Photos: Topaz 1) wearing a donut around her neck to prevent scratching ulcers and lesions, 2) with an ulcer on her lip, and 3) following skin testing to identify allergens.
Topaz came into our care in October of 2023 when she was six months old. She was found by a kind woman wandering the streets in an area known to have stray dogs and lots of traffic. Obviously a dangerous situation for a kitten. We don’t know if she was lost or abandoned, but all efforts to find her family failed so she was brought into SPCA’s care.
Topaz adjusted to her foster home quickly and initially seemed very healthy. However, we noticed Topaz had a swollen lip which we thought was either an injury or swelling from a flea bite. We hadn’t expected that more than a year later we would be struggling to find a remedy for environmental allergens that are causing chronic “indolent ulcers” on her lips as well as lesions on other parts of her body.
We have tried special prescription foods to address possible food allergies. And a wide range of different medications to address environmental allergens. We are now working with a veterinary dermatologist and have started immunotherapy (allergy shots). This long road will take 12 to 18 months to see results.
This has been a long road for Topaz. We are searching for treatment alternatives that are both effective and easy enough for Topaz to endure. Everyone knows cats are finicky eaters, don’t like taking medication and certainly won’t like getting shots!
If you would like to help support Topaz’s veterinary treatment, please sign up to be her Guardian Angel.