Message for Linda (Bengalbabe) Re Stitch

[Linda (Bengalbabe)]

Hi Marie

Sorry its me who is dozy must have totally missed this 

Glad to hear Maisy is doing so well    Stitch has been okay as of late but with the warmer weather starting to creep in the problem will become much worse.  At the moment she is managing to go 6 weeks in between her steroid injections and she seems ok at that doseage.  As things start to warm up we will be lucky if she lasts 2-3 weeks    I am going to mention with antihists to the vet when she goes back - I am willing to give anything a try if it improves her condition of the summer period.

Thanks again Marie xxxxx

[Millys Mum]

Glad you have found something to help Maisy!

[Marie]

Gill, maybe I can use that as an excuse for the times I am a bit dozy!!!

Maisy has been quite quiet and sleepy again with the high dose of steroids but as they have now been cut down quite a bit she is really perking up again so I dont think the Zirtek is affecting her at all.

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

Those zirtek are not suposed to hit the brain in the places that will make you dozy, however my brain must have bits in the wrong places cos I crashed out completely 

I would keep on getting presciptiona for large quantities if you can cos zirtek are expensive.

[Marie]

M&S.  So far they have been really good, paid out for all testing, all consultations and all the prescription food she has been on for the last few months.

[Tiggy's Mum]

Ah right, didn't think about the insurance side of things.  Who are you with out of interest? 

[Marie]

Helen, you are exactly right about not having to have a prescription, although I did need the prescription to buy the quantity advised by the specialist and also had to buy it on the prescription to be able to claim the cost back through our insurance company (put in together at the same time as the specialist tests).

[Tiggy's Mum]

Glad Maisy is doing well 

Maisy is on Zirtek and quite an experience it is too going to the Adsa chemist with a prescription for your cat!!!

I don't think you need a prescription to buy Zirtek as it is an over the counter human drug so you could just go in and buy it for yourself  Also you don't have to buy the branded drug, I take Loratidine 10mg for my hayfever which is the generic version of 'Clarityn'.  The tablets are exactly the same except for the price, 'Clarityn' are £8.99 for 21, Loratidine are £2.99 for 30.  The generic version of 'Zirtek' is Cetirizine, 30 tabs are £1.99 from the pharmacy I use.

"Zirtek allergy relief tablets contain the active ingredient cetirizine, which is a type of medicine called a non-sedating antihistamine. (NB. Cetirizine is also available without a brand name, ie as the generic medicine.) Cetirizine works by preventing the actions of histamine."

[CurlyCatz]

right ive not heard of that one but then again new antihists are coming out all the time.

Linda personally if stitch is well and healthy i'd follow maisys dosage and test treat, the guideline dosage given for cats are very safe and i'd have no qualms about using piries or equivelent.

[Marie]

Maisy is on Zirtek and quite an experience it is too going to the Adsa chemist with a prescription for your cat!!!

[CurlyCatz]

sorry sticking me beak in..marie is it piriton tablets maisy is on ?  the correct type of antihists are safe and work fantastic in lots of cases.

ps..sorry the derm testing didnt come back with any answers..its is expensive but often worth while if it identifies the allergens and you can get a special vaccine made up.

[Marie]

How is Stitch at the moment?  Just thought I would update you on what is happening with Maisy.  She is back on steroids after her visit to see the specialist.  All the allergy tests came back negative so it was really all they could suggest.  I am a little scared to say this but at the moment she is doing really well and we have not had any scratching.  I was not convinced steroids would work as we had tried a few different types before.  The main reason for posting is to tell you that the vet school have also put Maisy on antihistermine tablets, half a tablet twice a day, they are over the counter human tablets.  Personally I am wondering if this is what has stopped Maisy scratching as we have noticed she is not scratching at all, not even what you would call normal cat scratching.  Obviously you shouldn't give Stitch medication without the advice of your vet but just thought it may be worth trying this if you haven't tried this before.  So far Maisy's treatment has cost over £700 and I personally think the answer has been these antihistermines at £9!!!