As far as healing, it seems to be at a standstill. It is better than it was, and doesn't seem to be getting worse But she is still scratching a bit. She doesn't act miserable, but cats never do. Is there anything totally safe I can use on her chin and in her her ears?
I'm not sure. If the rash was bacterial, I'd suggest dabbing colloidal silver on it (actually, that's anti-everything -- fungal, viral, etc.) or Veterycin (for hot spots), but that doesn't treat the cause, just the symptom. If the rash is truly due to allergies, then you're doing what you can.
Keep in mind, the vet's reasoning for feeding Hills d/d venison...limited ingredients...food allergy to current food/protein. EXCEPT, he had NO IDEA what proteins I was feeding.
Take my opinion of Hills, out of the equation. The vet gave a "diagnosis," without knowing all the details. He heard the word "raw," and everything stopped there.
OR ... do I have such an attitude towards Hills, that I'm taking my disgust out on the vet?
In a word: no. In more words: your opinion, both of Hills and the vet, are valid. You don't "diagnose" something until you have
all of the information. If he didn't ask what proteins you were feeding, then how did he know you weren't already feeding venison? How does he know that it's not, say, the colorings or flavorings or some "minor" ingredient in her food that, over time, she's developed an issue to? He doesn't,
because he didn't ask. Shame on him.