Question:
My 9-year-old female cat has been treated with steroid injections two times for rodent ulcers around her mouth. She is an extremely wild cat to take to the doctor, so the doctor could not examine her mouth and gave her the injection. After these two injections, I read an article in Cat Fancy magazine that said "overuse of steroids can lead to serious health conditions, including diabetes and pancreatitis." So when the ulcers came back, I didn't take her for a third shot. It has been a year since she had the last injection. A trip to the doctor is very stressful for her, so I only take her as a last resort; and I do not have a holistic doctor in the small rural area where I live. My cat eats nothing but Science Diet Hairball Control Mature Adult Senior 7+ dry cat food, and the doctor has assured me that this is OK for her. But I know that you disagree. She has ulcers on both sides of the mouth now, but one side is swelling, and I don't know what to do to help her. The Cat Fancy article says this is a "serious problem." Can she live with this problem? Is this painful for her? Is there anything I can do at home, or should I take her back to the doctor?
K.H., Cape Charles, Va Apr 05, 2009
Answer:
The lip sores and growths in cats called rodent ulcers can begin as an allergic reaction in the lip tissues. Many cats get better when non-plastic food and water bowls are used and when pure spring water or purified (filtered) tap water is provided. I would wean your cat off both the steroids and the manufactured food in question. The fur-ball problem could also be a food allergy that causes vomiting. Check my Web site, www.twobitdog.com, for a list of good cat foods containing quality animal protein and little or no cereal and soy. What you are currently feeding your cat is based on "chicken byproduct meal," which means ground and rendered necks, feet, undeveloped eggs and intestines, along with feathers in amounts "as might occur unavoidably" according to industry definition. Other ingredients can cause allergy and immune-system diseases in cats, notably "corn gluten meal," "ground whole corn" and "soybean mill run."
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