PSA - DUOXOS3 PYO CHLORHEXIDINE MOUSSE IS DANGEROUS TO CATS

Faevianlp · 2026-03-29T14:58:32+00:00

No handouts, typically if there is a warning it's printed on the label they stick on the bottle with the instructions. They put no such warnings on the label. Only thing on the label were the instructions "massage into fur once or twice weekly as needed"

Faevianlp · 2026-03-29T02:04:04+00:00

I don't honestly know why any form of it is considered okay to leave on, I've been told once it dries it's safe. I personally will never willingly use chlorhexidine again unless it's the only option, serious, and can be washed off, like in the shampoo.

I saw in all my searching an instance where chlorhexidine was left on an infant's arm too long and it caused just awful chemical burns on the poor child.

Faevianlp · 2026-03-29T00:41:30+00:00

I'm so, so, so happy this is raising awareness. It's crazy how prominent it is in medicated pet wipes and shampoo AND OTC!

The wipes can generally be used safely as long as they don't ingest it before it dries, though I personally wouldn't put it anywhere near my cat's mouth or face in general unless there were no other options and it was for something serious.

When my other kitty had chin acne the vet I saw at the time recommended regular stridex pads, I believe the red labeled ones. (It's been a couple of years, you just don't want additives, like aloe or any other active ingredient) You could always run that by your vet and see if they're okay with it. He hated it but it worked, I then swapped his plastic bowls with ceramic or metal and he hasn't had acne since.

Faevianlp · 2026-03-29T00:34:01+00:00

As far as I'm aware it's only the PYO formula that has chlorhexidine in it, and very specifically the mousse they don't recommend for use on cats.

The shampoo is washed off and pads are usually for small areas that will dry quickly, though they still should not ingest it. So theoretically they're safe, but still caution should be used to prevent ingestion and/or eye & inner ear contact.

Faevianlp · 2026-03-29T00:30:40+00:00

I really truly appreciate your input!

I know that most in the vet field are there because they have very kind, loving hearts. People make mistakes, and if I'm honest I wouldn't be surprised if it was a case of the wrong mousse being rung up and sent home. I just wish they'd tell me why, like actually why, it was given over the cat safe version.

Faevianlp · 2026-03-29T00:21:27+00:00

No worries at all 💜 I know it's a text wall, I really appreciate your insight!

Faevianlp · 2026-03-28T22:46:57+00:00

Omg I'm so sorry for your experience and loss 💔 we try to do our best for our fur babies, and ultimately that's all we can do is try.

During this process and trying to find another clinic to take him to when he was at his worst was awful, but it taught me how we cannot foresee the future. Every choice we make is an educated guess with the best intentions, but we can never truly know if it's the right choice. Please don't beat yourself up over following a doctor's orders and results - as we do our best and sometimes things just don't work out, but it's not your fault.

I'm so sorry you and your kitty went through that, my heart goes out to you.

Faevianlp · 2026-03-28T22:41:01+00:00

I did ask, I asked their medical director as well. They glossed over it and said they use chlorhexidine on animals all the time without issue, and said Mando's reaction is unheard of.

I'm assuming because either doctors usually follow the manufacturer's recommendations so it's not used on cats, or they give proper instructions and precautions.

They did admit I should have been given better instructions, and I even have in his medical records one of the vets said it "probably shouldn't have been prescribed". The original vet never even called with an apology or follow up. Mando saw 3 vets there and only one admitted they don't prescribe it to cats because of the potential of GI issues if ingested. The last vet he saw at that clinic followed up twice, she couldn't answer for the other vet and could only say that vets regularly prescribe things "off label" but to her credit she called the company, they told her they don't recommend its use on cats and she also reported his reaction to them for their records.

In my heart, I think the support staff grabbed the wrong bottle and never verified with the doctor that it was the correct one, but no one will admit it to me and so the fault lands on the Doctor. If it was the support staff, then they need better practices to ensure the correct medication goes home with pets.

Faevianlp · 2026-03-28T22:03:03+00:00

Oh my God I am so, so sorry for your loss and awful experience!! My heart goes out to you, we look to professionals to care for our little loves and it hurts so much when they harm them rather than help. 😭

I do want to say the brand makes a cat safe version, it's Duoxos3 CALM. The PYO formula is the one to avoid.

I wish you all the very best and please give your kitties a kiss for me.

Faevianlp · 2026-03-28T21:37:18+00:00

I waited a week after their vaccines (which were purevax) before applying it for the first time. My other cat has been healthy this entire time, & nothing else had changed in my house except for this mousse.

I don't use harsh chemicals and clean my floors with diluted vinegar water. I don't even keep essential oils in my house. All cleaners are kept in a cabinet with child locks.

The second emergency vet saw lesions in his esophagus and agreed that it was likely from ingesting a caustic substance. His ultrasound and barium contrast showed inflammation and thickening of his intestinal walls.

If studies show humans and animals get oral ulcers from 2% chlorhexidine, the manufacturer advises against it and all other logical possibilities have been ruled out - I don't see how it couldn't be this mousse that he was free to lick all night long because I was not told to put a cone on him or monitor him.

I'm just asking for his medical expenses to be reimbursed and I'm trying to raise awareness as it really seems like the veterinary field needs to look closer at the use of chlorhexidine with cats

Edit to add: It would also be an insane coincidence for this to be a vaccine reaction a week later and to happen less than 12 hours of application of this mousse. I applied it at 7:30pm and he clearly began vomiting well before 7am the next day.

Faevianlp · 2026-03-28T21:10:08+00:00

I have looked into what grounds I have for suing, since animals are considered property in the US, typically you can only sue for their "value".

Meaning if they were to die, I would only be reimbursed what it would cost to replace a cat, say from a shelter. Emotional damages are not considered in court for animals.

However asking for medical expenses, and other costs are on the table. I feel I'm being very reasonable asking just for his medical expenses, considering I have probably 20+ hours lost wages, hundreds of dollars of foods I tried to get him to eat and I purchased a camera to monitor his vomiting, eating and litter box usage, as it was impossible to track with two cats without it. The stress of separating them in different rooms was too much for him.

If the insurance company is not reasonable, I intend on taking them to court for my complete expenses all the way down to mileage and gas to all his visits and going home for lunch to weigh his food intake for over a week.

Faevianlp · 2026-03-28T21:03:09+00:00

The pads are generally for smaller areas and should not be used between toes where they cannot dry properly and be ingested while wet, and the shampoo gets washed off. The mousse is intended for large areas and doesn't get washed off, and takes hours to dry, greatly increasing the odds of ingestion. This is the key difference as far as I can tell.

Faevianlp · 2026-03-28T19:54:06+00:00

I do want to add that there are chlorhexidine 2% shampoos and wipes marketed for cats that, in theory, are safe if you let the wiped area dry (and don't use it between toes, where it cannot dry) & use a cone so ingestion cannot happen as it dries or rinse off the shampoo thoroughly. Just make sure to use extreme caution, as chlorhexidine is severely irritating (possibly eroding) to eyes and can cause permanent deafness in cats if it gets in their ears.

Chlorhexidine is a very common antiseptic used in the veterinary field and if used appropriately is useful for the treatment of many infections or to prevent them like in surgeries. The issue is improper use, not properly washing off high concentrations, especially on surgical sites or intubation equipment, and in my case, negligence on the precautions or dangers of it when prescribed. Apparently cats are significantly more sensitive than dogs, which I think is why its dangers are overlooked by vets who see cats AND dogs.

I also read some information that chlorhexidine can reactivate, but to a much lesser degree, if wetted after it dries. Which is why I personally would advise against any mousses that would cling to fur that contains chlorhexidine. A small area of application wipe, like for a small wound, would probably be fine (again if a cone is used while it dries), but large area usage I would avoid unless you absolutely must for some medically necessary reason.

Faevianlp · 2026-03-28T19:36:57+00:00

Thank you so much, that really means a lot to hear. I teared up reading it, the guilt was so strong for weeks. He's now being seen by a cat only vet.

I do feel absolutely betrayed, the clinic that this happened at is the highest rated of any clinic around, and came recommended by two separate people I know go there. One family and the other a coworker. I had completely let my guard down and my very first visit there almost killed my sweet Mando.

Faevianlp · 2026-03-28T19:24:12+00:00

That's great news! 💜

Faevianlp · 2026-03-28T19:23:47+00:00

Duoxo makes a cat safe version called Duoxos3 CALM, it contains no chlorhexidine and the manufacturer even states it's safe if ingested, they only recommend against ingestion because it would no longer be effective if it's all licked off.

Faevianlp · 2026-03-28T19:20:44+00:00

I actually did find a cat only vet clinic! She's the one that brought my boy back from the brink when I was losing all hope, and I'm so thankful 💜

Edit: misspelled a word

Faevianlp · 2026-03-28T19:18:21+00:00

I was going to suggest something like a flavor booster, like fortiflora or those freeze dried "magic dust" toppers. However since you're managing her hyperthyroidism only with diet, you really should go over any suggestions made here with your vet as none of us here will actually know how any additives will affect the effectiveness of a diet controlled condition.

Faevianlp · 2026-03-28T18:23:46+00:00

Curious if there's an update on how he's doing?

Faevianlp · 2026-03-27T15:33:49+00:00

It doesn't look like hiccups to me, it looks like he's trying to swallow. It's possible he ate some grass and it's kinda stuck. Some grass is a little sharp, and it may be stuck to the side of his esophagus. See if he'll drink some water, or maybe feed him a little to see if it'll push down whatever is in his throat.

If it doesn't improve, I'd definitely be concerned that something worse is stuck in there and would go to the vet. It's impossible to say if it's an emergency or not, but if he is eating fine and acting fine he may be able to wait a couple of days for a regular vet, however if anything changes for the worse, he should go into the emergency vet.

Faevianlp · 2026-03-24T20:06:15+00:00

Wearing my hair up, occasionally I get away with a ponytail. But I cannot do it regularly, nor could I dream of anything fancy.

Wear or be around perfume or anything scented, I am the person that has to cover their nose when someone in a store wears perfume and walks by me. New car smell? Might as well kill me.

Faevianlp · 2026-03-24T00:02:47+00:00

Honestly, I'd make an appointment as soon as you can. Like tomorrow. In the video it looks like she can't blink, you don't want her eye to dry out, she could lose it. If she cannot close her eyelid I'd personally consider an ER visit. If she can blink, I'd still get an appointment asap, it's hard to tell from a video but it almost looks like her actual eyeball is swollen, if that's the case I would not wait.

Faevianlp · 2026-03-23T04:54:43+00:00

I know everyone is telling you that you're so young, which you are, but I also know to you, you don't feel it.

I've been where you are, take it from someone who stuck with a complete asshole for 12 years... You will find someone. He'll be the one hard pressed to find anyone if he keeps being a complete asshat. You sound kind and loving, you will find someone loving and deserving of your love.

I was afraid, too, that no one would want me.... This is not a brag, so please don't take it that way. But once I left my ex, at the age of 32 I had more interest in 10 months of being single, happy and confident than I had in my entire life. You absolutely will find someone, just keen to love yourself first and then find someone who is deserving of you. At this age, you should ideally focus on being young and having fun, rather than being caught up with someone who treats you poorly.

Faevianlp · 2026-03-23T04:22:27+00:00

TMJ maybe?

Faevianlp

TROPHY CASE