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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Ulcer? Sore? Pic.

21 replies

KTD27 · 04/02/2021 08:25

I posted a few weeks ago about our boy. FIV drinking lots and being sick. We have had him to the vets countless times now. To check bloods - all fine - and to test urine - fine.
Most recently this. He’s developed a sore on his face and it’s getting worse. The vet said it could be an allergy (to what?!) and to clean it which we are doing but I can’t shake the feeling that something isn’t right. He doesn’t really venture out and certainly hasn’t been out recently in the snow so it’s not from outside the house or a fight or anything.
He’s still being sick every day. Vet said if continuing next week he is going to try him on steroids.
Anyone got any ideas? Anything I should go back and question? My poor kitty.

Ulcer? Sore? Pic.
OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 04/02/2021 11:03

Poor boy, that looks sore. Do you trust the vet?. There’s no harm asking for a second opinion.

Original poster
KTD27 · 04/02/2021 11:06

It’s a new vet as it’s a new area we moved to last year. He’s seen two different vets at the practice and they have a good name - countryside vets and v popular with the locals.
Both vets said looking at bloods etc he’s fine. He’s lost another 300g in a fortnight and if that keeps going I’m not sure what will happen. He used to be a bit of a porky boy but not any more.
I might give it another day and see if it’s continuing to progress and then bring him back. Sad

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SassenachWitch · 04/02/2021 11:07

Poor thing.

That looks more like an injury to me, rather than allergies. Could he have been injured before the snow and this is now an abscess?

I’d definitely be trying a different vet.

Original poster
KTD27 · 04/02/2021 11:21

The thing is he saw the vet just before the snow and they didn’t spot it (neither did we) so I’m inclined to think it’s turned up really recently. But I take your point will look around for a second opinion.

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SassenachWitch · 04/02/2021 12:57

Could he have caught himself on something in the house? It really does look like a gash from the photo.

Have they found a reason for his weight loss? Have they checked his kidney function?

Original poster
KTD27 · 04/02/2021 14:10

They did full bloods and found nothing. Urine was clear. I don’t know if there’s anything further they can do to check kidneys but am happy to ask for it if there is.
I guess he could have caught himself but I would be clueless as to on what. We have small kids so no unduly sharp edges or dangerous bits. Still it’s not an impossibility I suppose. Have rung around and there’s another vet locally I’m waiting to hear from. They might be able to squeeze him in tomorrow

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Original poster
KTD27 · 04/02/2021 14:11

Edit to add they’ve explained the weight loss with the vomiting. They said they’d like us to give him laxitives to clear out his system to ensure he hasn’t invested anything that he’s allergic to. Then if that doesn’t resolve its exploratory surgery or steroids

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SassenachWitch · 04/02/2021 16:04

Have they found a reason for the vomiting?
Have you tried changing his food? Maybe he has developed allergies.

I hope you get some answers, it’s horrible when our fur babies are poorly.

Original poster
KTD27 · 04/02/2021 17:16

They haven’t. They just suggested allergies and fur balls but it’s so regular. They also suggested initially he might be allergic to the antibiotics they put him on because he was sneezing and snorting and they thought he had an upper respiratory infection. That’s definitely stopped now but the sickness continues. He’s had the hills metabolic food for years and years but we can absolutely try another. Particularly because he doesn’t have a weight problem any more 😞

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Snooch12 · 04/02/2021 17:46

KTD how long has he had the sore on his face and what did it look like when you first noticed it? How old is he?

PurpleRainDancer · 04/02/2021 17:50

Think I’d be getting a second opinion OP. I presume he is allowed out in a secure area so he doesn’t come into contact with other cats, so not likely to be a fight injury? Wishing him a speedy recovery.

Original poster
KTD27 · 04/02/2021 17:52

It was smaller and less weepy than that. I’d say he’s had it since last weekend. Around 5 days. We bathed it and when it seemed to have gotten worse had him to the vet on Tuesday.
We think he’s around 11? We adopted him in 2013 and they said he was between 2-4. He’d been picked up as a stray and was diagnosed as having FIV from there.

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Original poster
KTD27 · 04/02/2021 17:54

@PurpleRainDancer he rarely goes out at all. We lived in a flat for years and he was an inside cat given his FIV we were instructed not to let him out. We have now got a house and garden and sometimes he pops out for a sniff and a chew of the grass (well he did a bit in summer when we had the door open) but he never ever roams and isn’t a territorial Tom at all. Given the cold weather he’s forever to be found asleep on our radiators or in his cat home.

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elsaesmeralda · 04/02/2021 17:55

My cat suddenly developed a sore just like that one on his face, I presumed it was an injury, took him to the vets they thought the same, used hibiscrub and it eventually cleared up. Then another appeared on his neck, then his ears started going really red, hot and sore. Long story short it is allergies with our cat, to what we don't know! But he had a biopsy taken to check for mites etc, all fine, vet thinks it could be pollen as now it's winter he's absolutely perfect! Vets have suggested steroid injections every few months.

Original poster
KTD27 · 04/02/2021 18:32

Oh how interesting! Well let’s hope it’s something and nothing. The second vets can’t fit me in this week now so I’m going to see how he gets on over the next few days and get him in as early as I can to be checked again.

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Original poster
KTD27 · 06/02/2021 11:28

More and more vomit so he’s being taken to the vets again now. Oh I hope he’s ok. Sad

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Mia184 · 06/02/2021 12:56

I hope it is nothing serious. Poor thing.

elsaesmeralda · 06/02/2021 13:18

Poor boy hope he gets better

Original poster
KTD27 · 06/02/2021 14:07

So the vet said he had a slight temp. Have taken a sample of urine. Said he has some poo ‘stuck’ (going regularly but seems a bit constipated) so we have to up his lactulose dose and also start him on a chicken only diet for a week or so. If no better back again to discuss steroids

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Original poster
KTD27 · 06/02/2021 16:54

There’s bacteria in his urine so he’s finally got some antibiotics and steroids for his face. Phew. Now to see if they make a difference

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Original poster
KTD27 · 18/02/2021 19:33

Ahh my poor boy. Things don’t look good. His face is healed but he had a temp of 40 a week ago and after antibiotics and steroids it’s not shifted. He’s stopped eating Sad the vet has given him more meds today and if no pick up by tomorrow he has to go in for fluids at the very least. And then..: I don’t know. They suggested they’d be looking not simply for an infection but for a tumour or a disease I can’t even remember - immune something? His bloods were fine but he just is not well. He isn’t well at all. My buddy. I really hope he eats Sad

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