Poor Pyka - better update post 15

[Catty1]

I just spoke with Mom. Pyka is pretty quiet, but still exhibits behaviour that Mom knows will lead to ANOTHER hematoma on his ear once the collar is off.

She says when he was a kitten of 7 or 8 months old, he started to act like "he was trying to get away from himself". Frantic licking of paws, scratching a lot - Mom thought he had gotten into Darcia's medication or something! (She lived with my mom, she had MS).

So he's about 9 now...the vet has had him on Clavamox, Zythromax, and now Prednisone. Mom suggested antihistamines, but the vet went for the steroid.

Even now, Pyka still will sneeze bloody mucus - it will even land on his cone when he shakes his head sometimes.

He is not sick otherwise. So - rather than put him through the expense of allergy testing, Mom is insisting on trying an antihistamine for one week.

If the vet refuses, she is getting a second opinion. She and poor Pyka can't keep going with hundreds of dollars and cones and crap.

Please - prayers for Pyka that he finally gets a solution to his troubles.

If you have any kitty allergy stories to share, please do!

[Catlady711]

Your mom is correct allergy testing is expensive, and from everything I've learned at work it's only 50-70% accurate in pets.

I would seriously think about a second opinion. Sometimes just having a new set of eyes look at the problem produces different results.

Good luck

[Catty1]

Thanks, CatLady. When Mom and I talked, rather than doing the testing, she is going to ask for a week's supply of antihistamine. There seem to be just one or two that work on cats, so perhaps the specific allergy is not important?

I mean - she can afford the money - but just last week it was $600! But she wouldn't have him PTS for anything!

She is going for a second opinion if her vet digs in...she'll go to my vet, who is really good and tuned into things. I'll go with her!

Poor Pyka...but he is so sweet. He was sleeping up on a closet shelf yesterday, and I was patting him and rubbing the bridge of his nose, and he kept giving me meezer-sounding "mows", just talking back to me. He is SUCH a sweetie!

[moosmom]

Mollie Rose was treated for sneezing and watery eyes. The vet gave her Zythromax and Prednisone, which she hasn't needed since the last time she was treated. She was diagnosed with kitty asthma.

[Catty1]

Hi, Donna:

Pyka was on Clavamox, then the Zythro for a month, and now Prednisone(with the Zyth or Clavamox for a bit, can't remember)...nothing has worked!

I think we have to try antihistamines or a second opinion, or both.

He doesn't sneeze OFTEN, but when he does...and then the infernal scratching; no rash or anything.

He has even produced a hematoma under his chin, but that resorbs quite quickly.

*sigh* poor kitty. And poor mom - this is her baby!

[krazyaboutkatz]

Poor Pyka. I sure hope that antihistamines will work. Sky and Sunny both have seasonal allergies and I've given Sky Clortrimetron sp? before and it seemed to help him a little bit. My old vet also gave me some type of allergy medicine last year when Sky became so bad but I forgot the name of it. Getting a second opinion is a great idea. I did this for Starr and now I have a wonderful new vet. Tell your mom that Pyka will remain in my thoughts and prayers.

[Shadowcat]

Some thoughts on Pyka

The sneezing could be sinus infection - pinkish usually indicates smallish amount of blood.

What food is Pyka eating? Has your mom tried changing his diet to a lamb based? (fewer allergy reactions) Gradual change to lamb, see if the itching decreases. If it is a food allergy that is causing the itching/scratching/run to try to get away from 'something' - eliminate the trigger food. Possib. a flea allergy - does your mom have him on a topical flea control. I find these work very well.
Good luck

[Catty1]

*sigh* No, Mom would not switch his diet...he and his littermate have most of their teeth gone. His littermate has never had any health problem like this one.

I am sure it is a sinus infection...and thought a few days of antihistamine would at least give his poor sinuses a break - and confirm if it is an allergy or not.

But Mom's vet says no...that antihistamines don't work for allergies in cats, and they prefer to treat with prednisone...ARRGH.

Also - she has spent so much money on him lately that a round of allergy tests is out for the moment.

I did copy and paste a few comments from earlier in this thread...she will at least see that some cats HAVE had antihistamines.

And Laura's comment that vets offices don't make any money on something you can buy in a drugstore yourself!

No flea problems.

He is quieter now that there is salve for his ear.

Thanks, Shadowcat...I just hope Mom will give it a try.

I have a hunch that something THAT simple will work...and maybe make her think twice about how much she trusts her vet.