What's Wrong With This Sweet Baby?

What do you think is causing this?

  • Phenobarbital

    Votes: 1 33.3%
  • Seasonal allergy

    Votes: 1 33.3%
  • Unknown (food allergy, unknown substance)

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Autoimmune disease

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Other

    Votes: 1 33.3%

  • Total voters
    3

afitzyviolin

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I'm so happy to be here with all you cat lovers! I would greatly appreciate your thoughts on my kitty.
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This boy is usually super playful, sweet, and mischievous. He started having seizures about a month ago, and started phenobarbital right away. The bloody spots started appearing about six days ago, and his eyes started swelling more noticeably, yesterday.
This is not a normal side effect of phenobarbital and I checked for fleas.
We're thinking possibly an auto immune issue, that is surfacing due to being weekened by the illness and medication?? Some kind of crazy seasonal allergy?? Allergic to phenobarbital?? Has anyone ever seen this before?
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This is what the boy usually looks like:
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Furballsmom

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Hi! Weome!!

Have you contacted your vet?

In the meantime, try a chamomile tea wash on the areas, buy it from the grocery store (garden grown chamomile is unsafe for cats) brew it, cool it and apply with a clean cotton ball or similar. It is anti fungal, anti bacterial and will ease discomfort, and it is safe if by chance any is ingested.
 
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afitzyviolin

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Thank you, I will have to give this a try!

Yes, he was at the vet Friday and he'll be going again tomorrow. They don't seem to know what's wrong. He's on a topical antibiotic for now.
 

neely

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They don't seem to know what's wrong. He's on a topical antibiotic for now.
This would concern me also. I'm so sorry your sweet boy is going through having seizures and possible side effects. :hugs: Is it possible he's on too high a dose of phenobarbital?

Since you said your vet does not seem to know what's wrong that would concern me. Do you live within driving distance of a veterinary specialist or university veterinary medical school? I think either seeing a neurologist for the seizures or dermatologist for his skin would help give you some answers.

Please keep us posted on his progress and let us know what happens at your vet tomorrow. :alright:
 

squirrelymonki

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It reminds me of what my Portifoy is going through. He has deep ulcerative dermatitis. Don't take that as a diagnosis though, merely something to bring up. I do recommend a specialist or at least a vet that can do a biopsy of his affected areas. But you've got some great advice going here. Keep notes of anything amiss as well - it's what I do. I empathize with your struggle with this. I HATE seeing my babies in distress and having no solid answer or remedy.
 

LeiLana80

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How is he doing today?

Does it seem to bother him? It looks so terribly swollen- I couldn't tell that on my phone (I'm on my laptop now). I can tell his ears are even red! Geez! Poor baby!
 

KittyCatCove

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Poor sweet boy!

FWIW, Gabapentin is what I give my cat for his seizures. My vet said it is easier on the system and there are much less side effects.

If your current vet cannot diagnose what is wrong, take him to another vet who is more experienced/competent. Ask around... google search... get references.
 

squirrelymonki

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How is he doing today?

Does it seem to bother him? It looks so terribly swollen- I couldn't tell that on my phone (I'm on my laptop now). I can tell his ears are even red! Geez! Poor baby!
It itches and irritates my boy, unfortunately. But he's got a cone now, and is on medications and getting his ears etc cleaned with an iodine and water solution. He hides all day in his litterbox now...I'm sorry that I'm making it sound so bad. It's not agony, but it should definitely be viewed as urgent. It's infection I worry about.
Sorry, I thought this was the thread poster asking about my kitty. It was a long night!
 

LeiLana80

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Sorry, I thought this was the thread poster asking about my kitty. It was a long night!
I was asking about the original poster, but I'm also interested in hearing about your kitty too.
Gosh, I have never had to deal with anything like that before. I did some Googling... and it sounds and looks awful. :(
 

squirrelymonki

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I was asking about the original poster, but I'm also interested in hearing about your kitty too.
Gosh, I have never had to deal with anything like that before. I did some Googling... and it sounds and looks awful. :(
It is indeed. I am hoping this beauty doesn't have it, and it's just an allergy or something similar. But don't give up if you feel you need more answers and options. The first two opinions were flea allergies (though, no fleas!). It took it to get this bad for a new vet to say nope, deep ulcerative dermatitis.
 
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