Topical Prozac

Question
QUESTION: Could you please tell me where on a cat's body he cannot reach to lick?  I know one place is the back of his head, but the topical Prozac he's getting has to be put in different places to avoid sores.  I have been applying it sort of randomly, but he's begun licking it and getting that foaming at the mouth/saliva slinging reaction from the bitter taste.  Thanks.

ANSWER: Jo Ann,

There are not many places.  Certainly the shoulder blades will work.  Inside the ears should work pretty well.  Other than that there are not many places a cat cannot get to.

Now, for the million dollar question.  What is going on that he needs Prozac?

Best regards... Norm.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Norm - He was urinating on my sofa daily, sometimes my bed, and spraying everywhere for more than a year.  After covering my two sofas and bed, washing curtains and sofa coverings once a day, spraying to clean my carpets, hearth, computer, treadmill, and nearly every other vertical surface in my house, we tried all avenues from litter and litterbox changing, additional boxes, Feliway spray and plugins, making sure there was no physical cause (he really does dislike one of our other cats), many commercial products to stop inappropriate urination, other medications such as Valium, etc., we changed him to topical doses of Prozac and he stopped completely within a week.  It's been more than a year and I do decrease the dosage as he continues doing well, but at some point he'll relapse (only happened 2 or 3 times) and I put him back on the original dosage.  We have 4 cats, all of which we adore, but after more than a year of the stench and cleanup, he was really on his way out until the Prozac worked.  The thought of giving him up broke my heart, but life was really getting unbearable.  We did put up with it for so long that my vet said that after she died, she wanted to come back as my cat!  Thanks for your advice.  We did begin by applying the Prozac cream in the ears, but it caused sores, so we changed to applying it in various spots over his body.  He's just begun this foaming and saliva thing after all this time.  I'm going to join him in the bathtub tonight to wash all the old medicine off him....should be fun!  I've worried about the long-term effects of the Prozac, but have decided that getting to keep him for as long as I possibly can would make up for any future problems....without the Prozac, I wouldn't have him and he's a precious, delightful kitty.  Again, thanks for the info and thanks for being such a nice person to volunteer to help people.  

Answer
Jo Ann,

Thanks for letting me know his history.  I am assuming he is neutered.

You and your vet should talk to one of the pharmacies in your area who do their own compounding.  I am betting they can compound Prozac into a tuna flavored transdermal, so when he licks at it, it will not be so unpalatable.  If they can make flagyl more palatable, they can make anything more palatable.

Just a suggestion.

Best regards... Norm.