8/25 Billie PMPS 197 +3 199 +5 171

Hello LL!!

Yesterday's condo: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=124078

I woke up to Billie coughing again this morning, and also discovered that she has a fresh set of hives on her neck. So, I am definitely suspicious that the coughing is part of her allergic reaction. Thinking back and reading my condo from her last day of coughing and the vet visit, she was itching more that day too. The coughing started before breakfast and continued on and off after she had breakfast, which makes me think it's coughing rather than dry heaves/nausea, because if it were nausea, I would think she'd be throwing up her breakfast at that point.

The vet originally thought she was reacting to the Neomycin in the Neosporin, so we switched to Polysporin for her ears. But, maybe she's reacting to something that is also in the Polysporin - bacitracin or polymyxin b. I also put some on her neck yesterday, because she had one set of old hives there that was looking a little raw. So, that would pretty obviously explain the hives on her neck, and would mean I was making them worse ohmygod_smile

I guess the other possibility is a food allergy...maybe to duck. She has mostly been eating Turducken, but we just introduced Duck pate which she loves, and she ate a lot of duck in the past few days.

I'm thinking I'll try to get her to take some Benadryl for the itchies, stop using the Polysporin, and maybe just feed her chicken pate for now and see what happens. I washed off her neck with some cool water to get the Polysporin residue out of her fur. I thought she'd be angry about that, but she must have thought it felt nice. She's actually lying down in front of the AC now. The cool must help.

Her vet is on vacation all week. I'm hesitant to bring her to someone who doesn't know her unless things get worse. Her vet was very adamant about not giving a steroid shot, but I worry that a different vet might want to give her one.

Otherwise, all P's are in place, and her appetite is good. She hasn't coughed in the past 2 hours.

I'll keep an eye on her and we'll see how it goes. I'll be out for a few hours today, but mostly home.

Vines to all the cats and beans in need!!

Re: 8/25 Billie AMPS 291 +4.5 181 more hives, more coughing

Sorry to hear about the allergic reaction. How long has she been eating Turducken? What did she eat before that? It's got to be either a food ingredient or the ointment. I'd think it's the ointment and check to see if there are ingredients in both. Maybe it's time to see a vet dermatologist? My friend goes to a good vet with her dog who is a dynamite surgeon but it took a trip to a dermatologist to learn about his skin condition which was mites.

Re: 8/25 Billie AMPS 291 +4.5 181 more hives, more coughing

Thanks Elise! That's a good idea - I'll do some googling to see if we have any dermatologists in the area.

Billie has been eating Turducken for 2-3 months. Before that, she was eating Evo 95 Chicken and Turkey, Hound & Gatos Chicken, and Weruva Paw Lickin' Chicken. So, the duck is the new ingredient in the mix.

Polysporin has the same active ingredients as Neosporin, minus the Neomycin and the analgesic. The vet assumed the Neomycin was causing the reaction because I guess cats are often allergic to it, but it must be something else. Billie is a particularly "reactive" cat when it comes to allergies. One of our old apartments was full of fleas that the former tenant's dog left behind when we moved in :roll: and Billie broke out in hives like this all over her back.

I'm hoping it's the ointment rather than the duck, because Billie loves her Turducken!!

Re: 8/25 Billie AMPS 291 +4.5 181 more hives, more coughing

My guess is the ointment only because there aren't gi issues but it could be the duck as well. I'd not use ointment and see before changing the food that she likes and is working well. You need to change one thing at a time or you will never know but I know you already know that. Good luck! Finding another ointment has got to be easier than changing food.

Re: 8/25 Billie AMPS 291 +4.5 181 more hives, more coughing

That's my guess too, and I'm hoping it's right. Thanks! I'll see how she does without the ointment.

I tried to trick her into taking some Benadryl by melting cheddar cheese and rolling up "cheese pockets" with pieces of the pill in them, but she knew.

Re: 8/25 Billie AMPS 291 +4.5 181 more hives, more coughing

Have you ever used gel capsules? That is the only way I give pills as some taste so awful. I still remember the taste of Midol that I had to take from a drinking fountain when I got cramps in middle school. No wonder my Tiffany tasted the pepcid in a pill pocket and would never eat a pill pocket again!!

Re: 8/25 Billie AMPS 291 +4.5 181 more hives, more coughing

Poor Tiffany! I haven't tried gel capsules or pill pockets - I have always gotten liquid meds and mixed them with milk, which Billie drinks right up, but the Benadryl is too nasty. I definitely want to try something so that she can get an antihistamine. Maybe Zyrtec doesn't taste as bad/is easier to hide in cheese.

I did a quick search through some condos and it sounds like people use the Greenies duck and pea, so I will look for those when I do a pet store run later.

What other gel capsules or pill pockets are FD friendly?

Thank you!!

Re: 8/25 Billie AMPS 291 +4.5 181 gel capsules/pill pockets?

To be honest, with Trix, I used to use the chicken Pill Pockets, even though they aren't FD friendly. You use such a tiny amount - just enough to cover the pill - that it really didn't have an impact on her BGs. Greenies stopped making the cat Duck and Pea pill pockets, and for whatever cat-like reason that was running through her head, she didn't like the dog Duck and Pea pill pockets.

However, when she developed the pancreatitis, she also developed a huge aversion to pill pockets, so I was forced to switch to gelcaps. Pilling with the gelcaps has a learning curve, but since she gets several things at once, it really gives me a sense of security knowing all the pills have gone down the hatch - she hasn't spit them out, and the gelcap protects her from accidentally tasting the pills.

I hope you're able to resolve Billie's coughing ASAP....poor girl!

Re: 8/25 Billie AMPS 291 +4.5 181 gel capsules/pill pockets?

Thank you Amy!! I will try both.

Are these just regular empty gel caps for human meds, or are they specific to pets? I'm thinking if I mask the pill in a gel cap and mask the gel cap in some cream cheese or something, it may work out.

Re: 8/25 Billie AMPS 291 +4.5 181 gel capsules/pill pockets?

You can check at gel caps at either thrivingpets.com or capsuline. If you call or email capsuline.com and tell them you read about gel caps in cat fancy they may send you free samples to try. The ones they send are flavored which is not necessary as you don't want them to eat them. I like size 3 or 4. The larger the number the smaller the capsule. I chase the capsule with Gerber's baby food which Max laps right up but you could use the milk Billie likes. That way you are sure it makes its way down the esophagus and into the tummy.

Re: 8/25 Billie AMPS 291 +4.5 181 gel capsules/pill pockets?

sounds like it might very well be the ointment. it'll be interesting to see if the cough is related.

Re: 8/25 Billie AMPS 291 +4.5 181 gel capsules/pill pockets?

Poor Billie. Figuring out what your cat is allergic to is the worst. It's just trial and error, and meanwhile poor kitty is still miserable! :sad: I hope it turns out to be the ointment and you don't have to keep looking. I use both the #3 and #4 gelcaps, depending on how big the pill is, or if I have to give more than one pill. Sasha and Minka will not eat pill pockets (or they eat the pocket and leave the pill), so I use a pill gun to shoot the gelcap down their throat and follow with either a little water from a syringe, or moist food if they will eat. Milk would work if Billie will lap it up after.

Sending soothing vines for Billie's hives and coughing.

Re: 8/25 Billie PMPS 197

Thanks Elise, Julie and Tricia!! I actually found the duck Greenies at Pet Supplies Plus, but Billie wants nothing to do with them. I'll have to order some gel caps. Brooklyn went right for the Greenie after Billie said no thanks, and I gave her an empty one as a treat, so at least I know that I have an option for her.

Billie has a nice PMPS, a good appy, and hasn't coughed so far this evening, so that's good. She's also itching less. I hope the hives and the cough clear up together.

Thank you so much to everyone for your help and ideas!! I hope all the cats have a nice night.

Re: 8/25 Billie PMPS 197 +3 199

I also use the chicken pill pockets for Gracie in very tiny bits like Amy; it's never affected her BG. She doesn't like the smoky flavor added to the dog duck pill pockets but she used to love the cat duck ones.

As you know, we've had a problem with the neosporin causing an allergy in Gracie. BUT....she also had an allergic rxn to some of the Merrick foods. Others she can eat just fine and I actually have her pretty much on Merrick now with the exception of the ones that caused her problems.

Wendy sent us polysporin so we're trying that. The other thing I can recommend that our vet had us try is Dermacool. You can get it at your vet most likely. It has lidocaine. It's harder to control just getting a tiny bit because it's a spray so you have to spray it on your hand and then just take a tiny bit on your finger and put it on the ear.

Good luck finding out the cause. I agree cat allergies are tough. Healing vines to Miss Billie!

Re: 8/25 Billie PMPS 197 +3 199

Thank you Marje!!

I'm glad you got Gracie's allergies sorted out. They are tricky!

I will definitely get some Dermacool. I haven't used anything all day, and I feel bad - just lots of blotting and cool water. I wasn't paying attention on our last test and almost put more Polysporin on out of habit! I was considering trying a bacitracin only ointment, but I'm hesitant in case that's the ingredient that she's allergic to. From what I have read, it sounds like the polymoxin b is more likely to cause a reaction, but it's still a gamble. So, I'm happy to have another option!!

Hopefully your vet will carry it. With the lidocaine in it, I don't think you can buy it OTC. Let me know....I can always buy it from my vet and mail it.