Topic: Toby - skin problem (Read 21820 times)

Schmew · « **Reply #34 on:** December 19, 2007, 18:44:51 PM »

As far as dogs go, the vacc/desensitisation thingy has a 66% chance of working. Apparently.

I think my old insurers said they'd insure the cats, but wouldn't cover anything caused by the FIV. Which I took to be a cop out as they'd claim anything (bar an accident) would be caused by it, so I didn't bother and just put money away each month instead.

Glad you like the info anyway, hope some of it is useful and Toby's itching/fur loss can be lessened if not resolved

melysion · « **Reply #33 on:** December 19, 2007, 18:32:44 PM »

Quote from: Millys Mum on December 19, 2007, 10:13:02 AM

Quote from: Schmew on December 18, 2007, 21:21:47 PM
Knew I'd forgotten something - vet told me that once they find what the allergy is to, they can desensitize the dog to it (I think I read on the net it's by making up a vaccine or something).

Not sure if this applies to cats too though?
A friend tried this, didnt help tho cost her a small fortune She took the cat on with problems so no chance of insurance.

Is Toby insured?

No. I looked into it when I adopted him in March but they wont insure a cat with FIV

Millys Mum · « **Reply #32 on:** December 19, 2007, 10:13:02 AM »

Quote from: Schmew on December 18, 2007, 21:21:47 PM

Knew I'd forgotten something - vet told me that once they find what the allergy is to, they can desensitize the dog to it (I think I read on the net it's by making up a vaccine or something).

Not sure if this applies to cats too though?

A friend tried this, didnt help tho

cost her a small fortune

She took the cat on with problems so no chance of insurance.

Is Toby insured?

melysion · « **Reply #31 on:** December 19, 2007, 01:09:18 AM »

wow! thanks a lot for the info

Schmew · « **Reply #30 on:** December 18, 2007, 22:19:32 PM »

My last post I promise!

It is definitely worth searching on google about dust mites, there's loads of info on them and how to reduce them in your home (it's mostly aimed at human issues but obviously relates to sensitive pets).

Some of the pet medicine sites have supplements and shampoos for pets with allergies too (have to say I'd rather bath the dog than the cats tho....)

Hope some of these help and Toby has some relief from his itching (I may be joining you in making the house dust mite free if that's what Charlie dog is allergic to)

x

Schmew · « **Reply #29 on:** December 18, 2007, 22:01:21 PM »

http://www.petmeds.co.uk/Products/Flectabed-Permafresh-Fleece-Cover

Schmew · « **Reply #28 on:** December 18, 2007, 21:57:00 PM »

Me again

http://www.celiahaddon.co.uk/pet%20problems/cats/skin%20allergies.html

quite interesting info on allergies in cats, not sure how old it is though

Schmew · « **Reply #27 on:** December 18, 2007, 21:21:47 PM »

Knew I'd forgotten something - vet told me that once they find what the allergy is to, they can desensitize the dog to it (I think I read on the net it's by making up a vaccine or something).

Not sure if this applies to cats too though?

Schmew · « **Reply #26 on:** December 18, 2007, 19:17:28 PM »

If there is a skin specialist vet in the area, they should be able to advise? (I'm awaiting blood results for my itchy dog, vet mentioned dermatologists for future use if we needed)

Millys Mum · « **Reply #25 on:** December 18, 2007, 18:11:01 PM »

Indorex house flea spray kills dustmites as well. Even with wood floors flea eggs can still hide there so spray all around your skirting etc.

You can get allergy hoovers and also some kind of air filter i saw in a mag awhile back, no idea what its called tho

Damp dusting to keep levels down.

Ginge, cats can take antihistamines but they may not be effective for Tobys problem. Worth asking your vet tho Melysion.

melysion · « **Reply #24 on:** December 18, 2007, 17:57:29 PM »

Quote from: Dawn F on December 18, 2007, 08:52:11 AM

you can get a spray for fabric and beds (my oh is allergic to dust mites as well) I can't remember the name but I got it in waitrose I think they sell it in boots as well

Cool. Thanks for the tip!

Dawn F · « **Reply #23 on:** December 18, 2007, 08:52:11 AM »

you can get a spray for fabric and beds (my oh is allergic to dust mites as well) I can't remember the name but I got it in waitrose I think they sell it in boots as well

melysion · « **Reply #22 on:** December 18, 2007, 08:44:29 AM »

Quote from: Gill (sneakiefeline) on December 17, 2007, 23:16:16 PM

Presumably you treat him against fleas so this should not be a problem but I guess one of those expensive cleaners that do suck up all dust and dont spit any out is possibly the only way forward.

Maybe changing all carpets to wood floors and soft chairs and sofas to leather but I think all house will have some dust and housemites.

I hope that he will not be too bad

Toby gets frontlined once a month so no problems there. We dont have carpets but all the rugs will have to go

Someone told me there is a cleaner you can get to kill mites on bed linen and so forth in the wash. does anyone know if this is true?

ginge66 · « **Reply #21 on:** December 17, 2007, 23:24:55 PM »

Hi, are there animal anti histamines available? obviously your vet would know this, just a thought.

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #20 on:** December 17, 2007, 23:16:16 PM »

Presumably you treat him against fleas so this should not be a problem but I guess one of those expensive cleaners that do suck up all dust and dont spit any out is possibly the only way forward.

Maybe changing all carpets to wood floors and soft chairs and sofas to leather but I think all house will have some dust and housemites.

I hope that he will not be too bad

melysion · « **Reply #19 on:** December 17, 2007, 22:53:12 PM »

Allergy results are in

Toby is allergic to:

Fleas
House dust
House mites

Other than steroids (a no go due to FIV - vet agrees with me) does anyone have any suggestions on how to reduce his skin reaction to this stuff? Some sort of household item to decrease dust and stuff like this?

Would a holistic approach help?

Any suggestions much appreciated. My vet is at a loss.

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #18 on:** December 06, 2007, 23:47:08 PM »

Thats wonderful, good on you Toby

melysion · « **Reply #17 on:** December 06, 2007, 23:34:33 PM »

Quote from: Schmew on December 06, 2007, 22:40:51 PM

That's a good sensible practical attitude, it's the time they DO have that's most important

It's good to know bloods results to be able to keep an eye.... I wonder if they'll find what is acausing the fur loss though?

How old is Toby?

Toby is 8 this coming March

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #16 on:** December 06, 2007, 22:44:12 PM »

i am glad you have a good attitude, and I hope you prove the vet wrong.

Schmew · « **Reply #15 on:** December 06, 2007, 22:40:51 PM »

That's a good sensible practical attitude, it's the time they DO have that's most important

It's good to know bloods results to be able to keep an eye.... I wonder if they'll find what is acausing the fur loss though?

How old is Toby?

melysion · « **Reply #14 on:** December 06, 2007, 20:39:51 PM »

My vet just called with Tobys general blood profile results.

On the whole he is ok.

There is however a slight increase in a liver enzyme - maybe a sign of hyperthyroid - although he has no other symptoms so not worrying too much about that.

However.

There are some immunology cells (forget the name) that increase in response to viral replication. These cells have increased in number since Toby was last tested in April. Its probably a sign of FIV replication. In other words Tobys immune system is having to work hard to fend off the darn FIV.

He is fine for the moment though. No other cause for concern yet.

The vet did say that considering Toby was born with the virus he is doing remarkably well. Most cats born with FIV die very young (within a year or two). So, taking that in account Toby is a little miracle cat.

But - as I said to the vet - I'm practical enough to know that Toby might not make old kitty bones. But I did know that when I adopted him, a decision I'll never regret.

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #13 on:** December 05, 2007, 22:05:02 PM »

Good luck for him. Gill, when we wondered if Kizzy had ringworm, the vet used the special light and it was debatable, so she pulled some hair to do some tests.

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #12 on:** December 05, 2007, 17:08:16 PM »

Oh right, thats intersting to know,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,maybe I would have found out way back then if Kockas hadnt shown up

Millys Mum · « **Reply #11 on:** December 05, 2007, 16:49:49 PM »

Not all ringworm flouresces <sp> Gill

Good luck for test results

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #10 on:** December 04, 2007, 20:41:32 PM »

We will all be very interested to hear what the results say.

I didnt know they did that for ringworm cos when kocka had it , the vet shined an ultra violet light on her and yessss ringworm.............sigh.

It got better quite quickly with something he gave me to paint on her patches and I dint catch it thank goodness.

Good luck and hope a cure is forth coming .

melysion · « **Reply #9 on:** December 04, 2007, 19:37:43 PM »

Just brought Toby back from the vet. He was soooo good. They didn't even have to sedate him for the skin scrapes. And he has been scoffing his face apparently (theres a shock!)

He has had a lot done today. The skin scrapes, blood taken and a hair has been removed to be cultured for ringworm. The blood was taken for the allergy tests and also (at my suggestion) a general blood profile so we can assess how his immune system is bearing up.

Theres some skin inflammation caused by what my vet is almost convinced is an allergy. But he has had a antibiotic shot as a precaution.

Its not fleas though. Toby does not have fleas.

Its going to take until Friday for the general blood profile to come back (they have an in house machine but its broken) and two weeks for the allergy and ringworm results to come back.

But. No mange!

Millys Mum · « **Reply #8 on:** December 03, 2007, 20:11:09 PM »

If it comes and goes, do you alter between flavours of food?
Does it appear near the time that the next frontline is due?

melysion · « **Reply #7 on:** December 03, 2007, 18:27:04 PM »

thanks for the replies. much appreciated

I read today on the internet that frontline can cause nasty reactions.

Toby is going to the vet for the day tommorow to have skin scrappings done - poor little man.

I'll keep you all updated on developments!

Schmew · « **Reply #6 on:** December 03, 2007, 13:09:06 PM »

My FIV cat has flea allergy and while he didn't lose fur, he did have scabs similar to what you describe - mainly near his ears on the front of his head but also on his body.

One of my FIV fosters had some hair loss after using frontline (no scabs) and it was quite a thinning of hair down his back. This grew back eventually though.

I'd be tempted to try a different flea treatment I think. I'm about to do this with one of the dogs who is continually itching despite being frontlined at monthly intervals and having no sign of fleas - a friend has had a similar problem with his dog, we think there are some super fleas about that are resistant to frontline!!

best luck - keep us posted

x

LeighK · « **Reply #5 on:** December 03, 2007, 11:55:44 AM »

Hi,

I'm not sure if this is relevant to Toby's problem but I see from the pic that he's got quite a bit of white on him. My Alfie who'se very white once came out in a burn and lost a few bloody clumps of hair after I treated him with frontline and after the vets switched to Advantage all was fine.

Hope this helps

Best

Leigh

melysion · « **Reply #4 on:** December 02, 2007, 22:54:46 PM »

I thought fleas initially too but Toby is regularly frontlined.

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #3 on:** December 02, 2007, 22:13:54 PM »

Hmmm Milly beat me, but sounds like flea bites

Millys Mum · « **Reply #2 on:** December 02, 2007, 21:07:27 PM »

What flea treatments do you use for Toby and the house?

melysion · « **Reply #1 on:** December 02, 2007, 20:30:54 PM »

Toby was born with FIV and - for the most part- has always been healthy.

But recently he has began to lose some fur on his back and there have been little red scabs in his coat. It seems to get better, then it comes back again.

He is booked in for a skin scrapping on Tuesday to check for mange (unlikely but vet wants to rule it out).

Has anyone elses FIV cat had a similar problem?

Any idea what might be causing it?

Any advice much appreciated

Author Topic: Toby - skin problem (Read 21820 times)