Injection Site Infection, Sores

This past week, after months of no problems, Henrietta started getting injection site complications. A scab forms and then the licking begins, the area gets huge and weepy. Her regular vet is out of town so she saw
a relief vet who had no clue why this was happening and suggested I just keep the areas clean. There are seven sites like this now. Insulin is PZI from chewy.com. I don't think it's the insulin because I used this bottle for weeks before this started. I get syringes from ADW, BD brand made in the USA. I don't think it's the syringes. I have NO idea why this is happening. Does anyone have experience with a similar issue?

 

Wow I'm so sorry this is happening to your kitty. I can only think that I would change syringes and get a new bottle of insulin. Additionally you might try using and alcohol swab at the area just prior to and right after the injection. The only other thing is could she have developed an allergy to that brand insulin??? I'm not even sure that happens but since there isn't an answer on the table you can't really rule out anything. I might contact Chewy and ask if by any chance any other cat owners have contacted them with similar issues. I sure hope you can get to the bottom of it as it can't be a fun thing for her or you! Please keep the site posted.

 

Poor kitty! It's possible she's developed an allergy to the insulin. Is it ProZinc or some compounded version of PZI? Insulin is a protein and can trigger antigen-antibody reactions. She might be very itchy and irritated at the injection sites and starts the licking that leads to these raw sores. Do the seven sites correspond to where you give her shots?

 

Poor baby. That is terrible.

 

And they're weepy as in puss or some discharge? I've never seen that from any kind of injection.
Check the lot number and expiry date on the insulin, then check the manufacturers website. I had some recalled human test strips once and the manufacturer made no attempt to notify pharmacies and I had to dig down in their website to find out.
When you put the insulin back in the fridge does anything come near it? Your hands are dirty even seconds after you wash them so maybe give the inside flap of the insulin box a swab. Are there other animals in the home who try and groom these sites? My vet told me there are few things dirtier than a cat's mouth.
I have to ask this insulting and stupid question, sorry. You're using a new syringe every time right? I had a friend who insisted on using her syringes 3 times.
The sore on the bottom right looks horrendous. Who shaved the area and how, what did you use for a lubricant/foam/shaving gel? Maybe that's contributing to the problem.

 

At the beginning I had to use syringes more than once as there was simply no choice. Nothing like that happened to Tyler.

If the sites correspond to injection sites then it could be an itchy allergic reaction has set in. Allergies can develop at any time for no reason. That can be to insulin as much as it can be to anything else like flea feaces .

Do the excessive licking sores correspond to the injection sites ? I think you said they do.

There are also some diseases that cause delicate thin skin which breaks down easily.

 

Are they raised sores, or just skin tears?

Is it only where she gets injected, or all over her body where she grooms?

Skin tears could be a sign of Cushing’s disease. My Frosty had it.

How is the kitty’s sugar? Does she have any other signs of Cushing’s - hair loss/thinning hair/ dull looking coat? Thin legs and big pot belly? Peeing and eating a lot?

 

Sorry, I'd been responding to the same post on the FB group. Yes, ONLY at injection sites. My vet reported it to the pharmaceutical company who sent me a new bottle with a different lot number. It mostly resolved after that but still happens occasionally unless I keep a onesie on her. She hates the onesie and constantly tries to take it off. We have no idea why she is having this issue. The vet didn't really think she fit the profile for Cushings because her other symptoms aren't consistent with it. Her hair is growing back EXTREMELY slow from the areas that were shaved for oral surgery this year. There is a SMALL amount of hair loss around her nipples but not really anywhere else that other cats her age don't have hair thinning. She doesn't really appear to have a pot belly. She is ravenously hungry all the time however. I take her back to the vet for follow up this Friday and am guessing the vet will want to rule out Cushing's at that point. I'll update once I speak to the vet.

 

I work in medicine. There is no way in hell I would use the same syringe twice, EVER. The vet already contacted the manufacturer to check on the lot #. They sent me a new bottle to see if that made a difference but she also wears a onesie now so no one can groom those areas. Those raw areas already had the hair pulled off from grooming, the vet only shaved around it on unbroken skin. Shaving/clipping hair did NOT cause any of that as it was there PRIOR to the vet and I removing fur. Using a shaving foam or gel would NOT be a good idea around a wound and I've never seen any vet or tech use that type of product on an animal.

 

Keep us posted, Alex! Fingers crossed that it’s not Cushing’s and just overgrooming or something.

Ps. I work in medicine too

 

The simple answer to that question would have been "No" or "No, I work in medicine".
I have to assume you're new to this and have no idea what your background is so I have to ask what to you is a series of idiotic questions. Neither do you need to use CAPS to get your point across, I get it.

 

It's the insulin itself. She's getting swtiched to Lantus. If she continues to have the same problem then we will explore Cushing's but at this point she's pretty sure it's the insulin.