Skin issues

[PurranhasDen]

I need to consult the hive mind regarding my son, Spike. Some of the legacy members around here remember the behavioral issues I had with him when he was a little bean. While we’ve conquered all of that and he has grown into such a gentleman, I have never been able to actually bathe him. Y’know those cute videos from Facebook content creators like Noodybums? Yeah, that’s not Spike. He won’t go anywhere near such a thing. I have mostly been able to manage his skin with weekly wipe downs. He fortunately does not produce much ear gunk so that is good. Lately he has been filthier than usual (one of his nicknames is “filthy beast”) and has been compulsively grooming to where he is irritating his skin and beginning to resemble a meatloaf with legs. A vet visit netted him some gabapentin to give him before a wet bath attempt. That was only partially helpful. What I have discovered is that breaking the gabapentin capsule open and stirring it into his morning wet food chills him out so that he dials back the furious grooming. Nothing like trying to sleep in the morning (I work night shift) and next to you is “slurp, slurp, slurp.” My list of culprits are dry air in the house. The household heat has been running quite a bit these last few months. Food allergies, however he gets Core tiny tasters twice a day. Tuna and shrimp flaked only, tuna and salmon is also acceptable. No chicken and absolutely no pate. He has quite the discerning palate. He also gets free fed Royal Canin Calm prescription kibble. He gets that because the whole clowder was ignoring thier dry food and he was being a touch aggressive towards his big sisters. That does have both chicken and some grain in it but he’s been on it for over 18 months with no issue until now. I’ve held off putting a shirt on him because he just furiously licks the shirt. I don’t want to put a e-collar on him because he is obviously inching and if I had a an itch that I could not scratch, I’d lose what’s left of my mind.
His cleaning regimen involves these oatmeal bath wipes and that foam stuff in a blue and white bottle, about once a week. I’ve got to be careful to not scrub too hard because that irritates the skin.
So any suggestions regarding bath products and skin care would be most welcome. I’ve considered a coconut oil rub down but I worry that would cause clogged pores thus making the problem worse. Or worse, he lick it all off and give himself a lube job and making his room a Superfund site.

 

[Yoda mom]

@PurranhasDen , maybe switch to waterwipes? and which blue white foam product using? name of?

Mine haaate spa day. and they are both now 15 yrs old. many yrs ago my vet got me hooked on trizultra w/keto for wiping out ears and it is dual purpose as a skin flush. so I wet trizultra on swisser cotton rectangle pads and gently wipe down everywhere* except faces, really gets the brown off armpits chins necks bellies, bumms, tail. then I pat dry** has cleared up the occasional prickle heat or scratches
Always ** check with your vet if trizultra would be okay for Spike since he is licking and not sure that would be an issue using.

Does he sleep on heating pad ? heated blanket?
any new treats? perhaps dial back on variety of food taking one away for a couple of weeks as maybe allergic to other proteins as a process of elimination.
sharing years ago when I tried acana cat food they turned into grease monsters. I switched foods and much improvement,
I personally dont offer too many different proteins in case one is a culprit for skin issues.
do you use any topical flea stuff that could maybe cause skin issues (brainstorming here) I dont use any flea products on my nakids.

I personally do not recommend any oil rub downs. many many yeaars ago I know coconut oil was popular but since learned oils can clog pores.

have you tried vetericyn spray on cotton squares for gentle wipe downs? I keep it on hand, I like it is non toxic,

so sad you and Spike going thru this, surely members will chime in. hugs and head smooches and hope you get some rest and a solution to sweet Spike's skin issue.

can you share pics? does he sit on heat registers ? prolonged clothing wearing?

what was vet's diagnosis of Spike's skin constant licking skin?

 

[Catzzzmeow]

Wondering if allergies. They can become allergic to things they were never allergic to in the past.


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[PurranhasDen]

So, update on Spike and his skin issues. He saw his vet for a “zooted on gabapentin” medicated bath. He is quite the celebrity at his vet’s office. The vet also had a look see at the skin and took a sample of the rash. She wanted to be sure there was no infection. There was nothing of note. He was a good boy for his bath and now smells and looks so so much better. As far as causes, he spends A LOT of time in his heated beds. I took a good look at all of them and yuck! Between the warmth and the oil that is natural for him, it was kinda of like not changing the bedsheets for a couple of months. I don’t know why it did not occur to me that that might be why. So, no more heated bedding for a while (he has plenty of fleeces to cuddle into as well as one bed that is not heated.) I threw all 3 heated beds (without the heating pad of course) through the washer on hot. There is also a recommendation for a different cleaning stuff (I don’t know the name. It’s on his discharge paperwork) I also have some low dose gabapentin for as needed if he starts worrying his skin, as well as bigger dosing for bath day. Also, I’m to keep shirts off until his skin heals. As we chart in human medicine “will continue to monitor…”

 

[Catzzzmeow]

Happy to see this update. I can see how heated beds and prolonged time in them could cause sweat and more oils etc. Ours do well just snuggling in blankets. I tend to look for thinner fleece blankets easy to through i the wash and dry quickly. Keep us updated…and if you get a chance share the name of the shampoo your vet recommended…it might help others in the future.