Question:
Hello...before anyone comments I have already been to the vet but looking for more info!!!

My mother rescued a beautiful black cat from Animal Welfare Assoc..She has had him for almost 4 years...He has developed what the vet is calling Rodent Ulcer or Salmon Lip..He has sores similiar to a cold sore and a bit of scabs around the feet. We have been giving him presdnisone daily for about 6 months now and there is slight improvement. It was suggested that we avoid the needle version of the steriod as it could onset diabeties. So we have chosen the pill route for now. However he was immediately changed over to Hill ZD Diet which I now know is crap! They told me that the reason for that particular food is in case it is a allergy and not genetic??

I am wondering what food I could change him over too? Is there something special to look for in the new food? what about the fact the old food is for allergies? The vet also recommended that all plastic be removed from around him as it makes it worse?? He now has porcelin dishes etc..

Cindy

Answer:
Cindy ~ how is he doing with his feet ? Are they cleared with the prednisone? When you think of most of our fabrics and coverings today, they all carry an amount of synthetics.

If it is a only a food allergy that's a "fairly" simple thing to play around with as it is by elimination. But if he is environmentally sensitive/ has chemical allergies he may be a warning beacon in the house.

An elimination diet to determine whether he is allergic to certain foods would be the first steps.

Answer:
Mummummum! His feet are much better by far! actually they are much better than his lip! The trouble we face is that the vet does not know if it genetic or an allergy that brings it out? I am not sure if the allergy he speaks of will be fixed with food. Regardless I now know a bit more about what is really in the food and felt it wuld be best to change it..

We are afraid to give him the needle because they seemed so concerned about it giving him diabetes! which would be extremely hard to deal with at this time for my mom! she is elderly and would not be able to administer needles for diabetes..I was just wondering if I need to stick to a food that indicates it is for allergies or should I start off by getting a good quality food and starting from there?

Cindy

Answer:
Do you know what food he was originally on? Also, if you give us the info on the new food perhaps someone could give you some food advice. It seems like a good place to start in case it is allergies.

Answer:
He has been on Hills ZD and still is...I know it is garbage food and that is why I want to change it.

Cindy

Answer:
What was he originally on before they switched to the ZD? Then you could compare the different ingredients to perhaps identify a better food.

Answer:
Not sure! he was rescued! I dont think it was great food though! Usually not when they are resuces!

Cindy

Answer:
I found an article today on the internet about Rodent Ulcer and it said:

In all cases, a high quality diet with high levels of protein and good quality fats can put the patient at an advantage in keeping the ulcerative process from becoming clinically evident

So perhaps changing Brady over to this for my mom would be a good choice! The Proten was 45% and the fat was 20%??

Cindy

Answer: