Conference misery::feline_v1

    I think Acne is the word you are looking for. :^)  The only thing
    that I can think of is Flea Allergy.  You don't have to see fleas
    on her in order for her to have it.  In a cat that is allergic,
    it only takes on bite for it to flair up.
    
    Trip to the vet is probably the best idea.
    
    Jo

    Just read your note again and thought of something else.  The hair
    loss on her lower belly could be hormone related.  If her thyroid
    were acting up, she could lose the hair on her lower belly, and
    thyroid problems can also contribute to skin problems.  The condition
    I am thinking of is called Hypothyroid, where the thyroid doesn't
    produce enough of the hormone.
    
    Jo

    Sandy,
    
    Did you read Karen's note (#3897) regarding this subject?
    
    Maybe you could drop her a line and explain some of the symptoms - I
    know she took 'Ruby' to the vets because of the same thing.
    
    Good luck!
    
    Marilyn, Otis, Tiffany and Toonces
    
    
    

    Well Misty went to visit the Vet yesterday and the verdict is a bad
    case of fleas and possible tapeworm. (Jo your initial thoughts were
    correct)  Of course I have been bragging all summer...that our six
    cats did not have a flea problem.  So for those of you who can't
    see any fleas on the cats or in the house....keep looking and don't
    brag!!
    
    I don't have the specifics...but Mitsy received a shot, some pills
    to take home and some flea spray to be used immediately on all cats
    in the house.   The Vet said he will treat the tapeworm...after
    the fleas are gone.  Does this sound right??  The Flea spray was
    name SYNERKIL (spelling I'm not sure of) but it comes in a black
    plastic container...it does not really have a spray, but a pump.
    It goes on wet but then dries to a powder that you leave on the
    cats.  Has anyone ever used this...and did you have any luck in
    getting rid of the fleas?????   My cats scratched more after we
    put on the stuff then before.  Boy were they insulted!
    
    I tried the trick with the soap/water in a bowl under the light,
    but didn't find any fleas in the morning.  Could this mean I have
    a mild case....or do I have smart fleas?  I still can't beleive
    we have a problem??          
    
    Well we bathed all six of them last night...oh what fun!!  Well
    I'm off to read the files on Fleas  (YUK) and tapeworms (DOUBLE
    YUK). 
                                                          
    Sandy (Tamba, Poco, and Barkley)
         along with
    Donna (Mitsy, Ross, and Jordon)

    I guess that every vet has their own opinion on treating for tapeworms,
    but I disagree with your vet.  I can see the logic that he is using,
    that until you get rid of the fleas, the cat can get tapeworms again.
    But, I feel that since tapeworm is an internal parasite, once you
    are aware that a cat has them, you should try and get rid of them.
    Just like any other little nasty that a cat can get, they can
    compromise the cat.  They can also cause side symptoms like poor
    coat texture, and a general decline in health.  
    
    IMO, it is much better to just treat the cat for tapes now, and 
    then if you notice the symptoms again later, you can treat him 
    again.  Besides, it may take you several weeks, even months before 
    you are sure that the fleas are all gone.  And, if you live in 
    California or any other very hot, dry climate, the fleas might 
    never be completely gone!
    
    Just my $.02,
    
    Jo

    Jo,
    
    After reading many responses from you....I do trust and appreciate
    your .02 cents.  I live in Massachusetts...where it is getting pretty 
    cold at night so hopefully this problem will go away. (somewhat)
    
    The Vet asked my sister to bring the cat back in early next week
    so I assuming that's when he will start treating Mitsy...and if at
    that time he still does not want to treat the tapeworm I will tell 
    my sister to push back and atleast question why?  Have you ever heard 
    of the spray he gave us?????
    
    Your responses along with everyones...are always appreciated....
    
    Sandy (Tamba, Poco, and Barkley              
    
    

    I haven't heard of the spray that you described.  It may be one
    of those new growth inhibitor sprays.  I wish you folks could get
    DeFlea out there!  It is so safe to use and it works so well.  Be
    sure to tell your sister that she should make treating the house
    her first priority, then treat the cats.  The fleas spend more time
    in the carpets than on the cat.
    
    If she has to bring the cat back next week, is she going to be charged
    an office call, plus a fee for pilling the cat??  I am the suspicious
    type, so I tend to see this kind of treatment as a ploy for more
    money for the vet.  The vet may have very good intentions, and I
    may be way off base.  Having as many cats as I do, I am always watching
    for ways to save money and still give good care for my cats.  If
    the vet administers the pill, it will cost you more than if you
    ask him to dispense it to you and you give it to the cat at home.
    Also, if the vet gives the cat a shot for tapeworm, it will cost
    even more.  I recently looked into purchasing Droncit myself, and
    the injectable is almost twice the cost of the tablets.  So, ask
    for the pill instead and then give it yourself.
    
    The shot that the vet gave the cat already was probably a cortisone
    shot to help with the itching and inflammation of her flea allergy.
    
    Droncit is a relatively safe drug.  It can be given to pregnant
    cats and nursing mothers, so you shouldn't have to worry about giving
    it to your cat more than once.  The life cycle of a flea is something
    like 14 days, so the cat can become reinfected with tapeworm rather
    quickly.
    
    Jo

    Jo,
    
    I don't believe we need to worry about what the Vet charges because
    this Dr is very very reasonable.  Anytime I bring my kids in for
    whatever...he usually charges under $15 and we walk out with the
    kids getting shots, pills, creams, etc.
    
    He charged my sister $25.00 yesterday for a brief checkup (Mitsy
    hadn't been to this Dr before), a shot, a very big can of flea 
    spray, and a bunch of pills.  Does that sound high to you????
                               
    He cares deeply for animals and normally even calms me down....my
    only concern is that I don't believe this VET is up to the latest
    in kitty technology.  His father (80 years old) has been the VET 
    in this area for about 60 years....he still goes to the office but
    does not do any of the operations.
    
    Again...thanks a whole bunch for your suggestions.  Why don't we
    have DeFlea out here???????
                                      
    Sandy

    We do have D'Flea out here, you just have to look extra hard for it!
    
    I have seen it at cat shows (I think Haddeleigh House carries it), and
    also through mail order in Cats and Cat Fancy.  I will look for a copy
    of the ad tonight and try to post it tomorrow.
    
    --Roberta
    

    There are two products going by the same name, one is a comb that
    you can put flea spray in and it distributes the spray.  That is
    called DeFlea too.
    
    This stuff is a solution that contains Ducosate Sodium (sp).  I
    can't remember if it is DeFlea or D'Flea, but it works really well.
    You may have it out there, but I have never heard anyone from out
    there saying they have used it or liked it.  I love the stuff. 
    Works great.  You can mix it with your regular cat shampoo and make
    that beauty treatment a flea treatment at the same time.  It is
    also safe for spraying on cat beds, cat trees, furniture etc.  I
    use the solution, not the shampoo.
    
    Haddeleigh House might carry it.  Out here, a private individual
    sells it.  She is a Persian breeder and usually buys a vendor space
    and sells too.  I found out about it cause she was handing out coupons
    for a free 8oz bottle to new customers.  I tried it and loved it.
    It is also fairly inexpensive.
    
    You vet sounds like a very reasonably priced one.  Like I said,
    I tend to be the suspicious type.  If the vet charges another
    office visit just to pop a pill down the cat's throat next week,
    then I would be unhappy about that.  Especially since he could have
    given it this week without charging an additional office visit.
                                                         
    Jo
    

    Pookie gets tape worm all the time. The pills don't work for her, she
    always gets the jab. We de-flea the house at least once a month. Pookie
    gets quite ill because of tape worm - grotty coat, diarrhoea and fat
    tummy. I think we've finally beaten it now, she has been 100% fit for
    at least 10 days now - HOORAY!
    
    Lisa plus Pookie and Rolf.
    

    Lisa - isn't the fat belly more symptomatic of roundworm than tapeworm?
    
    One thing I've found that works fairly well is to use regular flea
    powder on all the cat-trees and beds.  I just leave it there.  Most
    of the powders etc claim they keep working for 6 months.
    
    I do have the D-flea in the comb.  In fact, I have to give both Bob &
    Halie a treatment as both of them are showing the scabs that go with
    a flea allergy again.
    
      Nancy

    The product listed here in Cat Fancy is called:
    
    d'flea (liquid dispensing comb)
    
    o Kills fleas, No mess
    o Insecticide dispensed through porous teeth
    o Safe for cats and dogs
    o Pyrethrin insecticide included
    o Money back guarantee
    
    Send check for $8.95 plus $1.50 shipping to:
    
    d'flea
    Box FJ
    College Station, Texas 77841
    
    
    FYI... they spell d'flea in small case; this isn't a typo!!
    And I don't think it is the same product Jo has described.
    But, we will have to await her Medina trip in order to know for sure!
    

    Nancy, Pookie did have round worm as well to start with, but it was the
    tape worm that caused the most probs. Also she has never really
    recovered from being poisoned or from losing Percy. All these things
    happened at around the same time, so she has taken a looooong time
    to get back to 100% fitness. Now all she has to cope with is Rolf
    getting passionate ;-) Not for much longer though! Tomorrow he goes
    to the vet!
    
    Lisa plus Pookie and Rolf.
    
    

    Lisa,
    
         Glad to hear that Pookie is back to fitness!  I was worried about
    her.  Poor thing, she's been through a lot.
    
         Good luck with Rolf tomorrow!
    
    					- Andrea

    lisa, 
    
    same here...i was so worried the pookster might have given up the will
    to fight the poisoning without her percy.  glad to hear she is back in
    form...
    
    diane, stanley & stella
    

    Thanks for the info on d'flea...Jo really likes the d'Flea solution 
    but as anyone had much luck with the d'Flea comb?  Does it work??
    
    Sandy

    Poor Pookie....You know, I thought of you one day when Mark Perrento
    on WBCN (Local rock station) warned folks about the dangers of
    fertilizer to pets.  I was glad to hear someone say something about
    it.
      Nancy