It sounds like Phelix and Mythic might have inhalant or contact allergies and that the allergy tests might be worthwhile for them. Unfortunately, my vet and I are fairly certain that Scooter's problem IS a food allergy, which means food trials are the recommended method of diagnoses and treatment. Nothing that I can put on him topically is going to ease that facial itching that is coming from inside. Steroids do nothing (which is also an indication of food allergy). The good news is, he is NOT so uncomfortable that I would even begin to consider euthanasia. We have him on CalNat right now and it seems to lessen the scratching a good deal, (we have the left side of his head completely healed). But when I take off the collar it takes him less than a minute to kick the right side of his head open. He still plays, wrestles the other kitties, runs around and cuddles wearing the collar. But I know he would prefer life without it, as he hides if he sees me coming back with it after I've taken it off. I am pretty passionate about not declawing cats as well, ours all have their claws. I have many more possible food trials and alternative treatments to try before I get desperate enough for declawing. But if it comes down to it, I will consult with my vet about the possibility of a rear-declaw. I would never make my cat drink the poison Kool-Aid just because it couldn't live up to my "never declaw" ideal.
Beth On 6/9/07, [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Personally, I will euthanise Mythic if I think he's suffering so much that I am considering something as drastic as declawing. His allergies ARE manageable with Dexamethisone injections though, so I do have something I can resort to when it gets really bad. I would take him to a feline dermatologist before I considered declawing or euthanasia. There are very involved and specific allergy tests that can be done, and once they get those results, they can begin allergy shots. I've gotten all the info in the past, but it's so costly I keep putting it off. He's only like this a few months max out of the year though... if it were a food allergy year-round, I would probably invest that money into the specialist. There's a good veterinary dermatologist specialist in New Hampshire. If you want to find one in your area, there is a "find a veterinary dermatologist near you" webpage from their association, I can find the link and post it if anyone is interested. Phaewryn http://ucat.us/domesticcatlinks.html Special Needs Cat Resources http://www.iGive.com/html/refer.cfm?causeid=21303<http://www.igive.com/html/refer.cfm?causeid=21303> Sign up for iGive and a percentage of your purchases helps save animals!
