Could Jill have Cushing's?

Jill had a suspected URI last week and we tried a couple of antibiotics which made her have terrible diarrhea and a very small loss of appetite. She had a course of metronidazole which didn't work. We've been off the URI antibiotics (Clavamox and azithromycin) since Saturday and started Albon on Saturday for the diarrhea. Today is the first day she hasn't had any diarrhea. But her butt has been a mess and she had a big hard poop stuck to it which I could not get off, so we went to the vet today.

In the process of them cleaning her up, they wrapped her in a towel and when they brought her back to me I noticed that she had several large clumps of fur that had fallen off, maybe where they were holding her. It looks like she got waxed. The fur came clear off. The vet had no idea why it would have happened. She has skin issues - benign growth and a pigmented plaque were removed in August. And she often gets scabby bits that come off but never anything like this. Had anyone seen this before? Could this be cushing's? She also had developed a very balloon-like belly over the past 8-10 months.





Thanks for any insight. I am freaking out a bit right now because I feel so bad for her and I know something's going on, just don't know what.

 

We've seen a few cats here with Cushings, though not too common. Depending on what caused the Cushings, there are treatments available. You might want to think about engaging an internal medicine vet. From a post on How to Diagnose Cushings.

 

Oh my! That is horrible. I would have been so upset at the vet when they brought her back to me with torn skin. Poor Jill. Did the vet give you anything to put on her skin tears? She could get a bacterial infection from those tears. She should be on Clavamox if she is a cat who is able to tolerate it. I know she just got off antibiotics … so sorry.
I am surprised the vet didn’t suggest any kinds of tests. What did the vet say?

 

I was very upset. More upset when I got home. I know they didn't expect that would happen, and they had to hold her down to clean her, but I just feel so awful for her. They didn't even apologize which makes me feel bad, too. They gave me an antibiotic ointment to put on her skin.

 

Yeah! They should have apologized. That would tick me off!

 

I do know that Cushings causes fragile skin. Very informative thread that Wendy attached.

 

My regular vet doesn’t work Mondays and I never have any luck with this other one.

 

Thank you for sharing! The rescue I volunteer with has a good contact at UPenn vet and the director is asking her advice. It will probably take months to get an appointment with a specialist.

 

I hate that!

 

Hi Debra and Jill,
Arthur had very similar skin damage patches several times during the summer and they were very difficult to heal as he is indoor / outdoor by obligation as a rescue. I covered all bases for the possibilities of a flea allergy, spider bite, ringworm, skin damage due to uncontrolled sugar levels, stress and if I had accidentally had bad needle etiquette or contaminated the insulin. I got Vetericin gel and cleanser for homecare of the wound but had a better dewormer and spot-on at the vets, rather than the supermarket versions. The vet gave him two antibiotic injections to heal a skin infection from within, and I revisited my injection site rotation and anti-contamination measures.
The mean vet who saw him that one time (it is a large practice and I have only once seen the same person in there) sent him back to me with a stupid plastic cone to supposedly make him wear once I got home. It was a disaster, broke his personality, and obstacle he whacked into trying to fight it off, and our relationship for quite some time.
It was far more effective to just observe him and if he was licking or starting to scratch I would just gently say no, interest him in something else or gentle tap another part of his body to distract him by sensation. I did post at the time here because he resented me putting the cone on his neck, it made giving insulin almost impossible and so stressful for weeks.
I would suggest for your own well-being, and of course Jill's because she reads you too, make sure the simpler things are covered first that we can control, and don't stress about the more complex possibilities down the line. They are out of our hands but we will face them with courage if we must. I am in a similar boat.
The very best to you and Jill.

 

any update on this? my kitty looks THE SAME!! testing for cushings on monday!