Cat's Recurring Ulcer Problem Worries Owner

Dear Dr. Fox:

My 9-year-old female cat has been treated twice with steroid injections for rodent ulcers around her mouth. She is an extremely wild cat, so the vet could not examine her mouth but gave her the injection. Afterward, I read an article in Cat Fancy magazine that said "overuse of steroids can lead to serious health conditions, including diabetes and pancreatitis." So, when the ulcers came back, I didn't take her for a third shot.

It has been a year since the last injection. A trip to the doctor is very stressful for her, so I take her only as a last resort, and I do not have a holistic doctor in the rural area where I live. My cat eats nothing but Science Diet Hairball Control Mature Adult Senior 7+ dry cat food, and the doctor has assured me that this is okay for her. But I know that you disagree.

She now has ulcers on both sides of the mouth, and one side is swelling. I don't know what to do to help her. Can she live with this problem?

K.H.

Cape Charles, Va.

The lip sores and growths in cats called rodent ulcers can begin as an allergic reaction in the lip tissues. Many cats get better when non-plastic food and water bowls are used and when pure spring water or purified (filtered) tap water is provided. I would wean your cat off the steroids and the manufactured food in question. The fur ball problem could also be the result of a food allergy that causes vomiting.

Check my Web site, http://www.twobitdog.com, for a list of cat foods containing quality animal protein and little or no cereal and soy. What you are feeding your cat is based on "chicken byproduct meal," which means ground and rendered necks, feet, undeveloped eggs and intestines, along with feathers in amounts "as might occur unavoidably," according to industry definition. Other ingredients can cause allergy and immune-system diseases in cats, notably those listed as "corn gluten meal," "ground whole corn" and "soybean mill run."