I made a vet appointment for this morning and had a surprise when the partner to our new vet showed up. It was an error on the receptionists part, but I was glad it happened. The last time I told them I only wanted to see the original vet because we were working well together.

I've had too many problems with various vets and I didn't want to take a chance on another new vet. However, this vet is also wonderful and very familiar with EG (Eosinophilic Granuloma). And he kept saying what a nice cat Jeremy is. He was very good with Jeremy.

Jeremy has been on Prednisone 15mg a day for more than a month. The lesions have healed, but then another one shows up. Today he has a small area on the side of his mouth that is slightly swollen but not open. He also has a very small open area on his neck, but it is only open because he has been scratching it - one reason we believe this whole thing is due to allergies as itching is a symptom.

The vet gave him an injection of Depo-Medrol which is also a steroid, and he won't have to get any more pills. (He asked me what I thought first). He also prescribed Amoxicillin (antibiotic) twice a day for a week.

The original vet had given me a few cans of anti-allergy wet food (Venison meat), but Jeremy or Molly wouldn't touch it. In the meantime I tried Natural Balance anti-allergy cat food DRY which is also Venison and some vegetables. They both seem to like that, although Molly more than Jeremy. I'm also looking for a wet food that doesn't contain fish, chicken, beef or wheat. The vet said I could just feed him dry, but I'd rather give him some wet twice a day.

I remember Michelle's Milo was given Depo-Medrol for similar lesions and did very well, so this is encouraging.

The vet today told me that if Jeremy can go without lesions for 6-7 months at a time, he can handle steroids for short periods the rest of his life. The next option would be another medication I mentioned above that works on dogs and has had some testing on cats with good results, but he said it is very expensive. We both are hoping the Depo-Medrol works! Please pray that it does.

Jeremy had his anal glands expressed ever-so-slightly today as there was very little in there. I was holding him for the vet (a bit nervously) when Jeremy started hissing - and then growling. I never heard him growl before. The vet finished just as the claws were coming out!

I got lots of kisses from Jeremy when we got home, so guess he didn't blame me for the pain, although I had told him it wouldn't hurt.

All is well now......I feel positive. And I'm soooooooooooooooo blessed to have 2 GREAT VETS! I am so grateful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Maria

Oh Maria!!! I am so excited for you that this new vet is familiar with EG!!! WHAT GREAT NEWS!!! And having two vets that you like at the same practice is wonderful because when one goes on vacation you will still have the other to see!!!! OH HAPPY DANCE!!!!

Yes, the Depo-Medrol did help Milo but his lesion thingee never actually went away.... it went down considerably and turned a lighter pink (like the color of his "lips") rather than the deeper pink of a blister thing. When Dr. Mark was on vacation a few weeks ago and I took Milo in for the vomiting which turned out to be "suspected" salmonella, the new vet, Dr. Zimmerman suggested that when it flares up again (he looked at it for me even though we weren't in there for that) we should biopsy it, so next flare up I will suggest that to Dr. Will. So far, so good though.

I hope the Depo-Medrol works well on Jeremy (and that the antibiotic will also help). I am so happy for you that YOU are so happy!!!!

Sounds good, Maria! I hope the Depo-Medrol works.

I am not surprised Jeremy growled while getting his anal glands expressed. It is certainly not a pleasant event to have a happen!

Maria:

The news with you and Jeremy sounds good. I very happy that you have now found two vets with whom you are very pleased.

I'm also very pleased for Jeremy that the EG seems to be clearing up - and that you have a good long term prognosis on it

What is the name of the experimental drug? Have you googled it yet?

I also seem to remember reading something about some hyper-allergenic wet foods somewhere. Let me see if I can find anything about them on the net for you.

Mark

Thanks everyone. I had a rather different weekend, but wasn't able to post.

Jeremy is doing better and his EG is beginning to seriously clear up. I'm relieved. The problem is finding out what is causing it......

Mark - I did forget what the trial medication is. I'm hoping we don't have to go that route!

Michelle - Jeremy had a biopsy - actually 2 at the same time, one from a lesion on each side of his mouth. He had to be put under because they had to remove part of the lesion, and the vet gave me pain medication for him. He really needed it. Be sure you get pain medication if Milo has to have the biopsy. Jeremy looked great after it all healed, though.

Maria

I'm glad to hear the lesions are clearing up. It is so frustrating to not know what causes them.

Thanks for the info on how the vet had to put Jeremy under to do the biopsy.... I was wondering how they did that. I will certainly ask for pain meds should we end up going that route. Thanks again for the heads up.