What Bug Is This? (possible Explanation For "allergy")

leechi

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Look up ticks n u will find it.Not saying thats a tick
I don't disagree that ticks can be attached and not yet attached, but I don't want to confuse the op about what this insect is and how to treat it. Not all flea medicines treat ticks, but that is not a tick in the video, so a flea only treatment would suffice.
 

FeebysOwner

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What flea/tick treatment was your cat on before? And, how long has it been since you've given him a treatment? What other preventative treatments, to be exact, was he on that were stopped?

The thing is: putting a cat on steroids and discontinuing multiple preventative treatments all at once is NOT going to resolve if it is or is NOT an allergy. And, if it is an allergy to one of the treatments, it certainly wouldn't pin-point which one.
As this point, I would do one of two things:
1.) give your cat the flea/tick treatment you were using on him, assuming you have any left; tell your vet that you did, and ask them to start working with you to actually find out the cause of what may or may not be an allergy.

2.) tell the vet you have fleas/ticks and get them to recommend another brand of flea/tick treatment PRONTO.

A third thing you could do is find another vet who would really like to help get to the bottom of the problem.
 

carebearbaby1

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That looks very much like a flea, it's not a tick and you can't see ear mites with the naked eye. It's probably a male flea, they're smaller and don't really jump a lot. If your cat has a flea allergy it should always be on preventatives.
 

CatLover49

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That isn't 2 types of ticks, that is just two things that ticks do... there is a much larger variety of ticks out there.
Exactly sorry worded wrong.I don't know what it is.
What flea/tick treatment was your cat on before? And, how long has it been since you've given him a treatment? What other preventative treatments, to be exact, was he on that were stopped?

The thing is: putting a cat on steroids and discontinuing multiple preventative treatments all at once is NOT going to resolve if it is or is NOT an allergy. And, if it is an allergy to one of the treatments, it certainly wouldn't pin-point which one.
As this point, I would do one of two things:
1.) give your cat the flea/tick treatment you were using on him, assuming you have any left; tell your vet that you did, and ask them to start working with you to actually find out the cause of what may or may not be an allergy.

2.) tell the vet you have fleas/ticks and get them to recommend another brand of flea/tick treatment PRONTO.

A third thing you could do is find another vet who would really like to help get to the bottom of the problem.
Thank u .This whole conversation is getting to a certain point.U know what i mean Feebyesowner lol .:argue: lol
 
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javo2004

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A third thing you could do is find another vet who would really like to help get to the bottom of the problem.
I completely agree with this. I've been spending too much money in appointments, and his ONLY concern is to find the minimum dosage of Medrone that reliefs the itchy skin on my cat.
- Started with one treatment, no results.
- Switched to Medrone (2mg) and it helps.
- Switched to Medrone (4mg) just "to check something", and there wasn't a big difference.
- Switched back to Medrone (2mg).
- New appointment in 2 weeks time to try the 2mg every other day (instead of everyday).

In the meantime, no diet changes, no advice, no nothing.
 
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javo2004

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What flea/tick treatment was your cat on before? And, how long has it been since you've given him a treatment? What other preventative treatments, to be exact, was he on that were stopped?
Bayer Advocate for cats over 4kg. One pipette once a month.
When the itchy skin started the vet told me to stop immediately - this was 2 months ago.
 

leechi

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After the fleas are eliminated, you might want to ask your vet about testing/treating for tapeworms. Cats can get tapeworms from ingesting fleas when they groom themselves.
 
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javo2004

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So, he was just on the one treatment? After 2 months of steroids, and no flea treatment, has his itchiness disappeared?
Not completely, but he is much better.
But if my cat has an allergy to the parasite bite (apparently that is very common), I'd expect the medication to help with the itchy skin, even if the parasite is still present. This is what I think anyway...
 

FeebysOwner

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I kind of agree with you on that one. But, it might not rid it entirely just because the constant aggravation is still there. Tbh, if it were the flea meds he was previously on, after two months of being off them and on steroids, that should have almost nearly cleared it up, if not entirely.

If he is allergic to the bites - and not the flea meds themselves - well, then you haven't accomplished much have you?

And, while it is entirely possible, it is fairly unlikely that he is allergic to BOTH the bites AND the flea treatment.
 
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javo2004

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The vet called and said it's a flea, despite it not jumping. I'll have to spray the house and restart the deworming treatment. In 2 weeks time I'll start reducing the medication and hopefully my cat will not restart the scratching.
 
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