Clearly, you are a conscientious and devoted cat 'parent' who is on top of things. One other potential resource might be the Cornell Feline Health Center. You may know, but in case you don't, Cornell University has a highly regarded Veterinarian Medicine program and conducts a wide range of research. They even have a cat behavioral branch of research from which I and my cats have benefited. On their website it says they offer remote access via tele-triage. Perhaps this could be an option. Sending you and Django ❤️
https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center
Thanks- aware of Cornell but was not aware they are doing any thing remote. That's helpful, thanks.
I can say that the meds are working, his chin and neck look much better than last week. Key will be in about 2 weeks when the meds wear off. If it recurs I will contact Cornell.
All the posts about reactions to food or dish materials possibly causing the acne reminded me of something.
Several years ago my white cat started having swollen lips. Yes, swollen cat lips, as if she had been to the "Medi-Spa" and had lip injections.
I finally connected it to fish-flavored dry cat food she'd been eating. I even found out that cats can actually be allergic to fish. ( https://wagwalking.com/cat/condition/fish-allergy). It turned out that other cat food flavors were OK-- it was just the fish.
Perhaps you could do a little experimentation with Django's food and see if he is sensitive to any ingredients.
The cat I had before, Tess, had that after a while, too. I think that's called pemphigus?
Bottom line, the dermatology vets can determine allergies via testing. Tess even had allergy shots I had to give her weekly at home. In fact, it was when I went to give her her weekly shot that I found her dead in her favorite cat bed...
I will take a peek at the dry kibble ingredients and see...
Some cooling information about dog and people connections, much of which is heart centered. The video is short but the information is intriguing.
I love how heart filled environments can be created between dog and pet owners.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B43vjuuWCGs
Now that he’s older and going to schools regularly (just ours - he’s not fully certified yet. We have to wait until he’s 1) I thought I’d throw a new picture of Boone the Therapy Bernedoodle here for anyone wanting to give him a read. I have but I’m curious what others see because I’m so close to him.
When I look at Boone, I see a « happy go lucky » type of doggie who is highly intelligent and likes to please. I also sense @dannyboy that he is quite sensitive to humans around him. I don’t know if I could call a dog compassionate but I sense that he is! He’ll make a good therapy dog. Love his name.
@dannyboy I see compassion and concern in his expression, especially in his right eye, which means it probably come from his mother. He was born to be a therapy dog. He looks like a reincarnated wise man who decided to come back as a therapy dog.
@seaholly you and @jeanne-mayell both nailed him. When I took him in to my school before break he diffused an escalating student very quickly by running over to her and just rolling over for a belly rub. Helping humans when he has that vest on appears to be his life's purpose and even as a puppy he takes this responsibility very seriously.
@Jeanne-Mayell it's interesting you said reincarnated wise man. Yesterday afternoon I was holding his head in my hands and I got this overwhelming sense of a buddha like figure behind his eyes. I actually said "Wow, you're an old man!" and he seemed to grin in recognition.
Wow is he stubborn though :-). If he doesn't want to do something he doesn't. Probably still the puppy in him.
Thank you for the quick scans on him!
I have to say that "old soul" does come to mind, repeatedly. He will be doing some good healing work for sure. (And is is cute as all get out). I bet you both will be able to communicate very well, even silently.