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Steroid frequency - cats
I have two cats with allergies. Today one had an injection of a steroid,
Depo Medrol. When I asked the vet how often it would be safe to get these injections, he said if necessary, every 3 - 4 weeks would be ok. He said it's pretty safe. One internet site states, "continued or prolonged use is discouraged", but the same site, on the same page, states, "Injections may be made at weekly intervals or in accordance with the severity of the condition." These two statements seem to contradict each other. Has anyone had experience with long term use of Depo Medrol on cats? If so, how often and how long has your cat been receiving treatment? |
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wrote in message ... I have two cats with allergies. Today one had an injection of a steroid, Depo Medrol. When I asked the vet how often it would be safe to get these injections, he said if necessary, every 3 - 4 weeks would be ok. He said it's pretty safe. One internet site states, "continued or prolonged use is discouraged", but the same site, on the same page, states, "Injections may be made at weekly intervals or in accordance with the severity of the condition." These two statements seem to contradict each other. Has anyone had experience with long term use of Depo Medrol on cats? If so, how often and how long has your cat been receiving treatment? When I brought my five-year-old tabby home from the shelter she had an asthma attack. (She was 2.) When I took her to the vet he gave her a Depo Medrolshot. He explained that I should use as few shots as I could --due to the danger of diabetes. I did not really know what that meant but took it literally--I did not take her for a shot until I heard her cough or her purring became "thick" with congestion. (They swallow a lot, too.) It worked out to about once every two or three months. After about a year, at about the time she was due for a shot, she had some bumps on the back of her legs and what looked like a blackhead on her nose. It was then that the vet diagnosed her with eosophilic granuloma complex--an allergy related skin condition. (She also pulls or licks her fur out at times until she is bald in places.) Once again, the Depo shot brought everything under control-- the asthma and congestion went away, the bumps disappeared, and she seemed really healthy. One shot every 2-3 months worked for her. However--after I switched cleaning products, stopped wearing perfume, and added canned food to her diet, her congestion and other allergic symptoms improved. For the last two years she had had TWO Depo shots a year. The vet said that is great, and that I do the right thing by waiting until I see signs of allergies. He said he considered frequent use of Depo once every couple of weeks. So: Depo is a great drug, but it helps to try to figure out what your cat is allergic to, also. Some things are obvious: tobacco smoke, incense, perfume, anything that tends to irritate normal lungs and noses and skin might be worse for allergic or asthmatic cats. It has been suggested that corn is a common diet allergen-- and it is a common ingredient in dry cat food. So look at the ingredients of your dry--and above all, get your cat on a premium wet food. What is premium? For starters, a food that has "beef, chicken, fish," or some other sort of meat as the first ingredient--not "meat byproducts" or "chicken byproducts." I think water is also very important for allergic cats and they get more with canned food. Also: people here suggested that cats drink more if you put several water dishes all around, and they were right. For one cat, have like three water dishes all around--one by the food, one by a favorite hangoout, and one by their bed. It really will make them drink more. Nix the aftershave, perfume, and air fresheners and you might see good results just from that! Good luck, and I hope this is helpful to you in some way. |
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wrote: I have two cats with allergies. Today one had an injection of a steroid, Depo Medrol. When I asked the vet how often it would be safe to get these injections, he said if necessary, every 3 - 4 weeks would be ok. He said it's pretty safe. One internet site states, "continued or prolonged use is discouraged", but the same site, on the same page, states, "Injections may be made at weekly intervals or in accordance with the severity of the condition." These two statements seem to contradict each other. Has anyone had experience with long term use of Depo Medrol on cats? If so, how often and how long has your cat been receiving treatment? The risk of long-term use is liver and kidney damage. That being said, the risk of Depo has to be weighed against the risk of leaving the disease state untreated. Depending on what you are treating, it often makes more sense to treat with Depo than to not treat. My cat has been on Depo off an on for 15 years for eosinophilic granuloma complex. When she was younger, she got Depo injections about 3-4 times a year. Now, it is yearly at most, because the disease doesn't present as often. -L. |
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