all. It cost me 300.00 to have him treated (or not treated as the
case may be)and I can't afford to pay that and more again to have him
misdiagnosed!!
Has anyone heard of a condition like this? I don't know what to do
with him and he gets much worse every day!!

cp wrote in om on 31 Dec
2003:

Has anyone heard of a condition like this? I don't know what to do
with him and he gets much worse every day!!

What you are describing is exactly what happens with my Shamrock. The vet
diagnosed EGC (eosinophilic granuloma complex) after a number of other
conditions were ruled out (he never actually had a skin biopsy...yet).
Ruled out were fleas (no flea dirt, treated with Advantage monthly like
clockwork since this started, no fleas ever seen in my house nor on the
other cats), mites (skin scrape done), ring worm (some fur cultured) and
the beginning of a diet trial but that wasn't completed for various
reasons. Diet has been changed but of course without the formal
hypoallergenic trial, a food allergy can't be ruled out.

Steroid shots done as needed keep it under control but I'm worried about
the long-term side effects so we're going to be trying antihistamines with
fatty acid suppliments.

Some people suggest trying an additive such as DermCaps (rich in Omega 3
fatty acids), vaccuming often using a hepa filter vaccum cleaner bag and/or
hepa air filter, removing carpets and keeping a bare floor, the list of
suggestions goes on including trying to find a pattern when a breakout
occurs, such as a food eaten that usually isn't - tuna fish maybe? Some
work for some cats, some don't and it's time to think about the quality of
the life of the cat and use medication if it will provide relief. Good
luck; allergies and watching your cat bite himself to bleeding constantly
is heartbreaking.

--
Cheryl

"I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I
can do something. I will not refuse to do the something I can do."
- Helen Keller

cp wrote in om on 31 Dec
2003:

Has anyone heard of a condition like this? I don't know what to do
with him and he gets much worse every day!!

What you are describing is exactly what happens with my Shamrock. The vet
diagnosed EGC (eosinophilic granuloma complex) after a number of other
conditions were ruled out (he never actually had a skin biopsy...yet).
Ruled out were fleas (no flea dirt, treated with Advantage monthly like
clockwork since this started, no fleas ever seen in my house nor on the
other cats), mites (skin scrape done), ring worm (some fur cultured) and
the beginning of a diet trial but that wasn't completed for various
reasons. Diet has been changed but of course without the formal
hypoallergenic trial, a food allergy can't be ruled out.

Steroid shots done as needed keep it under control but I'm worried about
the long-term side effects so we're going to be trying antihistamines with
fatty acid suppliments.

Some people suggest trying an additive such as DermCaps (rich in Omega 3
fatty acids), vaccuming often using a hepa filter vaccum cleaner bag and/or
hepa air filter, removing carpets and keeping a bare floor, the list of
suggestions goes on including trying to find a pattern when a breakout
occurs, such as a food eaten that usually isn't - tuna fish maybe? Some
work for some cats, some don't and it's time to think about the quality of
the life of the cat and use medication if it will provide relief. Good
luck; allergies and watching your cat bite himself to bleeding constantly
is heartbreaking.

--
Cheryl

"I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I
can do something. I will not refuse to do the something I can do."
- Helen Keller

Hi ,
There's more about EGC at
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body...granuloma.html

A change of diet might help , I feed Kim organic and additive free
canned food.
I wonder if cats can be allerigic to the soap powder used to wash
their blankets?
Alison




"Cheryl" wrote in message
...
cp wrote in om on
31 Dec
2003:

Has anyone heard of a condition like this? I don't know what to do
with him and he gets much worse every day!!

What you are describing is exactly what happens with my Shamrock.
The vet
diagnosed EGC (eosinophilic granuloma complex) after a number of
other
conditions were ruled out (he never actually had a skin
biopsy...yet).
Ruled out were fleas (no flea dirt, treated with Advantage monthly
like
clockwork since this started, no fleas ever seen in my house nor on
the
other cats), mites (skin scrape done), ring worm (some fur cultured)
and
the beginning of a diet trial but that wasn't completed for various
reasons. Diet has been changed but of course without the formal
hypoallergenic trial, a food allergy can't be ruled out.

Steroid shots done as needed keep it under control but I'm worried
about
the long-term side effects so we're going to be trying
antihistamines with
fatty acid suppliments.

Some people suggest trying an additive such as DermCaps (rich in
Omega 3
fatty acids), vaccuming often using a hepa filter vaccum cleaner bag
and/or
hepa air filter, removing carpets and keeping a bare floor, the list
of
suggestions goes on including trying to find a pattern when a
breakout
occurs, such as a food eaten that usually isn't - tuna fish maybe?
Some
work for some cats, some don't and it's time to think about the
quality of
the life of the cat and use medication if it will provide relief.
Good
luck; allergies and watching your cat bite himself to bleeding
constantly
is heartbreaking.

--
Cheryl

"I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but
still I
can do something. I will not refuse to do the something I can do."
- Helen Keller

Hi ,
There's more about EGC at
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body...granuloma.html

A change of diet might help , I feed Kim organic and additive free
canned food.
I wonder if cats can be allerigic to the soap powder used to wash
their blankets?
Alison




"Cheryl" wrote in message
...
cp wrote in om on
31 Dec
2003:

Has anyone heard of a condition like this? I don't know what to do
with him and he gets much worse every day!!

What you are describing is exactly what happens with my Shamrock.
The vet
diagnosed EGC (eosinophilic granuloma complex) after a number of
other
conditions were ruled out (he never actually had a skin
biopsy...yet).
Ruled out were fleas (no flea dirt, treated with Advantage monthly
like
clockwork since this started, no fleas ever seen in my house nor on
the
other cats), mites (skin scrape done), ring worm (some fur cultured)
and
the beginning of a diet trial but that wasn't completed for various
reasons. Diet has been changed but of course without the formal
hypoallergenic trial, a food allergy can't be ruled out.

Steroid shots done as needed keep it under control but I'm worried
about
the long-term side effects so we're going to be trying
antihistamines with
fatty acid suppliments.

Some people suggest trying an additive such as DermCaps (rich in
Omega 3
fatty acids), vaccuming often using a hepa filter vaccum cleaner bag
and/or
hepa air filter, removing carpets and keeping a bare floor, the list
of
suggestions goes on including trying to find a pattern when a
breakout
occurs, such as a food eaten that usually isn't - tuna fish maybe?
Some
work for some cats, some don't and it's time to think about the
quality of
the life of the cat and use medication if it will provide relief.
Good
luck; allergies and watching your cat bite himself to bleeding
constantly
is heartbreaking.

--
Cheryl

"I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but
still I
can do something. I will not refuse to do the something I can do."
- Helen Keller

(cp) wrote in message . com...
My Cat was diagnosed with a "hot spot" about a month ago. He lost a
patch of hair, had a sore develope that he kept licking till it got
badly infected. He was tested for ringworm, (negative I assumed since
I never heard otherwise) and I use advantage on him continuously since
he is allergic to fleas. The "hot spot" cleared up, after intravenous
antibiotics, as well as oral and topical. But almost as soon as that
one spot began to be better, he started to lose all the hair on his
left side. The hair loss has started to spread to legs, neck and the
right side. With the hair loss he developed more sores that looked
very much like the "hot spot" only smaller, after bathing these with
the topical antibiotics the vet gave me, the sores turned black and
some of them became raised. He does not appear to be in any discomfort
at all. It cost me 300.00 to have him treated (or not treated as the
case may be)and I can't afford to pay that and more again to have him
misdiagnosed!!
Has anyone heard of a condition like this? I don't know what to do
with him and he gets much worse every day!!

I wouldn´t rule out an allergic reaction but from your post, your cat
inicially responded to antibiotics and you didn´t mention giving him
steroids. If you in fact did not give him steroids and his hot spot
cleared up with antibiotics, I would have him checked for diabetes.
The loss of hair you mention after treating him with antibiotics might
be due to a fungal infection. Using antibiotics leaves the organism
more vulnerable to fungi. Have you noticed if he drinks too much
water, for instance? Does he urinate often? If you can´t afford to
spend more money with a vet right now, try switching him to a high
quality canned food with zero carbohydrates and see what happens. One
good brand I remember with zero carbs is Felidae.

(cp) wrote in message . com...
My Cat was diagnosed with a "hot spot" about a month ago. He lost a
patch of hair, had a sore develope that he kept licking till it got
badly infected. He was tested for ringworm, (negative I assumed since
I never heard otherwise) and I use advantage on him continuously since
he is allergic to fleas. The "hot spot" cleared up, after intravenous
antibiotics, as well as oral and topical. But almost as soon as that
one spot began to be better, he started to lose all the hair on his
left side. The hair loss has started to spread to legs, neck and the
right side. With the hair loss he developed more sores that looked
very much like the "hot spot" only smaller, after bathing these with
the topical antibiotics the vet gave me, the sores turned black and
some of them became raised. He does not appear to be in any discomfort
at all. It cost me 300.00 to have him treated (or not treated as the
case may be)and I can't afford to pay that and more again to have him
misdiagnosed!!
Has anyone heard of a condition like this? I don't know what to do
with him and he gets much worse every day!!

I wouldn´t rule out an allergic reaction but from your post, your cat
inicially responded to antibiotics and you didn´t mention giving him
steroids. If you in fact did not give him steroids and his hot spot
cleared up with antibiotics, I would have him checked for diabetes.
The loss of hair you mention after treating him with antibiotics might
be due to a fungal infection. Using antibiotics leaves the organism
more vulnerable to fungi. Have you noticed if he drinks too much
water, for instance? Does he urinate often? If you can´t afford to
spend more money with a vet right now, try switching him to a high
quality canned food with zero carbohydrates and see what happens. One
good brand I remember with zero carbs is Felidae.