The Cat Bible Q&A
Tracie welcomes any and all questions about cats AND dogs on both her live radio shows. Call in to DOG TALK on Saturdays from 11-Noon (EST) to 800-394-8830 or Wednesdays 8-9 PM (EST) to CAT CHAT 866-675-6675. (You don't need to have Sirius to call in!)
Allergic Dry Food Reaction
Few months back Magneto, our cat had what looked like a bad rash on the back of his hind legs and was picking at it constantly. To the point he had no hair and it was raw. I took him to the vet who said he must be allergic to something. Magneto's constant picking led to an infection. The vet gave him some shots of anitbodies and meds for $200 bucks! I talked to my good friend and fellow cat owner, Debra, (Ginger's mom) who suggested if I was giving him dry food to stop! And sure enuff, his hair grew back and it seemed the infection went away. Here we r in May, only wet food from LickurChops and Merrick and seems it is coming back! Any ideas what may be causing this skin irritation?
Melissa
I checked with Dr. Elizabeth Hodgkins, the Official Vet of Cat Chat. who tells me that once skin allergies are triggered by dry foods, that they can be hard to banish entirely. For the moment, the first thing to do is feed a hypoallergenic diet of raw chicken (see the Feline's Pride nutritional link on Cat Chat) or rabbit. For a short while, the cat may need an antibiotic like cyclosporine and steroids by mouth, not injectable.
Good luck,
Tracie Hotchner
The information contained in the answers posted on this board comes from THE CAT BIBLE: Everything Your Cat Expects You To Know, and from CAT CHAT™ The Radio Show, broadcasting live on Martha Stewart Living Radio, Channel 112 on Sirius Satellite Radio, every Wednesday from 8-9 p.m. EST.
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DISCLAIMER: Please be aware that the advice I give on the air or in emails – or those you see posted here – are not intended to take the place of a veterinarian's advice or expertise. I say this to protect myself from being misunderstood or from your over-reliance on my advice in situations where your pet may be seriously ill and you would mistakenly delay seeking medical intervention. While I am confident in the research-based facts and common-sense advice I can offer, it is never meant to be used at the exclusion of trained, accredited and board certified professionals. But I also have this disclaimer to protect your dog – because what you learn from me is not intended to take the place of medical care or professional evaluation – on the contrary, my desire is to equip you with information that will allow you to enjoy your pets to the fullest, and also to encourage you to seek professional medical attention whenever there are physical symptoms or an overall change in your pet's attitude.
Tracie welcomes any and all questions about cats AND dogs on both her live radio shows. Call in to DOG TALK on Saturdays from 11-Noon (EST) to 800-394-8830 or Wednesdays 8-9 PM (EST) to CAT CHAT 866-675-6675. (You don't need to have Sirius to call in!)
