Plasma cell pododermatitis

[OdinLovesLife]

My cat has been diagnosed with plasma cell pododermatitis by two vets. The first one wanted to put her on cortisone indefinitely, I didn't want her to have cortisone as the first option. The second recommended a 6 month course of antibiotics which helped but didn't completely get rid of the problem. After stopping the antibiotics the problem is slowly returning to it's previous state.

Does anyone have information and treating this problem in cats? Anything helpful?

[Valfran]

Thank you! I have tried every "good" food in the pet stores. Even bought frozen raw food. Because she has no teeth she eats only canned moist food. Only likes salmon or tuna and I know that that isn't good. She only weighs 7.5 lbs. she is very tiny. Lots of people really feel the raw food cures everything. I feed her very small amounts several times a day because if I Give her too much she immediately throws it up. Like I said I hope I can even get her to finish the food that has the antibiotic in it. Walked away from the fortiflora tonight. I think I have my hands full.

[opus88]

sorry to hear abt your Kloe (darling name btw). I'm glad you refused the steroids and did get the Vet to doxycycline, it does work for abt 50% of kitties with Podo.
the fortiflora is a probiotic, also has lots of other vitamins and stuff...(not sure all of the content). its a good product but expensive...it does help to use this sprinkled over a new food or to get them eating if they are off their diet b/c most cats really like the taste of...Jade59 has recently just started her cat Jade on this to improve her appetite and she loves it.

If you want to order the one from iherb, its much cheaper...and it has many strains (12)  of pure probiotics but either will work.....to fight something like Podo it maybe the best option.

http://www.iherb.com/Garden-of-Life-Primal-Defense-Powder-HSO-Probiotic-Formula-81-g/3159?at=0

what is she on for a diet? as one member stated in a post above...it has alot to do with allergies and food intolerances...it would sure help if you could try her on a diet with a protien she has never eaten before, this is refered to as a 'novel protien' meaning its new to them and therefore they haven't developed an allergy to it. it would also be best if this CANNED food was grain/soy/wheat/corn FREE....they are all allergens.

Good pet stores have many brands that you can try....like the poster said vension is a real good option, however I have found many cats don't like it very well....

I will send you a link to Dr. Piersons site on how to transition cats off dry food, you can try the same tricks to transition them from one food to a new one....of any kind. she has some excellent suggestions. just remember do it slowly. start with 3/4 old food to 1/4 new food than gradually reduce the old and increase the new....good luck and let us know how its going for her:)

http://www.catinfo.org/docs/TipsForTransitioning1-14-11.pdf

[Valfran]

My rescued cat Kloe was just diagnosed with plasma cell pododermatitis. When I first rescued her 2 years ago she had the mouth stomatitis so bad that she had to have all her teeth removed. She has done well up to now but her one paw pad is really swollen. The vet wanted to give her steroids and I said no. So he put her on the doxycycline and I asked about probiotics. He prescribed the fortiflora.  Do u know how that compares to the one u suggested from I herb. I believe that a better diet would help, but she is so fussy, I am worried I won't be able to get her to eat the food she likes with it in it, no less change her diet. Anything new out there?

[CML2014]

Hi D,

I never heard of this disease until this question was posted. Of course I had to look this up and found some surprising info that relates to a condition my cat has that affects the mouth--Stomatitis.

Apparently these 2 diseases are related because they are "immune mediated", so the immune system comes into play big time. One article I read said the Vet pulled two infected canine teeth, scaled the rest of the teeth of tarter, administered antibiotics and wrapped the paws for two weeks. There was still some tenderness of the paws but it seemed to resolve the issue.So it does affect the soft tissues.

I had to have all my cats teeth pulled to resolve the Stomatitis. That has been the only area that was affected. I can tell you this Immune system problems are "Bears" to deal with. Any Immune Mediated disease will be aggravated by

1-Steroid shots or meds
2-food with grain additives
3-STRESS

Also my cat takes Lysine twice daily for ulcers, just like humans. It helps the immune system.

Also the only dry food I will give her is Felidae--grain free Pure Sea--that is beacause she is also allergic to poultry . Her wet food is by Weruva--hard to get but Pure. as the driven snow, Her favorite is Mack and Jack .Tthese are all pure fish.

My husband thinks I am a crazy cat lady--I spend more on her food  than on ours. She also is at the doctors more then we are, that is why Pet Insurance is important to me.

Anyway we learn something everyday, and this site is the best I have found for resolving issues with great research on the part of everyone, especially Opus.

Even if you do not have a problem read it everyday,peomise you will learn something new and valuable to your Kit.

All the best.
CM  

[opus88]

hi Barbara...welcome, thanks so much for your informative post. I have read some info that Podo is a result of food allergies and I'm so glad to hear that a food change has made such a difference for Spiderman...wow its good to hear some good news once in a while!!!!...again thanks for letting us know and if you would keep us updated I would really appreciate that....♥

[Barbara555]

I hope Simon is doing well. My cat, Spiderman, has pododermatitis and he is seeing a dermatologist vet specialist. We are three months into a diet change and doxycycline, which is being weaned to help build his immunity. His paw looks great and is basically completely healed after three years of trying to heal it. Spiderman likely has food allergies and cats are usually allergic to the proteins in the food, such as, chicken, fish, dairy, beef, pork, soy, wheat and corn. He is on green pea and duck from Natural Balance. The vet put him on a food with a protein he had never eaten, such as duck or venison. He is likely allergic to chicken and fish which he ate for years. I learned a cat can develop food allergies to the very proteins they have eaten for a long time. This finally seems to be the cure for him. I hope Simon does just as well.