Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Kitty Rash? Desperate for advice

Hi guys. I'm new to the community, but seem to have exhausted my resources. I have a absolutely precious and sweet 5 year old orange tabby. I am his only owner found him at about 4 weeks and raised him ever since. Starting about a year ago he started to develop a little redish patch on his tummy near his hind legs. This red patch has grown to a hairless, red, flaky, senstive rash encompassing his entire belly. As well as a patch of scabs (that I can't see but do feel) around his collar area.
I have my theories to some of it, but not the underlying issue. I clearly see him over grooming his belly, constantly licking until it bald and almost raw. I also see him scratching whit his hind paws at his collar area which just perpetuates the scabs. I have taken him to the vet 3 times in the past year and have done lots of research nothing is working. The first time the vet said it is was nothing and should go away. The second time the vet did scrape test and nothing came back positive, the third time the vet said it could possibly be allergies and presribed him zyrtecs. The zyrtecs did not really work and is expensive.
So running with the idea of his problems being a cause of allergies, I got my carpets professionally cleaned, changed his shampoo, switced to wheat free food (he threw it up daily for ten days until I switched back), changed his kitty litter, I wipe his stomach with peroxide then clean it with water(that works a little bit), and got an E collar (which admittedly I haven't been using as consistenly as I should)
As a college student I do not have $200+ to spend on each vet visit with no results. Any suggestions would be deearly appreciated I hate seeing him suffer and it just seems to be spreading. There are more patches popping up up near the nipples on his chest as well as a patch under one of his front arms.
So my question to you guys are there any alternative options I could explore? The e-collar fixes the symptom and not the cause because as soon as I take it off he is right back at it, and I imagine the itch-you-can't-scratch-feeling is horrible. :(
5 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
874521 tn?1424116797
Nykitty here is another excellent article with photos.

http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/dvm/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=66497&pageID=1&sk=&date=
Helpful - 0
874521 tn?1424116797
hi Nykitty and welcome to our forum. I sure hope we can be of some help to you and kitty.
I reread your post a few times and I have some questions.
- you said you changed his shampoo....how often do you shampoo????
this isn't normal for a cat to be shampoo'd you know, it removes their 'natural' skin oils. I would d/c that immediately.
-you also changed the litter. what kind did you use and what are you using now?

IMO what you kitty has is eosinophilic plague or granuloma. unfortunately this is very common (you can click on the 'archives' above and scroll down to dermatology and skin allergies for more reading)
The breakout he is having is a response to an allergen, either air borne or ingested, so you are on the right track yes.
Please do some reading. I have a cat with this also so I have done alot of research on this subject.
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_eosinophilic_granuloma.html

airborne, can be from many many products used in the home..incl hair spray, room spray, SHAMPOO, candles, cleaning products, laundry detergents or rinses, just about anything kitty inhales or comes into contact with.
OR food and the MOST common culprit is CHICKEN. first of all I would eliminate chicken from his diet, it doesn't need to be an expensive hypoallergenic Veterinarian brand!!!! best if its a good brand of CANNED food tho.....if you are using dry food discontinue that immediately too. dry food contains many nasty chemicals. but thats another topic.
please read and post again so we can get to the bottom of this. ok♥
the site I am sending also has photos.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
thanks for the support I'll check out your thread hopefully we can find something out
Helpful - 0
596105 tn?1314580333
HI....Im sorry I do not really know if i can help you but just wanted to say that i totally understand the situation with the vets being expensive..Im almost in the same exact position...Just posted the posting before yours...Im 21 and taking care of my cat that i love to death all on my own...Its hard to shed out all that money for vet visits that could go from just one to like ten you know??? Anyways i just wanted to say i hope everything is well with your kitty. My cat has bumps/rashes on his lip and scratches those too...It must feel horrible :(
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
and here are some photos

http://s3.amazonaws.com/medhelp_images/user_photos/174103?1290920893

http://s3.amazonaws.com/medhelp_images/user_photos/174102?1290920499

Unfortunately it has gotten worse.

Are there any topical cremes I could apply?
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Cats Community

Top Cats Answerers
874521 tn?1424116797
Canada..., SK
506791 tn?1439842983
Saint Mary's County, MD
242912 tn?1660619837
CA
740516 tn?1360942486
Brazil
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Members of our Pet Communities share their Halloween pet photos.
Like to travel but hate to leave your pooch at home? Dr. Carol Osborne talks tips on how (and where!) to take a trip with your pampered pet
Ooh and aah your way through these too-cute photos of MedHelp members' best friends
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.