Does anyone know what this inflammation is?

[SamanthaCat]

Hi everyone,

It's Samantha again - she should get the award for strange problems no one can diagnose! I've attached a photo and you can see that the skin from her nose to her mouth is red and inflamed. Initially there was a little blood on the inflamed part near the nostrils (but not in or coming from the nostrils). She was at the vet three days ago for bloodwork (since she's been on prednisone for nearly 1 year) but the vet said her blood looks good, he didn't think the skin issue was related to being on pred, and he didn't really have much else to say about it. He said to just see if it goes away since it happened once before many months ago and went away after a few days. But I am worried about what it could be. Any ideas?

Thanks, Sami's mom  

[CML2014]

How is Sami "the Beauteous"healing??

CML

[SamanthaCat]

Oh, and Sami says thank you for the compliment! She is a beauty!

[SamanthaCat]

It does look like a cut but I think that's because with the inflammation the skin has sort of spread open like that. It is a definite inflammation coming out the both sides of the nostrils and then along the point to her mouth. The part along the right nostril is worse and sometimes there is a bit of blood coming out (not bleeding, but just a dab of red). It has gone down since I posted the picture and it's mainly only inflamed on one side now, so I think it will heal over the next few days, but since it's the second time it's happened, I do need to know what is causing it. I guess we'll head back to the vet, but if it does go away, I might just wait till it occurs again and then bring her in right away, since we were just there last week. My poor kitty, there seems to always be something that keeps her from just being a playful kitty. But she's doing okay. Thanks for the reply.

[zodiacqueen]

Wow, what a gorgeous kitty!!  =)

I took a look at the picture, and to me, it looks like it might be a cut between the tip of her nose to the top of her upper lip.  Is there any possible way that could've happen?

[SamanthaCat]

Thank you, CML. this is a new vet, and you know the reason we left our old vet. I like this one, but after yesterday I am thinking of seeing someone else in the same practice. (This one and the practice that made Samantha deaf are the two closest ones, and I like to keep the vet close to reduce stressful car rides). There is actually another vet there who does acupuncture, and while I tend to go the western medicine route for serious issues, the vet suggested it may be a way to get Sami off the predisone or on reduced prednisone if the accupunture helps reduce inflammation. We'll see if she'll tolerate such a thing.

The skin issue isn't going away and I am still worried. I emailed the vet a picture and asked if he had further advice. I looked up Dermatosis and it sounds like a possibility. I'll post updates, but if anyone else recognizes this issue from the photo, please let me know.

[CML2014]

By the way , Mom, it is never a good sign when a vet allows you to go home with the "Gee I don't know , let's see if it goes away"""

HELLO!!!!! she has had this once before and it DID go away---does that make it a diagnosis as to the cause???? NO----so the expert is getting a Pass for just being lazy----Not helping Samantha and her mom.

Sorry--have to vent sometimes about SOme vets!

[CML2014]

Hi Mom,

Well Samantha is still one gorgeous looking babe, even with her problem.

Check out Nasal Dermatosis---this can be caused by many things and one is from meds.  Your vet should probably take a scraping of the tissue for microscopic signs of bacteria , fungus, etc.

Let us know what you find out, Samantha the Beautiful can help others learn from her health "Misadventures".

Sincerely ,
CML