Bella - Side on Ear Shot

Here is a shot of Bella with her left ear still scratched up.  I selected this photo because the colour of her ears is really accurated.

We have noticed that when the Anti-histamines wear off her ears go slightly more pink. about 30-60mins after we have given her a dose, the overall colour of her ears dulls down to a more natural gray colour.

Today we have not noticed that her ear colour is really good for this late in the evening. I am about to give her the evening dose.  Its still too early to tell if the single protein diet is helping,
But I am getting excited that it could could be it!

Cat scratching ears part 2 -improvement

Here is a picture of Bella's Ears, The Scabs on her ears are healing up slowly and the next photo i will post should show her ears to be ten times better,

Last Wednesday we started Bella on a single protein diet, (venison) and today she looks so much better. Its too early to attribute the changes to the diet, because we have been giving her the anti-histamines twice daily and we have had her back feet bandaged.

I would recommend using a sticky bandage cloth on any cat that is scratching themselves to the point of skin damage. The bandages have a positive effect on the behavior of the cat too because scratching becomes pointless for them, its also distracting and the focus is turned to licking around the feet etc. Its pretty cheap for a roll of tape, and to change the bandages if they get them off isnt a problem.

Scratched Ears become Infected

Leading up to our appointment with the vet, we have had to stop using antihistamines, painkillers and any thing else that might interfere with the tests.

Bella has really scratched her ears over the last 3 days. You can see that the open wounds have become infected and a treatment of antibiotics will help clear up the infection.

We are going to start a single protein diet, (Venison) and we will stop giving her dry food or any other food while we run this six week test. Poppy will also move to a venison only diet to make sure we dont have any contamination. The best outcome will be to see a dramatic improvement of her skin and ears and for the allergy symptoms to dissapear.

This will prove that its completely food/diet related and then it will be a easier process to add things to her diet and identify what her body has problems with.

An important note is to give the antibiotics a chance to fully kick in before moving to the diet, just in case the problem is cleared up through a proper treatment. We know for sure that in this case, the antibiotics alone aren't enough because we have had Bella on antibiotics over the last couple of months for when her ears were infected previously.

ill get a photo of bella with her feet bandaged up with a sticky tape soon.

Diet, Food, Litter, Fleas, worms, more itching?

Over the two weeks, Bella appeared to have a harder time eating her food, (poppy and bella were eating the same food -> Advance kitten food at night and during the day dry food babycat by royal canin

Both Cats are inside Cats, and only allowed outside when supervised.
Bella will always eat grass and make her self sick, and the upset tummy has caused her to be sick around the house a few times. Not every day but sometimes.

In the photo you might be able to see her left ear is cut up and healing.
She will have probably finished the antibiotics at this stage, but its really hard to know if the course was long enough to treat the secondary issue.

What im trying to say is, the Primary issue makes her scratch herself, she cuts herself and that becomes infected by bacteria. Is the dry/scab area causing the itch and discomfort or is it the original issue, or a mixture.

She is still very cuddly and loving and always keen for a game of Fetch.
Which she brings the object back to you and drops it for you.

I should note that, around this time we decided to try out a hypo allergic diet so we opted to change her wet-food and dry food.
Hills Science Diet Feline ZD and royal canin hypo-allergenic

Her tummy has continued to be upset and she will eat grass to be sick, when given the chance. At this stage, the food that she is eating could be having a negative impact on her. He Poo's are not normal and quite wet and like a cow pat. This has been the case for a while now.

First Signs and Concerns

Everything started about 3 Months ago, when she was about 5 months old.
We noticed in the inner ear some red marks. We initially guess the two cats were fighting during the day. (In her Left Ear, you can see a few darker red marks)

After three days, the marks were getting worse and we concluded that we would isolate them for the day and make sure that it wasn't due to play fighting.

At this time the redness had increased in her ear and there were a fresh blood marks in and around the ear. She was scratching alot and it was about 11pm at night so we decided to take her to the afterhours vet. (16/MAY/2010)

Bella received a Antibiotic injection,
A steroid shot &
Pain Relief (Temgesic)

We were issued a course of Clavaspetin tablets to give twice daily. (Antibiotic)

At that time, we were told to watch her carefully and if she continued to cause damage to herself that we should take her into our normal vet.

The After hours vet suggest a collar but Bella is way to Crazy to wear that, and we felt that she would end up scratching around the neck.

From there it has continued....

What is Bellallergy?

Welcome to our blog.
Bellallergy is the name we have started using for our 8 month old Blue Abyssinian.
Her name is Bella, and she is currently suffering from some Skin/Allergy Condition

We will put together a series of posts to cover the history, the visits to the vet, treatment and the test that we will start in the next 2 weeks.

I would love your feedback or questions, so please feel free to do that!
Cheers
Dave