I did some research online and thought perhaps she developed a food allergy. So I put her on diet for Sensitive Skin... No change. After more research, I put her on Duck Dry Food. Again, she is still scratching her face raw and living life in the e-collar. I took her to the vet and they gave her a shot of pregnisone. I the shot was supposed to work for a couple weeks, but only stopped her scratching for about one week. They checked her for ear mites and fleas - and she was clean. Our other two cats have no problems. I then tried a liquid skin irritant formula and it seemed to work. She was scratch free for a few months even after we stopped giving her the Natural Pet's liquid.
After about three months of being scratch/scab free she started scratching again. I started her back up on the Natural Pet Liquid and this time it did not work. :( I also switched all my household cleaners to non-toxic all natural or organic cleaners. I have never switched her off of the Nature's Balance Duck Formula this whole time. I took her to the vet again and had a blood allergy test done. She tested positive for a couple types of weed allergies but that doesn't explain why she is scratching her face raw because she is an indoor pet and it's winter. The vet also gave her a strong shot of antibiotics which didn't help either.
Then we tried giving Lucy Atopica - the "claritin" for cats. No change whatsoever... She is still scratching. They tested her urine for diabetes and she tested negative. I also tried a itch spray (which she hated) and putting caps on her back claws... all to no avail.
The only other symptom, which comes and goes, is that she sounds semi-congested and will sound like she is clearing her throat. Her behavior is good and hasn't changed a bit. She still purrs regardless of living in the e-collar. We are at our wits end and have tried almost everything!!!! Can anybody help???
Replied by Wendy (Columbus, Oh/usa) on 12/17/2012
Have you tried organic Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) yet? Put a teaspoon undiluted into her food each time you feed her. Also, dilute it 1/2 and 1/2 with spring water, put the solution on a cotton ball, and carefully & gently wipe the sore on her cheek. If the sore is open and oozing, DO NOT use the ACV. It needs to heal first, using prescription meds from your vet. Only after it has healed, can you start swabbing the area with the diluted ACV.
There are tons of links about using ACV here on EC. Just search.
