My cat's dermatitis spray isn't working. How long should I wait?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I think at this point it seems like your veterinarian has tried symptomatic therapy to try to help. I would consider taking a culture of the lesion and using the indicated antibiotics. Also, it would be important to ensure that he is unable to chew or lick at it as that will continue to worsen it. You could consider an e-collar which you may get from your local pet store. If it does not resolve, a biopsy of the lesion should be considered. Good luck and have a good day!

Poor Kali! Yes, you can generally continue that spray unless the lesion starts getting worse. You may also want to wash the lesion and rinse it well once a day for a few days. Wait until it is dry to apply the spray. You also need to protect it from any scratching. If the lesion is not significantly healed within a week, have Kali examined by the veterinarian. Best of luck.

Aw, what a handsome boy! I’m sorry the treatment didn’t give him relief. You can try a product, such as [Zymox](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/zymox-spray-with-5-hydrocortisone), on the areas where he seems most bothered. Also, I would recommend a “no additive” cat litter such as [Yesterday’s News]() or [Feline Pine](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/feline-pine-cat-litter). It may be that his anxiety is contributing to his [over grooming](https://www.petcoach.co/article/excessive-grooming-in-cats-what-it-means-and-how-to-help), so you might ask your vet about trying him on a medication such as [fluoxetine](https://www.petcoach.co/pet-medication/fluoxetine/). If none of this helps, it may be best to consider a consultation with a [veterinary dermatologist](https://www.acvd.org/tools/locator/locator.asp?ids=16_Find_Dermatologist) to get as directly to a diagnosis and proper treatment as possible. Thanks for asking PetCoach!

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. I've not had much success using topical benadryl to relieve itching in dogs or cats. I recommend using malacetic conditioning spray. You can find this online quite easily. If that does not help, I would suggest having a vet take a look at saber as there are prescription options that will help more than the spray. If you are not using a flea preventative I would consider starting this as well. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.

I would recommend to wait up to 8 weeks before thinking about other causes. If not working, a skin scrape and more dermatological tests (including allergic testing on bloods) are required to determine if other causes are possible. Three main type of allergies are usually affecting pets: food allergies, flea and parasite related ones and environmental type (allergens coming from trees, pollens, dust etc etc). Some medications can be given by the vet in order to repair any possible skin lesions (like steroids and antibiotics). Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Those sores are eosinophilic plaques which is why what you have been using is not working. ( https://www.petcoach.co/cat/condition/eosinophilic-disease/ ) This usually requires steroid administration either oral or an injection. I don't know what the anti-itch product you are using has in it, but if it was not a steroid (like hydrocortisone) it is not likely to work. If it does not contain a steroid you can try product but if no improvement she will need to see a vet. ( https://www.allivet.com/p-1529-zymox-spray.aspx?SearchTerm=zymox%20spray+Auto ) If she can lick with the cone on then you need to get a bigger cone (long enough to go past the end of her nose) or go to using a hard cone. As long as she keeps licking this won't resolve.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could still be allergies that are not responding to therapy as expected. Since your veterinarian was able to actually take a look at Sophia, I would believe their diagnosis. It could be that a lack of consistent response to therapy could be that the allergic component is not yet being addressed. Her staying in the litter box is likely due to discomfort which is why re-evaluation at this point is indicated. Your veterinarian could consider referral to a veterinary dermatologist for further recommendations. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing her allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!