Swollen, Infected paw pads

[Fester]

Plasma Cell Pododermatitis... colloquially known as pillow foot. It's what I thought when I asked Dr.Google. But we all know how unprofessional he is So I consulted my vet for a second, more reliable opinion, and... Plasma Cell Pododermatitis.
The vet seems confident that a round or 2 of Doxycycline will get it under control, but did let me know the possibility exists that it may require either maintenance treatments or we might have to try several things before finding one that works.
I love the fact that my vet is kinda excited to have a patient with a rare condition --She's appropriately sympathetic, but it's cool to see her 'geek out' over something to learn.

As far as my eyes go, most of the time I'm at better than 20/20 -- did you know that stars have colors that you can see? I didn't!

And the car situation has been worked out, now when I take my scooter out in the cold is because I wanted to, rather than because I had to.

5e gets the stitches out from the biopsies next week, and starting this evening we'll get to experience the joy of stuffing pills in him.
Anyone have suggestions for the least traumatic way to do so?

 

[Catzzzmeow]

Ever try pill pockets? It's a treat you put the pill in and they eat the treat. They are soft and you mold it around the pill.

 

[Fester]

I wentt and got the pills, and the vet was full of advice about how to pill a cat, lubing the pill, a syringe of water to chase it... then I asked if the had pill pockets, and they were slightly stunned... apparently they were so used to difficult cats, the easy option hadn't occurred.. lol. they gave me the pill pockets for free, since they missed the easy way.
Good thing 5e is so food-centric, I've pilled a cat before, and it sounds like one is peeling a cat instead.

 

[ElvirasMum]

I whet and got the pills, and the vet was full of advice about how to pill a cat, lubing the pill, a syringe of water to chase it... then I asked if the had pill pockets, and they were slightly stunned... apparently they were so used to difficult cats, the easy option hadn't occurred.. lol. they gave me the pill pockets for free, since they missed the easy way.
Good thing 5e is so food-centric, I've pilled a cat before, and it sounds like one is peeling a cat instead.

You'll have to let us know how 5e takes the pill pockets!!!

 

[Catzzzmeow]

I whet and got the pills, and the vet was full of advice about how to pill a cat, lubing the pill, a syringe of water to chase it... then I asked if the had pill pockets, and they were slightly stunned... apparently they were so used to difficult cats, the easy option hadn't occurred.. lol. they gave me the pill pockets for free, since they missed the easy way.
Good thing 5e is so food-centric, I've pilled a cat before, and it sounds like one is peeling a cat instead.

Whew so happy they work for you! Funny how the simplest thing is some times the last thing they think of

 

[Fester]

5e is so food focused, I had no problems with hime taking it with a pill pocket.

Just hold treat, like he'w used to seeing me hold treat, and he'll run across the room to come and eat it.

 

[Fester]

Follow up:
after a month of drugs, I basically have a new cat -- his weight has dropped to a healthier level, his activity has gone through the roof, and he's so much more affectionate!

next month I'll have a follow-up and find out if I need to give him the doxycycline all the time, or just a round every once in a while

//I'm so happy about his progress!

 

[Catzzzmeow]

Love seeing good news on here!

 

[ElvirasMum]

So happy 5e has mended so well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Fester]

Well I never got around to a one month followup, but this thread:
http://www.sphynxlair.com/f4/plasma-cell-pododermatitis-22867/
popped up, so I thought I'd share a bit...

5e will require a maintenance dose of doxy forever. apparently.
since pillowfoot is very rare, there isn't much info about what causes it exactly.

what is known is that it's an autoimmune disorder, basically the cats immune system overreacts and starts attacking the paw pads. Sometimes an allergy can trigger the reaction, sometimes... just because.
Vet says that the first treatment should be Doxycycline, that the side effects are the least of the possible treatments. It works for about 50% of the cases.
in many cases, the cat only needs treatment when suffering a flair up.
In 5e's case, he's going to be getting a pill every 3 days forever-- he starts to flair up as soon as we stop. we checked for allergies, and can't seems to find any, so it's not likely to be triggered that way for him.

In other updates, scooter is still running great: album
Robots are still being made: album