Lump on MCat's ear...and vet etiquette.

[RubbishMantra]

I noticed a teeny bald patch on his right ear. On investigation, there is a tiny lump under it, about the size of a spot, feels like a sebaceous cyst. It's clearly painful, because when I scratched it (he normally loves his ears being scratched).

He's due for his jabs in a week, do you think it'll be OK to wait til then for a vet's appraisal? He's a bit of an alpha, and gets into fights with the tabby round the corner. because the little bugger invades tabby's garden

Also, how do you ask the vet politely for a prescription, rather than buying meds from the vet? And is there much of a price difference, factoring in the price of the prescription?

One last thing, does Broadline do fleas, roundworms and tapeworms? MCat's become a pill refuser.

Sorry for list of questions.

I would bring the jabs forward.

I would say I need to investigate cheaper meds via a private px BUT if it's one script per item then that would be pricey. Ideally they'd all go on one script.

I'd refuse the antibiotic and painkiller shots if tablets are being prescribed.

No idea about broadline.

I would bring the appointment forward, bearing in mind if it's an infected fight wound/abscess and he needs antibiotics then they will not want to vaccinate until it's cleared up.
You just ask for a written prescription. We charge £13 first item, £6.50 subsequent. They can't "go on one prescription" because there are rules about written prescriptions, including one item per script. It's not going to work out cheaper for a short course of medication and it doesn't work for something like antibiotics that you need to start now. It's often cheaper for long term meds, because online pharmacies get bulk discounts that your local vet can't get. In the long term professional fees will rise because small businesses will lose revenue from medicine sales.

No, he's not being prescribed any tablets, Fluffy. He's in the rudest of health.

What's a private px?

Px is prescription.

Broadline covers fleas, ticks, roundworms and tapeworms, but it is a fipronil product so it may have the same lack of efficacy as frontline. I have no experience of using it, just basing that on problems we have had with frontline that led to us no longer recommending it.

Milo, I was going to request a prescription for the Broadline, which is ongoing.

Thanks both for replies.

Oh I see, if it's for broadline they won't bat an eyelid.

Sorry, another question, is there a spot on treatment just for worms?

I believe Cozie uses one on on SeniorBoy, also a pill refuser.

We use Profender for Harry as there's no way I'm trying to get a tablet down him!

I use Profender for Seniorboy, Mantra.

He may not get his annual vaccine until any infection is treated so I'd book him in sooner. I use Profender spot on if it's just for worms, our vet charges £10 for a prescription but can normally get it for 3 months if it's for parasite treatment.

I buy most of my meds etc from the vets. I like knowing that the items are sourced properly and that they'll always have good BBEs. (My vet practice are also very reasonable chargers in all respects.)

I now use separate spot ons for different types of parasite - mainly because my old lad's lifestyle doesn't merit such regular treatment as some cats and especially because, given his age, I'd rather not put any chemicals into him that aren't necessary.

I moved MCat's vet appointment forward, and she said his teeny ear lump (about the size of a small zit) was nothing to worry about - no inflammation or anything.

However, shortly before I lost DH, he'd taken him to the vet for a scratch or something, and she said he could do with a scale and polish, due to tartar build up. I'm ashamed to say I let this slide, due to bereavement and all the stuff that goes with it.

His front teeth are sparkling white, but when she showed me his molars...yellow/browny colour. I feel so awful that I let this slide for so long, and that he's in pain. He only stopped eating biscuits until I introduced Butchers Classic into both my boys' diet, so I thought he'd just developed an obsession with the new food. Now I realise the biscuits were probably making his gums/teeth sore.

He's booked in for a dental (£100-£300) in about a month. The reason it's not sooner, is because to add to my shame, I let his vaccinations go overdue, so he needs both sets. Had first set today.

I feel so ashamed, and now wondering if if I have the right to be a pet owner.

I need to have a quick look

I was shocked when I saw how yellow/brown his molars were.

I need to have a quick look (?)

until when I introduced Butchers Classic

Of course you have the right to be a pet owner. No one else would love them they way you do & it's perfectly normal for grief to overwhelm everything else.

They can't brush their own teeth twice a day so it builds up. Ours would get the same.

I am quite sure my cat will need a dental eventually. I'm not exactly regular with his logic tooth gel. He hasn't touched a biscuit in at least two years.

Ta Fluffy. First thing I did when I got home was rub some Logic into Little Monsieur's teeth/gums. MCat was traumatised from the vets, but I will ensure he gets a dose of Logic tomorrow. He's only 6! But to be fair, DH had MCat foisted on him as a kitten, and didn't know better than to feed him Go-Cat and Whiskas.

Am still feeling The Guilt though.

Please don't feel guilty RubbishMantra. You're dealing with it all now and that's what matters.

Might be totally unrelated, but our boy went in for a check recently due to some quite strange bumps on his ears and it transpires he has sunburn and small blisters! I now have the pleasure of putting ointment on a very mature and grumpy Tom every morning before he's allowed out at least until the weather turns! Apparently quite common in outdoors cats (and dogs) with fair coloured fur, Tomboy is ginger and white, poor old thing.

Thanks Catz. I just feel a bit shit for letting him go through almost a year of having a sore mouth. My poor little man.

Thanks for the advice re. ears Just, the vet said it's definitely a healing puncture bite wound, you can see the scar on both inside and outside of his ear. Plus his ears are black.

I did worry about this with my colourpoint Devon Rex, before his points had darkened properly, but told as he has dark (chocolate) ears, they were shielded from the sun, so there was no need for sun block. He likes rolling on his back in the sun, and his little pink tum is semi bald (supposed to be, nature of the breed), so I'll keep an eye on any of his pink bits.

If it's any consolation, pyjamacat is waaayy overdue his booster but keeps getting into fights so he's always on antibiotics for infected wounds. The vet wants to wait til they're finished but then it happens again. I really wish our neighbours would neuter their big tom.

Please don't feel bad. If the treatment had been urgent they would have booked it when he was there for the scratch. You had a bereavement. Ordinary stuff gets bumped right off the list. I'm so sorry for your loss.

Don't feel guilty at all, Mantra. When we moved here, I had both boys down to the vet for a thorough check - as you do in a new place - and The Lodger needed a dental at only 3! In the normal course of things it wouldn't even have occurred to me for a good many years.

Rubbishmantra you are a responsible pet servant/owner (delete as applicable).
I'm so sorry to read of your loss you have had a lot to deal with so don't feel guilty.

Thank you, all of you.

Lessened The Guilt somewhat.

Just, I will have to keep an eye on my other cat, Little Monsieur's baldy bits - tum and neck (colourpoint Devon Rex). What do you use as a sunscreen? He likes to sunbathe on his back, legs akimbo. I noticed he looked a bit pink in his baldy areas today.