cat with hair loss, scabs and vomiting, no fleas

[cheryllorne]

Please help. My cat developed a blading spot around the base of his tail 18 months ago. I frontline him every month as he is an out door cat, and i also use the flea protection spray around my home every 12 months. I took him to the vet, who said that as there were no red areas, his fur was actually growing back and it was certainly fleas. I doubted this, but bathed him once i got home, re frontlined him and treated the house. 6 months later it was no better so i revisited the vet. He agreed that although there was no evidence of fleas either time, he still thought it was a flea allergy! I changed vets. I have visited the new vets twice also, as it is now getting worse, having spread to his face, and now there are little scabs all over his body. He they gave him steroids which solved the problem until we stopped giving him them. We have tried a special oil for his food, a hydrocortisan spray, katalax to help him with the many hairballs he now gets, anti histamine tablets, but he keeps getting worse. His blood test results were inconclusive. Im now out of money. Having spent £600 thus far, and it breaks my heart to see him. He is also wormed regularly. Please please help.

[buthurtsnomore]

have you stooped to think he might be allergic to frontline  or deworming medications it seems you might be overdoing it . just a thought good luck

[KissyCat]

Have you tried a feline probiotic? I have used Feline Dophilus, which is made by Natren, for my cat who has had various skin allergies, and it helped a lot. It also helped with her constipation, vomiting, and diarrhea. You can give it to your cat every day for three days, then every other day for a week or so, then cut back gradually to twice a week for maintenance. It is worth a try, and can't really hurt, since it is non-invasive for your kitty. It has really given my cat a lot of relief when the doctors couldn't figure out anything else to do. Good luck!

[Cliff Redford, DVM]

Any time I see chronic skin conditions that are not responsive to medication, I recommend a biopsy. Your vet was correct in considering fleas, even with monthly treatments a flea allergy can still be the problem. if it is not related to fleas then skin scrapings and biopsies will hep determine if it is a mite issue (scabies), autoimmune disorder, food allergy, or something less common.
Good luck.
Dr. Cliff
www.pettalk360.com

[cheryllorne]

It is also worth saying he is now vomiting all the time, and is uncomfortable when i pick him up.