Pet Lovers

[Happiness Is Inside JOB]

Hello Pet Lovers  - Well I am back to do an update on my cat who was biting his paws (not to blood level) but enough bare spots to concern me.  I won't post all the history as I tried a series of foods, this brand, that brand.....I finally ended on the Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets HA Hydrolyzed Formula Dry Cat Food which is 55.00 for a 8 lb bag.

But the biting continued, so we tried the litter, we checked our cleaning products, no carpet, dusting, calming spray, and finally we started to occassionally use a cone collar to when he was bitting to give him a "break".  We did the playing at night, feeding, brushing, then bed time, I found the you tube channel that has calming music for cats.  Which I do believe it works. 

Well as the biting continued.....I look back and believe the whole thing started after I got my cat's teeth cleaned.  They saved his paws for the IV and after that, the biting began.  I might be "WRONG" to say this as MY case might be isolated.  BUT If you have a cat, and you feed it "DRY" food 90% of the time, I'd wait before getting their teeth cleaned.  I had no idea this one act would affect my cat so much.

So now.....read on.....

[Happiness Is Inside JOB]

So now, after the last vet  visist, SOCKS was put on a Fluoxetine 2.5mg,  The vet gave me an RX, but I knew I might have problems with the pills so....I went to 1800PETMEDs and purchased  Fluoxetine 2.5mg Chewtab 90 Tabs (chicken).

First off, I know this is not the cheapest website, but I was hesitant and I wanted something that would not cause too much drama and stress for my cat.  The chewtab arrived yesterday, they are SUPER SOFT, in a sealed packet where you open one pill at a time, and you can break it up in his food.  it was so soft, it blended well with his food and he just ate it. 

It is a larger Chewtab maybe about the size of your thumb nail, but I broke it up in small pieces.

I read on various cat websites that some cats have a bad reaction, but so far so good.  He did not get sick but I intentionally made sure he was eating FIRST, had an almost FULL Stomach then added the chewtab medication.  They also have transdermal application but that was even MORE Expensive, the chewTabs were HIGH compared ot the pills but i just wanted to pay for MY CAT'S comfort which was most important....

But......

[Happiness Is Inside JOB]

I learned that the fluoxetine will take about 3 weeks to really show an effect. 

I still might have to use the cat collor from time to time but I hope for improvements.  The medication is on a gradual reduction schedule. 

Week One - every day

Weeks 2-3 - every other day

Weeks 4 - every two days, etc.

If you have any commentary or ideas, I love to hear your ideas.

[Shawnie]

"Well as the biting continued.....I look back and believe the whole thing started after I got my cat's teeth cleaned. They saved his paws for the IV and after that, the biting began. I might be "WRONG" to say this as MY case might be isolated. BUT If you have a cat, and you feed it "DRY" food 90% of the time, I'd wait before getting their teeth cleaned. I had no idea this one act would affect my cat so much."

Couple of things, how long did you give the hydrolized protein diet?  Second i dont follow the connection between a dental cleaning and being on dry food causing this problem.  Third they do not shave either paw to put in an iv, they shave an area just above the wrist on one front leg.

You do know your kitty is on prozac, right?   

[sandraskates]

@Shawnie   I think the potential connection is that the cat my have some residual feeling in the paws from the IV and thus is biting them.

@Happiness Is Inside JOBI    hope the medicine helps.

I know I've mentioned my buff tabby that licked his stomach area to the point it looked like ground beef. The script that cleared him up was Atopica for cats.

Once his condition (internal) cleared I only had to give it to him when he flared up. I believe that now at 10 year old he has finally outgrown the condition as it's been over a year since any flare up.

We've also changed food: Halo dry and Natural Balance wet. His tummy now has lovely fur and the excessive licking has stopped.

[Happiness Is Inside JOB]

Ms. Sand --- Thank you, I think I need to find another vet, I mentioned your medication suggestion and she did not want to use that medicine.

Suggestion:

The script that cleared him up was Atopica for cats.

Once his condition (internal) cleared I only had to give it to him when he flared u

I wish I could order it online, I think that would be a good idea, right now, I am looking for a new vet but I can't afford to start over with all the testing.    I found one but they want to do all the testing all OVER AGAIN. I just don't have the money so I was "forced" to try the current medication.

Can you tell me was Atopica a pill and if so, was it small enough to fit in a pill pocket?  I'm going to research.

He just started the Chewtab yesterday. 

[Happiness Is Inside JOB]

Shawnie - I need to clarify, I see I was rambling....and not typing clearly.  Thank you for you commentary.

1) They saved the wrist area as you mentioned, that i were he is biting, above the wrist on both front legs. 

2) I don't know why BOTH front legs were saved when he came home from tooth cleaning.

3) He has been on The Hyrdrolized food for say 3 months before that he was on different foods as I tried to determine, if it is egg, chicken etc that was causing the allergies. If allergy is the cause...

[sandraskates]

@Happiness Is Inside JOB   - Oh no - LOL - Atopica is a liquid that you have to inject by mouth. Our Crispy is one smart cat and he always knew "when the jig was up" and I was coming to get him for dosing as he make a break for it and make it as difficult as possible to catch him!

Anyway, as I said, his problem stemmed from an internal issue: esinophilia granulanoma (sp). It doesn't sound like your cat has that type of problem.

Animal behavior problems are so difficult to pin down. You could try a holistic vet but our adventure with one (just one, not condeming all of them) was an exercise in frustration and $$$ spent that did not help.

However, I'm wondering if acupunture might help your kitty.

[Shawnie]

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@Happiness Is Inside JOB wrote:

Shawnie - I need to clarify, I see I was rambling....and not typing clearly.  Thank you for you commentary.

1) They saved the wrist area as you mentioned, that i were he is biting, above the wrist on both front legs. 

2) I don't know why BOTH front legs were saved when he came home from tooth cleaning.

3) He has been on The Hyrdrolized food for say 3 months before that he was on different foods as I tried to determine, if it is egg, chicken etc that was causing the allergies. If allergy is the cause...

---

They probably shaved one and wanted a better vein, so then shaved the other one.  Not uncommon.

[Lapdog]

@Happiness Is Inside JOBto help avoid future dentals.  Get some pet toothpaste apply it to a soft childs brush or a gauze pad and rub his teeth once a week.  This should help.