My cat, Suki, has been excessively grooming her leg since it was shaved for her leg surgery back in June 2006. I have been going through the trials of determining if it is food allergies, flea allergies, etc. I have come to the point that I almost think it is just a habit now.
But anyways, besides all that, how do I get her to stop chewing on her leg in the meantime? It gets to the point that it looks raw and you see blood spots. Is there a spray/lotion? I have Bitter Yuck spray. Does that work?
I would love for her to stop so then her fur can actually grow back there. Please help :o(
But anyways, besides all that, how do I get her to stop chewing on her leg in the meantime? It gets to the point that it looks raw and you see blood spots. Is there a spray/lotion? I have Bitter Yuck spray. Does that work?
I would love for her to stop so then her fur can actually grow back there. Please help :o(
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Re: Cat won't stop chewing on her leg - Need Advice
Wed, February 6, 2008 - 12:45 PMI would cone her for now. I know we hate to do this to our babies. But it's for her own good. Once the hair gets to a length that the itching stops, she won't chew on her leg anymore. If she continues to chew, she'll create a hot spot, which will make the situation worse.
In the meantime, while coned, also apply a cool compress to help with the itches that are making her chew to begin with.
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Re: Cat won't stop chewing on her leg - Need Advice
Wed, February 6, 2008 - 12:48 PMI am away from home a lot at work so I am afraid to leave her alone with it on.
Also, how long do you think she'd actually have to wear it for?? -
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Re: Cat won't stop chewing on her leg - Need Advice
Wed, February 6, 2008 - 12:56 PMI wouldn't worry about leaving her alone w/ it on. It's annoying to them, yes. But she'll deal. After a day or two, she'll be acting like it's no big deal.
I would say to leave it on until her hair starts to grow back, and it looks "healed".
You can also take it off when you're home, as long as you are able to keep an eye on her. -
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Re: Cat won't stop chewing on her leg - Need Advice
Wed, February 6, 2008 - 12:58 PMOh, and also, you can try to put Sulfadine on it while she's coned. This will help the "hot spot" to heal up.
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Re: Cat won't stop chewing on her leg - Need Advice
Wed, February 6, 2008 - 1:05 PM -
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Re: Cat won't stop chewing on her leg - Need Advice
Wed, February 6, 2008 - 1:14 PMOoh, I like that! It doesn't limit their being able to get a drink of water, or eat. That may be more comfortable, and less annoying (although for a cat, anything that limits them in any way is considered annoying.
My issue with the traditional cones is that I always felt that sound must be amplified in there. And cats and dogs already have an heightened sense of hearing. I would always try to whisper when one of my babies was in a cone. This doesn't seem like it would cause the same issues. -
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Re: Cat won't stop chewing on her leg - Need Advice
Wed, February 6, 2008 - 3:38 PMWow - I may have to get one of those for my kitties! I've had amazing results healing all sorts of skin trauma by applying this cream www.boironusa.com/products.aspx
It was recommended by our Holistic Vet and we use it for everything and everyone in the house. Good luck! -
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Re: Cat won't stop chewing on her leg - Need Advice
Wed, February 6, 2008 - 10:07 PMCalendula cream is _awesome_ for any critter, whether they walk on 4 legs or 2.
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Re: Cat won't stop chewing on her leg - Need Advice
Thu, February 7, 2008 - 6:25 AMThanks! I will have to try that cream. It says they sell it at Walgreens. That is convenient.
By the way, last summer I brought my cat in for this same thing and they prescribed me Tresaderm drops to heal her leg. I still have it so last night I put it on her leg and then this morning. It says to do it twice a day for up to a week but nothing more than that.
I am hoping this heals her leg and then I need her to keep away from her leg until the fur grows back. Does everyone recommend I buy that cone for her? I'm still worried that she will hurt herself with it on by trying to get it off. Maybe I am being paranoid... I dont know. :o( -
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Re: Cat won't stop chewing on her leg - Need Advice
Thu, February 7, 2008 - 7:12 AMYou're being paranoid. :-)
She's not going to hurt herself. She'll be annoyed, but she'll be fine. -
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Re: Cat won't stop chewing on her leg - Need Advice
Thu, February 7, 2008 - 8:15 AMOkay, I purchased it!! It will be here next week. I wonder how long it will need to stay on... 3-4 weeks?? -
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Re: Cat won't stop chewing on her leg - Need Advice
Fri, February 8, 2008 - 4:05 PMMaybe not even that long if you are treating her leg at the same time. Just keep a close eye on her and her behavior. Let us know how she's doing. -
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Re: Cat won't stop chewing on her leg - Need Advice
Sat, February 9, 2008 - 7:52 AM:( The place I order the soft-e-collar from called and said they are out of stock and don't expect it coming in stock for a while.
I called my Vet to see if he recommended anything. He had me pick up a prescription for Prednisone. He also said he doesnt recommended coning because he thinks it is cruel and that cats love being able to move around freely and being restricted. I'm gonna see how she does on the medicine. -
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Re: Cat won't stop chewing on her leg - Need Advice
Sat, February 9, 2008 - 10:27 AMJust realize that with prednisone, you'll see increased thirst and urination.
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Re: Cat won't stop chewing on her leg - Need Advice
Fri, February 15, 2008 - 9:44 PMbeen following this thread because my cat has allergies too...! Be careful with the Prednisone. Its a steroid. My vet cautioned against it since my cat is over weight already. (it can cause more weight gain, which can lead to diabetes)
my vet recommeded an elizabethan collar if she didn't stop the licking/chewing, but i feel uncomfortable about it... she has to have it when she had surgery once and she kept walking into things haha... plus i have another rambuntious cat that would definately take advantage of her lack of periphial vision!
as you might recall, ive had my cat on the Royal Canin Green Pea and Rabbit for about a month now, but still no relief in symptoms yet. one thing i though of this week is maybe it coul be the cat litter... we had switched to Cat's Pride a few months back and I now wonder if this was the cause of her itchiness... we had used either Scoop Away or Fresh Step prior to this... Cat's Pride was cheaper....
im going to switch back to see if this helps....
good luck to you Summer! ill keep you posted.... -
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Re: Cat won't stop chewing on her leg - Need Advice
Sat, February 16, 2008 - 7:14 AMHi Triska,
I actually thought the same about the cat litter. I switched to Feline Pine about 2 months ago which is supposed to be very good. I was using Fresh Step for like 2 1/2 years.
So far it has been a week with her on the Prednisone and her skin looks great! She isn't overweight but I have noticed an increase in her appetite. I am keeping a close eye on her. At this point, the dosage has been lowered and I am weening her off of the Pred.
I actually have been having issues getting her to take it. I tried manually giving it to her but that doesn't work. I try putting it in wet food and she is so finicky she doesn't eat it. It's been a real hassle and I've gotten bitten once. I can't wait til the pills are over.... It's very frustrating. -
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Re: Cat won't stop chewing on her leg - Need Advice
Sun, February 17, 2008 - 11:13 PMyes pills are frustrating! I had my cat on some antihistamines and those were a chore to give her. The vet gave me a "pill popper" which is a long thingy you put the pill into and inject it into the back of her mouth. I had more problems with her clawing my hand than her biting. So i would wrap her up in a towel when i had to give it to her. she didn't like that but it helped! ;)
ive actually read some cats being allergic to the feline pine. (some cats are also allergic to pinesol) But another "natural" alternative ive read good things about is Yesterday's News... I might concider this if going back to Fresh Step doesn't help.
Seems odd since Fresh Step has more perfumes, but it was what i was using before i switched to Cat's Pride. the timing coincides with the start of her itchies. might just be coincidence though.
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Re: Cat won't stop chewing on her leg - Need Advice
Mon, February 18, 2008 - 5:45 AMHmm... never seen the pill popper before. I think I have it down pat now. I first get the pill which is TINY and put a little bit of wet food around it. I restrain her between my legs by sitting on her. I also have to keep my feet together because she tries to wiggle out behind me. Then I hold her head and try to open her mouth. I "try" to put the pill in her mouth with the wet food. Once it is in, she has to swallow it cause of the wet food.
When I tried doing it with just the pill, she would spit it out. It was very frustrating... She is really a handful.
Now I think I've got it :o)
I didn't know that about Feline Pine. Ugh! So many things to consider as issues!! -
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Re: Cat won't stop chewing on her leg - Need Advice
Wed, February 20, 2008 - 12:38 PMJust an update...
My cat's leg looks great!!! She has been taking the pills now for almost 2 weeks. The first week was a full pill every day and this week is 1/2 a pill every day. Next week I will lower the dose to 1/2 a pill every other day (per the vet). When she goes to bathe herself, she hardly concentrates on that area as much anymore.
I'm so happy!!! :) I hope once the pills are done...she continues to ignore it. -
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Re: Cat won't stop chewing on her leg - Need Advice
Thu, February 21, 2008 - 3:51 PMI'm glad the prednisone worked for you - I'm giving just the smallest, least frequent dose possible to my Happy Cat now but he's still just tearing away at his rump all the time - I honestly think he's frustrated with it being winter. Tried A&D ointment on him (don't do that!!!! I ended up having to call the E.R. and Poison Control) - I thought it'd be great since it works so well on itchy, sore spots for humans. I've been afraid to try any other creams now, including cortisone cream, to help heal the sores. (I will try that boiron cream as it's homeopathic, so why not)
He's always had some skin trouble, and fatty acids worked great until past few months when it just got so much worse for no discernible reason. You can keep them on prednisone quite awhile if it is at a really low dose - like 1/2 of a 5mg pill every other day. I have one cat who's been on that dose for years now, for IBD - he's doing great and without it he would have been put to sleep, so I really have to stay with it.
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Re: Cat won't stop chewing on her leg - Need Advice
Fri, February 22, 2008 - 4:49 PMthats great news Summer! glad that is working for you. I want to try this too, but my cat is still a bit overweight so i am afraid to go this route just yet..
i am supposed to keep her on the green pea rabbit one more month... but i don't know. I think if it were going to help it would have by now... she's so itchy :(
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Re: Cat won't stop chewing on her leg - Need Advice
Wed, March 12, 2008 - 6:12 AM***Update***
I stopped the Prednisone pills on Friday 3/7 (she was on them for a month) and she is now going back to excessively grooming her leg and it's looking pink again :(
She has been on the hypo-allergenic food for over 8 weeks!!! I definitely don't think it is a food allergy. The only thing I can think of is maybe it could be ants?? There are ants on my patio and she goes and lays out there for hours. They are black ants though.
My vet says that an allegry screening is very costly. ($300??) At least I know it's not food related....so now I can stop buying this expensive hypo-allergenic food. Its $30 for an 8lb bag! -
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Re: Cat won't stop chewing on her leg - Need Advice
Thu, March 13, 2008 - 7:18 AMNot happy now... :(
I did some research yesterday on what allergy my cat could possibly have since it is not food related. I read that it could be inhalent or contact... I read that giving her a bath with hypo-allergenic shampoo would help relieve her itchies. So I called my vet and asked if they could bathe her for me (since I have NEVER done it before). They went through a series of questions trying to figure out why I would want to give her a bath. They were against doing it because they think it would stress her out. They said since the prednisone pills worked so well, they want to put her back on them. I said I really want to figure out what the allergy is and they said that the allergy screening costs $260 and it would be better to go back on the pills. I asked how long would she be on them this time. They said indefinitely!!!!! I got really upset..... I don't want to be pumping my cat full of drugs for the rest of her life. There has to be a solution. I bought the Calendula cream yesterday and started putting it on her leg. I'm going to see if that helps relieve her.... Otherwise, I don't know what to do.
I thought Prednisone was not a long term thing. Can cats really stay on that for ever?? They want me to do 1/2 a pill every other day indefinitely...
Should I just do an allegry screening??
Please help :( -
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Re: Cat won't stop chewing on her leg - Need Advice
Sat, March 15, 2008 - 12:44 AMProbably not ants.
Bathing a cat can be a huge pain in the ass and it may not work.
If you dont do the allergy test then how are you going to know what it is that s is bothering her? You can guess forever and still not hit it.
It could end up being quite simple, in the end.
I had a cat with an skin fungus that they finally figured out once they started the testing for this and that.
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Re: Cat won't stop chewing on her leg - Need Advice
Sat, March 15, 2008 - 11:25 AMdoes your cat have plastic food dishes or a plastic water dish? many cats have allergies to plastic that can cause problems like this - if she's using any plastic, try swapping that out for ceramic for a few weeks to see if it helps.
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Re: Cat won't stop chewing on her leg - Need Advice
Tue, March 18, 2008 - 7:49 AMHi Summer! Sorry to hear about your story! :(
but it sounds like the prednisone was working for you. If that's the case then its some sort of inflamation, whether it be allergy or some sort of autoimmune disorder. If it was a compulsive behavior, then the prednisone would not have helped at all. So you ruled out that anyway!
With my cat, I've had her on the rabbit and pea since January 13th. I called them last month to tell them that it was not working. She is still itchy. THeir advice to me was to keep her on it for another month then call back if its not helping. I'm so frustrated because I just want my baby to feel some relief. She's not chewing herself raw or anything, (thank God!) but you can tell that she is just exhausted from having to lick and twist and bite and chew all the time.
They didn't want to try any prednisone on her until she's lost some weight. Back in October she was 14lbs! we put her on a diet and now she is about 12 or 11 now according to my scale. so maybe they might try the prednisone next time if they feel she is light enough.
I have a feeling that for my cat, it could be obsessive compulsive disorder and not allergy. I will know for sure once we have to try the prednisone. There are times that I can have her sit on my lap, and she just looks at me and purrs, and I pet her, and she isn't itchy at all. So I have to live with the idea that i might have to put her on anti-depressants or something if prednisone doesn't work.
It makes me sad. but if it will give her any kind of relief, I am going to have to do it.
Good luck with your situation! keep us updated, and I will let you know if anything new develops with my cat too! -
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Re: Cat won't stop chewing on her leg - Need Advice
Tue, March 18, 2008 - 10:40 AMThanks Triska for your reply! I did some research on the long term effect of Prednisone and research says prolonged use can cause tumors, diabetes, and psychotic behavior. So my answer to putting her back on is....NO WAY!!! I agree that is has to be some type of allergy.
Ever since I put the Calenda Cream on the spot on her leg, it is looking great! I think the allergy might be something in my apartment. I am moving out in a few months and if I don't see any differences then I will definitely do the allergy screening at that point. Hopefully, it will be something that I can control (or get rid of)....
But so far she doesnt seem to have any discomfort... She is still on the hypo-allergenic food which is now going on 10 weeks. By 12 weeks, I will be able to see if it is a food allergy. My guess is now. I was hoping it was so that I could help her now... :o\
I'll keep you posted... -
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Re: Cat won't stop chewing on her leg - Need Advice
Mon, April 14, 2008 - 8:32 PMHi Summer... how's the kitty doing? is she still on pred?
We just started a course of oral prednisone with my cat. The vet said it would take a few days for this to work... i'm giving 5mgs 2x daily, for 5 days, then 5mgs 1x daily for 5 days, then if it doesn't work I can begin tapering her off... if it works, I have to decide whether I want to keep her on for awhile...
So far its been 2.5 days and no relief yet... if it doesn't work at all then I have to assume it is behavioral for her case...
so right now i'm just using this as a way of ruling out allergies or autoimune disorder... not sure if I would want to keep her on the pred now either.. :P
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Re: Cat won't stop chewing on her leg - Need Advice
Tue, April 15, 2008 - 1:51 PMHi Triska! You won't believe this... So I figured food allergies was ruled out and decided to start feeding her Wellness Complete Health Salmon dry food. Her body started to turn bright pink/red.... Spoke to my vet's office and they said it definitely has to be food allergies! So I quickly put her BACK onto the hypo-allergenic food. This was last week on Thursday. Her body is still a darker shade of pink. I'm not sure when she is going to go back to normal... :(
No, I never put her back on prednisone because of what I read about the long term effects.... -
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Re: Cat won't stop chewing on her leg - Need Advice
Tue, April 15, 2008 - 8:08 PMOMG!!! poor baby... :(
hope she recovers from that soon!! thats horrible!
my cats ears were very pink for the longest time and the skin is actually white again since the prednisone so it must be helping a bit, even if she is not itchy anymore...
what is the hypo allergenic food you are feeding now? i know you said z/d wasn't working... it gave my cat diareah... :P
My cat is about 8 years old... she's eaten the same food since I adopted her, and just in october all this started... if its food allergies...it makes me wonder why all this is happening to her just all of a sudden... probably all the weird additives coming from over seas... its very baffling and scary!
well fingers crossed for you... hope we both find solutions soon! its good to compare notes every now and then because what they are both going through it seems so very similar... -
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Re: Cat won't stop chewing on her leg - Need Advice
Wed, April 16, 2008 - 8:24 AMI feed her Royal Canin's hypo-allergenic dry food. The Z/D gave my cat diarreha too.
The vet told me that if the prednisone stops the symptoms then it is definitely allergies and not a behavior problem. But what allergy...who knows!? I read some where that 90% of allergies are food related.
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Re: Cat won't stop chewing on her leg - Need Advice
Tue, April 15, 2008 - 8:35 PM<... I did some research on the long term effect of Prednisone and research says prolonged use can cause tumors, diabetes, and psychotic behavior. ...>
I can attest to the truth of this. My beautiful Siamese, Bob, developed diabetes after being on Prednisone for his asthma. Fortunately, it went into remission after I took him off the stuff.
He also just recently developed a tumor on his face, which fortunately turned out to be benign when I took him to the vet to geet it checked out.
He never exhibited any psychotic behavior, though; the most he ever did was get mildly irritated with Ciara when she would edge him out of a comfy spot, and he still does that. (Can't really blame him for that......)
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