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Scabby neck after flea treatment

6 replies

ginjin · 03/08/2017 16:14

Hi all,

I've got an older rescue cat that we've had for about 18 months. When I rescued him, they said he doesn't have any medical problems but he has had a reaction to flea treatment. When they treated him, his neck got scabby and then got infected. They said nothing to worry about, but keep an eye on his neck after treatment and take him in if he ends up with an infected wound. Fine.

Since then I've done regular flea treatment, and he's not had a reaction since. No marks at all on his neck. All using same treatment. When I rescued him, his fur was in a terrible condition and he was a bit scabby generally, so I wonder if that's more the reason he reacted with them and not me.

Until the last treatment, when he got a scabby neck again. Not the whole area, although the skin is quite dry and flakey there, but a very small scab. Had a vet have a look and she couldn't decide whether it was from the flea treatment or not - may have been a scratch from playing outside/another cat, and just coincidence. It hasn't got infected and is healing nicely now.

My question is, has anybody else had a cat react to flea treatment in this way? And if so, have you found a flea treatment that doesn't cause a reaction? I'm looking into it just in case he gets a scabby neck again next time I treat him.

Thanks

OP posts:
Wh0Kn0wsWhereTheTimeGoes · 03/08/2017 16:26

We had similar, when ours came to us 4 years ago from rescue she had a scabby neck which was attributed to flea treatment. It healed ok and we used different spot-ons after that. We've had a couple of recurrences which have got infected but not immediately after flea treatment and the vet thinks it's a bit of eczema that she has scratched and infected, she's had to have antibiotics both times plus a bit of steroid cream. The place it happens is actually a bit lower than flea treatments go, sort of between her shoulder blades, but we've switched to 6 monthly Program injections instead of spot-ons, she hated the spot-ons so this is easier all round.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 03/08/2017 19:10

Which one are you using?

ginjin · 03/08/2017 20:02

That's interesting Wh0 - my old boy isn't bothered by having the spot on at all, but visiting the vets is another matter!

Pink I can't remember the name - I finished the box after the last treatment. Ive got it written down somewhere, I'll see if I can find it. It was one of the ones from the vet...

OP posts:
PinkSparklyPussyCat · 03/08/2017 21:09

I know it has to be done but I do worry what it does to their skin. Luckily Harry hasn't had any problems but we're changing from Advocate to Bravecto so I'll be keeping an eye on him.

ginjin · 03/08/2017 21:28

The only time I ever see the old boy scratching is the day after spot on treatment!

OP posts:
PinkSparklyPussyCat · 03/08/2017 21:56

We've noticed a few clumps of fur after Harry has Profender. The problem is I don't know what else to use as I can't give him a worm pill.

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