[excon]

Hello:

My cat has an eye lid inflammation. The vet tells me it's an allergy - but he doesn't know from what. I'm changing her food, her flea medicine, her snacks - everything. But, nothing is happening. She's itching 'em almost raw, and I hate to see her in pain.

Can I give her an antihistamine? Or a FRACTION of a human adult antihistamine? Or is there a kitty antihistamine?

excon

[tickle]

No you can't give your cat even a fraction of a human antihistamine, but your vet knows of several cat antihistamines you can administer and most come in capsulate form, time release to make it easier to administer then a pill. One is called Chlorphenitamine and specifically for allergies in cats. I don't understand why your vet didn't recommend one. Maybe you should bring this to his attention. It will definitely stop her irritation and possibly tearing out her eyeballs.

I always make myself aware of pet meds as well human meds.

Tick

[Sariss]

Did your vet check your cats ears by the way?
I know my cat has an ear infection when he has scratched above his eye raw.

[hheath541]

Soaking a cotton ball in cool water then wringing it out and applying it like a compress to your cat's eye may help relieve some of the swelling and itching temporarily.

[excon]

Hello again:

Thanks everybody. I called the vet and am going to pick up some stuff tomorrow.

excon

[excon]

Hello again,

He gave me a steroid pill and it's working already. She's a happy girl. Thanks for your help.

excon

[tickle]

I wonder why he didn't do that in the first place, the steroid that is. You would actually think he would know to recommend that at the first visit. So you had to pay for another vet visit as well ?

Tick

[excon]

G'morning, tick:

I don't know why either. But, I didn't pay for a visit. I just called and the vet called back. It was a different doctor at the same office. He just wrote the script and I picked it up from them. It cost $15. Made ME happy.

excon

[tickle]

You are happy, your cat is happy, all is right with the world, ex.

[morgaine300]

I would prefer that you try to find out what the problem actually is and see if you can find another solution rather than pumping the cat full of steroids. Steroids can be bad things. I've seen cats become diabetic from ONE shot. You might try some place like holisticat.com to see if you can find another solution.

Did the vet make any attempt to see what is actually wrong?

By the way, in the case of food "allergies," it can sometimes take a couple of months for changes to take place.

[excon]

Hi morgaine:

She was at the vets twice for this problem. I assume he tried to find out what it was. He did recommend a cat allergist, but it's too expensive to go, so far... But, I'm going to do it.

I don't like the steroids either, but she needed some relief until I could see the vet.

excon