Well, my vet (whom I love and trust completely, Dr. Emily) has decided she cannot figure out what is going on with Hester's skin. We thought it was a flea allergy, and it seemed to get better with steroid shots and antibiotics, for a while, but it has gone the wrong way again. So on Friday we trek out to the 'burbs to the dermatotlogist! She has already briefed him and will be faxing her records as well... I am not sure what to expect! This same condition showed up last year too, and seemed to disappear with the colder weather, but this is much worse this year. I just want an answer! And a cure, of course!
Daily Kitten Chat Forum » Cats & Kittens
Hester goes to the dermatologist Friday
(16 posts)-
Posted 2 years ago by nawlins catmom #
-
The visit to the dermatologist was a total waste of time and money! Let me tell you the tale - it is not a pretty one... part 1
Left work early (1/2 day). Got home and got Hester crated (not an easy task). Called the taxi, requesting a cat carrier friendly cabbie... not all want to deal, for some strange reason... Truck out to the suburban specialist office (nearly $25 for the one-way trip). Then the fun really starts...While I am filling out forms, the vet tech comes and says, let me take Hester to the scale. She did, but I did not realize it was in the LOBBY! The tech opens the crate and Hester bolts (she does NOT like the vet) - not just into the broader lobby, but UNDER the snack machince in an alcove near the scale! And from there she went INTO the soda machince!!! Noone at the office had the key to open it, so the vender/owner had to come from the other side of Lake Ponchatrain (across a 24 mile bridge) to open it up. It took him less than an hour to get there, so I think he broke the speed limit a bit... We opened the machine - no cat. Then he opens the panel that separates the drink section from the advertising panel, and there she was - perched on a little ledge. Captured and put into carrier ASAP. to be continued....
Posted 2 years ago by nawlins catmom #
-
-
Part 2
So now we actually get into an exam room - and I tell the tech the sad tale of Hester's skin so she can fill out the form, and then I have to do it all over again when the derm guy comes in... We talk about possible causes, food allergy, bug allergy (flea and others), and environmental allergies. He barely looks at her in my presence, takes her off for "tests" and the next thing I know the tech is back with prescription food and a topical steroid spray, and the news that Hester got a shot of prednisone and needs to see her regular vet for the antibiotic in another week. No more sign of the vet... no chance to ask any more questions, and when they hand me the very large bill I find that they have repeated all the tests I have already paid for at my regular vet, and for which they have the results. They wanted me to come back in three weeks, but I am not going back to them. While I was waiting for my daughter to come pick me up I was reading the label on the spray they gave me, and it was all about dogs, no info on dosing for cats, and full of warnings about avoiding excessive exposure! When I went back in to ask what I should do for a cat, it was a big production to get a straight answer! Grrrr! I have tried to get Hester to eat the new food for almost 3 days now, and she has only had 3 or 4 mouthfuls. I am awaiting a call back from my regular vet to see how to handle the hunger strike! And I am no closer to knowing what is causing my baby's skin problem! I am sooooo frustrated!
Posted 2 years ago by nawlins catmom #
-
2P - I had no idea you (a cat, not me myself, certainly) could get into that part of the machine. If I hadn't been so worried it would have been funny. but the tech was an idiot!
Posted 2 years ago by nawlins catmom #
-
NC, I'm so sorry you and Hester had to go thru all this. I would contact the dermatologist vet office and ask them why they re-ran all those tests without even consulting you. You could have told them to read the information handed to them prior to your visit. Not only should Hester not have been put thru that twice, but you should not have had to pay for them twice.
-
-
2BP - my own vet, who I called as soon as I got home, actually said she was not surprised that he retested her, even with the results from them... she did say that sometimes their methods find something she doesn't, but I think she was backing the CYA mentality of some med/vet practitioners... I feel worse for Hester... she has benn scraped, and pinched way too much already@
Posted 2 years ago by nawlins catmom #
-
NC, how awful for you and Hester.
Although I'm not big into holistic medicine, this is one case where perhaps seeking out a QUALIFIED vet who practices holistic care might be worthwhile.
A friend of mine in Arkansas has a dog that has an allergy to grass and develops a severe skin condition each summer that clears up each winter.
I certainly hope you can find some answers to get Hester healed and comfy.
-
Pickle has a bad flea allergy which flares up every summer, we just have to give her a supplementary flea treatment (spot on the back of the neck for three months) over and above the bi-annual injection she gets alongwith the others. This firm sounds like a complete shower. I do hope you can get Hester sorted out soon, poor little thing.
Posted 2 years ago by MadcatwomanintheUK #
-
We have been doing flea treatment (topical) every two weeks per vet orders... none of the cats have fleas, and never go out... I personally think it is one of those bugs that needs the dip and they don't want to do it cuz it is so stinky... We had to cancel the food allergy trial and error as Hester refused to eat the new food for almost three days... sigh...
Posted 2 years ago by nawlins catmom #
-
And top of everything else, Hester refused to eat for 2.5 days because I dared to put some of the new food the derm guy want to switch her to test for food alergies. I started feeding her normal food, and she dove in... then today I get a voicemail from my vet (who I had told about Hester's hunger strike) and she wants me to try again... so I did, with about a 20% new food with the old. Would Hester eat it - NO! She finally consented to take a few mouthfuls late this evening, so I will keep trying until Sat AM when I take her to my usual vet again.
Have any of y'all done lymsulphur dips or used the cream alternatives at home? How bad is it? That was the next thing they were talking about trying, but doing it at the vet every week for two MONTH!!! Help!
Posted 2 years ago by nawlins catmom #
-
I am nawlins catmom's daughter. I feel so proud that I am the one who figured it all out. I should be a genius. Anyway, for the people who were concerned, she is now fully figured and healthy with a nice coat [still skittish around me as usual]
Posted 1 year ago by Duchess&&Gabriel #
-
-
It turned out to be an allergy to the carpet freshener we were using! We stopped applying it, and wham - the skin cleared up, and her fur grew back and she gained all her weight back! Hooray!
Posted 1 year ago by nawlins catmom #
-
Reply
You must log in to post.