Mysterious symphtoms American Curl Cat

[AmericanCurl]

Hi! We have an american curl, female, 2yrs old, named Awa, and got her when she were 16 weeks old.
Shortly after she joined the family, approx 2months after, we noticed some acne on her chin,
but assumed this as "normal" for a young cat. 2 months later, she began to get a wound on her neck,
she had hair loss first, and then an wound started to open in the skin, and grow larger and larger,
up to 5 cm in diameter. The vet then prescribed antihistamine and antibiotic to prevent infection as we also have a second cat.
Food allergy were suspected, and as Awa`s diet were everything from Royal Canin cat food, to pig heart and chicken,
it were decided to give her only pig heart. The wound slowly healed, as time went by, and the medications were given as
prescribed. 30 days later a new wound opened, even if she got only pig heart as food, and as other food were tested wounds
appeared again and again, and always on neck / head area. Vet advised to give only Hills D/D cat food, as its
special food for allergic cats, and contains low amount of meat. 2 months went before a new symphtom occured, swelling of pawns,
as they got really big, but Awa did not seem to be in pain. The vet to X-rays, and legs were fine, and not fractured or
anything, and gave injection of antihistamine and antibiotic. Swelling moved from front pawns to rear pawns, and then
to face/ neck area before it slowly disappeared. 2 Weeks later new wounds opened, but now they were worse, and larger, also
bleeding. THis has been ongoing for a year now, and desperately seeking help, as Vets cant find anything, and bloodwork
has been tested in Germany, and found negative for Borelia, Microsporum, and Tanis.
Anyone have any information, or idea what this might be? It does not seems like only allergy anymore....

Thanks in advance.

[opus88]

OH your poor dear kitty, I had never heard of this disease so I had to do some searching for more info...its very rare in cats from what I read. As you know treatment with steroids can cause many side effects and I'm sure your Vet has talked to you abt all that...you don't appear to have much choice do you, it appears to be the only treatment available to try and save your kitty, I am sending you my best wishes and prayers too...I sure hope she responds well to the treatment and can enjoy many more years with you. please keep us posted. I included a couple sites I found with limited info....good luck♥

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/60208.htm

http://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/endocrine/c_ct_lupus_erythematosus#.UJv3NYZKykg

[AmericanCurl]

Hi !

Thanks for your help. We sent some more bloodwork to Germany, as the first tests were negative. This time it were tested for SLE, and the ANA-test were positive, and also skin biopsy. The vet have now diagnosed our cat with SLE, and we have started treatment with 4 X 5mg prednisolon ( cortinsone ) a day, wich is very high amount. She has also gotten antibiotics for a week for the infections in the wound, caused by the other cats licking the wound. We now keep her sepearate. The wound and the sympthoms have healed significally in just 2 days after she started cortisone. The vet have informed us of the chances for surviving, and side effects of this high amount of cortisone. We will lower the amount from Thursday and onwards, and then lower it again if no sympthoms, until we find the approperiate amount.