Question:
I'm dealing with a health problem with one of my kitties and am hoping that someone else has had similar experiences. My apologies for this post being so long, but I want to give as complete a history as possible.
Bruce has had two flareups of Eosinophilic Granuloma (linear granuloma or a swollen bottom lip and/or chin) - one last June and another three months later, in September. In the past, a short treatment of oral steroids (prednisone) tablets has always worked. However, this current flareup is out of the ordinary.
His latest flareup - swollen bottom lip - didn't respond to prednisone tablets this time so I had him back to the vet for another look. Another $250 later I dewormed and defleaed everyone (not likely I have a flea problem but sometimes granuloma is caused by parasite allergies) and put him on .5 ml fatty acids twice a day. As well, I removed all food and treats except their usual Walthams calorie control dry food. Last week although the bottom lip had gone down, the fur on his top lip area fell out, revealing his skin. Although it looked sore, it didn't bother him at all -- he was eating, playing and interacting with the other cats as normal. I immediately put him on 4 mg antihistamine (chlorpheniramine maleate USP) tablets twice a day to supplement the fatty acid oil. I also yanked his Walthams and put him back on the Nutro Natural Choice dry I had been feeding them last year (everyone did really well on Nutro but it's hard to get where I live).
I've been calling in updates to my vet every few days and he did appear to be improving, with the fur beginning to grow back and no new lesions on his gums. I've been checking his mouth and gums at least twice a day - always when giving him his treatment. This morning I noticed a large lesion had appeared on his top gum. It's raised, reddish with a puss-colour stain in the middle - prolly about a centimetre long all told. I took a photo of it but the quality isn't very good - I will try for a better one this evening. It's quite big compared to the others and looks absolutely horrid.
I called my vet straightaway but he's on holiday til this Monday. Bruce is totally oblivious to the lesion -- he's eating his dry food and acting normally, so I think it's alright to wait til my vet gets back on Monday.
Because this lesion is so much worse than the smaller ones he's gotten in the past, I'm beginning to worry about cancer and am thinking that I should have a biopsy done by my vet.
Anyway, if anyone has had a similar experience with their cat, I'd love to hear about it. Thanks.
Edit: Bruce is nearly two years old. We found him at about 7 days old in our parking lot with a mangled tail and after rushing him to the vets, decided to adopt him. Other than an irritable eye that occasionally needs antibiotic ointment, he's always been in really good health. We also rescued his sister Isobel who has never had any problems barring an icky eye when we first found her, which cleared up immediately with ointment.


Answer:
I think that a biopsy is a good idea to rule out anything more serious. Although it does sound like he has Eosinophilic Granuloma. Surprisingly, when the lesions occur in and around the mouth, they are usually the lest painful. Does he have any other lesions? On his stomach or thighs? Have you considered a homemade diet? Also which Nutro formula are you using? Some include corn...and that is a major allergen for some cats and dogs. It sounds like he can wait to see the vet on Monday...unless there is some change in his condition.


Answer:
I just found this clinical info...most of it is easy to read...
http://www.vet.uga.edu/vpp/clerk/Starnes/
It may be worth discussing with your vet.


Answer:
Hi Candice! Thanks so much for your response - I appreciate it.
No other lesions on his body, thank goodness. You're right - it's bizarre that the mouth lesions are the least painful. While I was on the phone with the vet today, Brucie was chowing down on a plate of dry food as if there was nothing wrong. I'm so thankful that it's bothering me more than it is himself It's funny that you mention the home-made diet cos I've been researching that today When I think about in the 'olden days' when cats were fed table scraps...they didn't seem to have the problems we're finding today. Also been wondering about trying just a lamb and rice based diet on everyone. It does seem to make alot more sense.
It's the Nutro Complete Care Natural Choice dry I've got them back on, which unfortunately does contain corn gluten meal Before that, I was feeding Walthams calorie control (Hamish is a big boy) which also has corn gluten meal in it. Sheesh...that's prolly IT I think maybe I should eliminate the corn from his diet for a trial period, then re-introduce it to see if that's it. *smacks head for being so thick* Thanks Candice!
I'm definitely watching him like a hawk and if he gets worse or looks like his mouth is bothering him, I'm taking him to the vet immediately. Poor boy - he's so forgiving, too. He cringes when he sees me coming with the pill plunger or the syringe but never tries to claw or bite me, and usually ends up playing ambush with me within a couple of hours


Answer:
Thanks for that link - the cat at the top of the page looks quite a bit like Isobel, Bruce's sister! I thought originally it may have bacterial origins because the first flareup followed him getting into raw bacon in the rubbish and the second followed him getting into a bit of fish also in the rubbish. But the meat-eater has moved out and I'm veggie, so don't think it could be bacterial.
Here is another really good link (I've been scouring the Net since he had his first flareup in June) but some of the photos are quite graphic: http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body...granuloma.html


Answer:
Cutting out the corn can't hurt...and it is one of the most common allergies. I think the trial needs to be at least 8-10 weeks before a conclusion can be made. I can recommend some good kibbles if you want to go that route. You could always try a kibble diet and if that doesn't work, try a bland, homemade diet like chicken and rice or lamb and rice.
The Marvista Vet site rocks! I have used that site so many times.
Good luck with Brucie...he sure is cute, even with his swollen lips. Isobel is a sweetie too.


Answer:
I went to my vet today and bought some Waltham Selected Protein With Rice & Duck kibbles. No corn So we'll try that. If all else fails, I'll go the home-made food route. I'm a vegetarian though and can't stomach the sight of raw meat, but I will cook them up chicken and/or lamb if I have to, but I'd rather try the kibble first
That huge sore that had me ringing the vet in a panic yesterday is all but gone today. They come and go so quickly and don't bother him in the least, which is a blessing.


Answer:
Banshee...do you have the ingredients by chance?


Answer:
Okay, I found them. This is just MHO, but for how much you are paying for Walthams, you could be getting a much better food. Another common cause of allergies is by-products. The Walthams also have BHT/BHA which is not a natural preservative and has been shown to be cancer causing. It can also cause allergic reactions. Sorry.
I can recommend several foods that do not use corn, by-products or unnatural preservatives if you'd like.


Answer:
Originally Posted by Candycane
Another common cause of allergies is by-products.
I know, I hate those by-products. That's why I wanted to put them back on the Nutro - there are no by-products in Nutro. Unfortunately, there is corn
The Walthams also have BHT/BHA which is not a natural preservative and has been shown to be cancer causing. It can also cause allergic reactions. Sorry.
Argh! I didn't know that! No, don't apologize - I appreciate you telling me. Why on earth vets sell stuff that's not healthy, I'll never understand
I can recommend several foods that do not use corn, by-products or unnatural preservatives if you'd like.
Yes please. If you don't mind recommending a few, I'd really appreciate it