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#11
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In ,
PawsForThought being of bellicose mind posted: I think more and more vets are using steroids for allergy problems. While it will help the symptoms temporarily, it isn't really helping the cause of the allergies. Steroids can actually suppress the immune system too. Does the vet have any idea what your cat might be allergic to and has he advised an elimination diet at all? Lauren Steroids like Prednisone have been used in people for decades to enhance healing. But, there are side effects (in people) beside immunosuppression. Steroids also cause sleep loss, increase heart rate, increase blood pressure, and if taken for a polonged period will result in bone density loss because calcium is required for steroid metabolism. -- ~~Philip "Never let school interfere with your education - Mark Twain" |
#12
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In ,
PawsForThought being of bellicose mind posted: I think more and more vets are using steroids for allergy problems. While it will help the symptoms temporarily, it isn't really helping the cause of the allergies. Steroids can actually suppress the immune system too. Does the vet have any idea what your cat might be allergic to and has he advised an elimination diet at all? Lauren Steroids like Prednisone have been used in people for decades to enhance healing. But, there are side effects (in people) beside immunosuppression. Steroids also cause sleep loss, increase heart rate, increase blood pressure, and if taken for a polonged period will result in bone density loss because calcium is required for steroid metabolism. -- ~~Philip "Never let school interfere with your education - Mark Twain" |
#13
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In ,
PawsForThought being of bellicose mind posted: I think more and more vets are using steroids for allergy problems. While it will help the symptoms temporarily, it isn't really helping the cause of the allergies. Steroids can actually suppress the immune system too. Does the vet have any idea what your cat might be allergic to and has he advised an elimination diet at all? Lauren Steroids like Prednisone have been used in people for decades to enhance healing. But, there are side effects (in people) beside immunosuppression. Steroids also cause sleep loss, increase heart rate, increase blood pressure, and if taken for a polonged period will result in bone density loss because calcium is required for steroid metabolism. -- ~~Philip "Never let school interfere with your education - Mark Twain" |
#15
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From: Ken Knecht
Ken Knecht wrote in 4.206: olitter (PawsForThought) wrote in : From: Ken Knecht I took my cat to the vet today - excessive licking herself and two dime-sized red spots/sores on her back. The vet gave her a steroid shot (receipt says Depo-Medrol injectable) and said the problems should clear up in a few days. Anyone have experience with this treatment? This is a new vet to me - my regular is extremely difficult to see without a appointment a month or so in the future. I've not gotten past her phone crew to make an emergency appointment in the past. Normally this is not a problem as my cats are rarely ill. Ken I think more and more vets are using steroids for allergy problems. While it will help the symptoms temporarily, it isn't really helping the cause of the allergies. Steroids can actually suppress the immune system too. Does the vet have any idea what your cat might be allergic to No. He didn't ask. Perhaps a flea infestation I cleared up seven weeks ago? She had a minor rash in front of her ear then which I cleared up with Benedryl (sp?) per my regular vet's suggestion. Some of that allergy may still remain though as far as I can tell the fleas are long gone. I tried Benedryl again for two days but it didn't seem to help this time, and the 'rash' was much worse so I decided a vet visit was best. and has he advised an elimination diet at all? No. He didn't ask. She eats Select Choice High Factor (high fiber) food from the regular vet. Very very rarely a few table scraps when she manages to talk me into it. Ken That should be Select _Care_ High Factor. Sorry. Ken I would keep my eye on the problem and if it doesn't clear up from the shot your cat already got, then I would want to know what is causing the allergy so hopefully you could avoid it. I honestly don't know anything about the food you're feeding but even if cats have eaten a particular food for a while, they can develop allergies to it. It can be quite difficult to determine the cause of an allergy and may take some real detective work. Have you used any new cleaners in the house, new cat litter? If the condition doesn't clear up or comes back, then I think it would be worth it to either take her back to your regular vet, or even find one who is more familiar with allergies in cats. Good luck and I hope your kitty feels better soon. Lauren ________ See my cats: http://community.webshots.com/album/56955940rWhxAe Raw Diet Info: http://www.holisticat.com/drjletter.html http://www.geocities.com/rawfeeders/ForCatsOnly.html Declawing Info: http://www.wholecat.com/articles/claws.htm |
#16
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From: Ken Knecht
Ken Knecht wrote in 4.206: olitter (PawsForThought) wrote in : From: Ken Knecht I took my cat to the vet today - excessive licking herself and two dime-sized red spots/sores on her back. The vet gave her a steroid shot (receipt says Depo-Medrol injectable) and said the problems should clear up in a few days. Anyone have experience with this treatment? This is a new vet to me - my regular is extremely difficult to see without a appointment a month or so in the future. I've not gotten past her phone crew to make an emergency appointment in the past. Normally this is not a problem as my cats are rarely ill. Ken I think more and more vets are using steroids for allergy problems. While it will help the symptoms temporarily, it isn't really helping the cause of the allergies. Steroids can actually suppress the immune system too. Does the vet have any idea what your cat might be allergic to No. He didn't ask. Perhaps a flea infestation I cleared up seven weeks ago? She had a minor rash in front of her ear then which I cleared up with Benedryl (sp?) per my regular vet's suggestion. Some of that allergy may still remain though as far as I can tell the fleas are long gone. I tried Benedryl again for two days but it didn't seem to help this time, and the 'rash' was much worse so I decided a vet visit was best. and has he advised an elimination diet at all? No. He didn't ask. She eats Select Choice High Factor (high fiber) food from the regular vet. Very very rarely a few table scraps when she manages to talk me into it. Ken That should be Select _Care_ High Factor. Sorry. Ken I would keep my eye on the problem and if it doesn't clear up from the shot your cat already got, then I would want to know what is causing the allergy so hopefully you could avoid it. I honestly don't know anything about the food you're feeding but even if cats have eaten a particular food for a while, they can develop allergies to it. It can be quite difficult to determine the cause of an allergy and may take some real detective work. Have you used any new cleaners in the house, new cat litter? If the condition doesn't clear up or comes back, then I think it would be worth it to either take her back to your regular vet, or even find one who is more familiar with allergies in cats. Good luck and I hope your kitty feels better soon. Lauren ________ See my cats: http://community.webshots.com/album/56955940rWhxAe Raw Diet Info: http://www.holisticat.com/drjletter.html http://www.geocities.com/rawfeeders/ForCatsOnly.html Declawing Info: http://www.wholecat.com/articles/claws.htm |
#17
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From: "Philip ®" lid
PawsForThought being of bellicose mind posted: I think more and more vets are using steroids for allergy problems. While it will help the symptoms temporarily, it isn't really helping the cause of the allergies. Steroids can actually suppress the immune system too. Does the vet have any idea what your cat might be allergic to and has he advised an elimination diet at all? Lauren Steroids like Prednisone have been used in people for decades to enhance healing. But, there are side effects (in people) beside immunosuppression. Steroids also cause sleep loss, increase heart rate, increase blood pressure, and if taken for a polonged period will result in bone density loss because calcium is required for steroid metabolism. -- ~~Philip I know, steroids are awful. My cousin was on steroids for a long time. He got really sick and ended up in the hospital with pneumonia and was very close to death, and eventually they ended up having to amputate his toes and part of his fingers. Lauren ________ See my cats: http://community.webshots.com/album/56955940rWhxAe Raw Diet Info: http://www.holisticat.com/drjletter.html http://www.geocities.com/rawfeeders/ForCatsOnly.html Declawing Info: http://www.wholecat.com/articles/claws.htm |
#18
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From: "Philip ®" lid
PawsForThought being of bellicose mind posted: I think more and more vets are using steroids for allergy problems. While it will help the symptoms temporarily, it isn't really helping the cause of the allergies. Steroids can actually suppress the immune system too. Does the vet have any idea what your cat might be allergic to and has he advised an elimination diet at all? Lauren Steroids like Prednisone have been used in people for decades to enhance healing. But, there are side effects (in people) beside immunosuppression. Steroids also cause sleep loss, increase heart rate, increase blood pressure, and if taken for a polonged period will result in bone density loss because calcium is required for steroid metabolism. -- ~~Philip I know, steroids are awful. My cousin was on steroids for a long time. He got really sick and ended up in the hospital with pneumonia and was very close to death, and eventually they ended up having to amputate his toes and part of his fingers. Lauren ________ See my cats: http://community.webshots.com/album/56955940rWhxAe Raw Diet Info: http://www.holisticat.com/drjletter.html http://www.geocities.com/rawfeeders/ForCatsOnly.html Declawing Info: http://www.wholecat.com/articles/claws.htm |
#19
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From: "Philip ®" lid
PawsForThought being of bellicose mind posted: I think more and more vets are using steroids for allergy problems. While it will help the symptoms temporarily, it isn't really helping the cause of the allergies. Steroids can actually suppress the immune system too. Does the vet have any idea what your cat might be allergic to and has he advised an elimination diet at all? Lauren Steroids like Prednisone have been used in people for decades to enhance healing. But, there are side effects (in people) beside immunosuppression. Steroids also cause sleep loss, increase heart rate, increase blood pressure, and if taken for a polonged period will result in bone density loss because calcium is required for steroid metabolism. -- ~~Philip I know, steroids are awful. My cousin was on steroids for a long time. He got really sick and ended up in the hospital with pneumonia and was very close to death, and eventually they ended up having to amputate his toes and part of his fingers. Lauren ________ See my cats: http://community.webshots.com/album/56955940rWhxAe Raw Diet Info: http://www.holisticat.com/drjletter.html http://www.geocities.com/rawfeeders/ForCatsOnly.html Declawing Info: http://www.wholecat.com/articles/claws.htm |
#20
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I don't know if you are still reading this but.... my cat has been having
some sort of allergy problem since July. She has gotten two depomedrol shots since then.. It has helped tremendously with her scratching and chewing. It was used only as a last choice though. We've tried the hypoallergenic diet and she is still on it. I've read that cats tolerate steroids (their body tolerates it) much better then dogs, and some cats stay on them all their life. Paige |
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