Allergies in cats

CASE REPORTS

• Allergies in dogs

• Allergies in cats

• Arthritis

• Colitis. otitis

• Cushings disease

• Ear infections

• Feline chronic renal failure

• Heartworm

• Inflammatory bowel disease

• Kennel cough

• Kidney failure, disc disease

• Lymphangitis

• Lymphoma

• Oral papillomas

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This is the remarkable story of 'Winky', a stray cat who spent his first year at a municipal landfill, had cancer at 2 years of age, suffered a seizure, had food allergies and renal insufficiency, then came to CRVC for holistic therapy.

Mast cell tumors

Winky is a 3 year-old neutered male black domestic short hair cat. Two cutaneous mast cell tumors from the left side of the neck and right shoulder were surgically excised on August 18, 2000 at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. He had a history of picky appetite, and infrequent bowel movements (every 2 days).

Seizure

On November 26, 2000 at 5:00 a.m. Winky had a seizure-like episode. He was seen “lying on his side, paddling with the front legs, eyes open, spine flexed, tail puffed up, and snarling”. This behavior lasted one minute.

Winky’s caregiver was adding vitamin A-10,000 U, vitamin E-400 IU, bone meal ½ tablet, and  kelp ½ tablet, twice a week. He received vitamin C-250 mg. and zinc 30 mg every other day. He would also chew on houseplants, and lived indoors.

Winky’s exam at CRVC

Winky’s caregiver drove 3 hours to bring her cat to CRVC on December 8, 2000. We found him to be somewhat irritable and not accustomed to examination or restraint. He had dark semi-lunar discolorations in the 4:00 to 8:00 position on both irises. The ear pinnae were cool, and unusually short whiskers were noted on the eyebrows and muzzle. The heart rate was 174. He had muscle tension on the right side, in the long head of the triceps muscle. Surgical sites had healed, leaving brown fur. He was sensitive over BL-23, an acupuncture association point for the kidneys. Body condition score was 4/5. A blood sample was obtained for routine serum chemistry tests and to prepare his BioMedical Profile. We also sent a sample of serum to a veterinary diagnostic laboratory for IgE food allergy testing, and gave a hair analysis kit to the owner to submit to a third diagnostic laboratory.

Initial therapy

We started interim therapy for a suspected dietary intolerance (food allergy) pending the results of Winky’s allergy test and hair analysis. Winky was sent home with a homeopathic remedy for intestinal inflammation and gastritis. Second, we prepared a 3 cc syringe with a mix of superoxide dismutase 1.25 mg, glutathione 25 mg, vitamin B-6 10 mg, adrenal cortex extract 40 mg., and lactated Ringers solution q/v to 2.5 ml volume. This was administered as a subcutaneous injection by the owner at home to minimize stress on the cat and start the process of chemical detoxification.

Cat hair analysis

Full length samples of hair were obtained from the lateral trunk, caudal to the scapulae and submitted to a diagnostic laboratory for mass spectrometry analysis. We wanted to identify potentially toxic elements that Winky could have acquired from the landfill site, local water, or diet that would promote kidney disease, seizures, mast cell tumors, or any combination thereof.

Homeopathic detoxification

Based on the hair analysis we prescribed 5 homeopathic preparations of the elements found in high levels in the hair samples. Winky was treated with Aluminum metallicum, Arsenicum metallicum, Bismuthum metallicum, Niccolum metallicum, and Thorium metallicum (Dolisos), 30c potency in water, 3 drops orally once a day of one remedy, rotating the remedies every 24 hours, for approximately 4 months.

Food allergies

Winky tested positive on ELISA IgE food allergy tests for soybean, corn, rice, potato, and carrot. He was borderline sensitive for eggs, lamb, peanut, and yeast. We recommended a hypoallergenic commercial cat food as he did not have interest in home made food.

Nutritional therapy

Concurrent nutritional supplementation prescribed on his BioMedical Profile included Formula 1080, 75 mg. whole adrenal extract (Doctor’s Mutual Scientific Corporation, 1 dropper sid); Daily-3 multivitamin-mineral (Doctor’s Pride, ½ capsule sid); EPA-DHA 300 (1000 mg capsule sid); Glucosamine + MSM Forte (Douglas Laboratories, ½ capsule sid); Thymex, 130 mg. bovine thymus cytosol extract (Standard Process, 1 tablet sid); and Rehab Forte (Progressive Labs, ½ capsule sid). Winky’s owner did a great job administering the nutritional supplements daily.

January 22, 2001

Phone consultation with Winky’s caregiver. Winky had no more episodes of seizure and was eating well! He is drinking a lot of bottled water, and getting exercise outdoors. He eats a duck and green pea dry commercial cat food.

April 13, 2001

At Winky’s four-month recheck exam we find him friendly, outgoing, and happier. He is having a bowel movement daily. The seizure did not return. He was very good taking the supplements, and the homeopathic drops are just getting finished. On physical exam the iris discolorations are gone, the heart rate is 126, body condition score 3.5/5, and he is not sensitive at acupuncture association points (Shu points). We clip hair from four sites, caudal to the scapulae and from the rear flank to submit to the same diagnostic laboratory for a before-and-after comparison. The results are shown below.

    Methodology:  ICP-MS      * = out of the reference range      ** = extreme level      

Serum chemistry profiles

    *These values are at one end or outside of the reference range for cats.

Follow up

Chemical detoxification is a new medical practice for humans and practically unknown in veterinary medicine. The doctors and staff  at CRVC are innovators in the field of nutritional medicine, and proud of the very positive clinical outcome for Winky. Currently we have prescribed the next phase of treatment to address his chronic kidney disease. For more information on the natural approach to pet health, call (802) 747-4076 and we’ll be glad to help.

William K. Kruesi, M.S., D.V.M. /2001