Treatments for Fur Loss
From LoveToKnow Cats
Visitors ask questions about fur loss in pets.
Alternative Treatments for Fur Loss
Hi! I have a female cat that has lost a lot of fur on both of her sides, back legs and her stomach. I've been to the vet and he says it is due to allergies. He advised steroid shots. I tried this twice and the effect on her was severe. I knew by the look in her eyes this was bad for her. They advised putting her on a medication for obsessive compulsive disorder. I do not want to use drugs on her, if possible. I tried to find alternatives. Used Omega -3, itching spray, switched foods. That did not help at all. Isn't there something I can do? They tested her and found nothing. That's why they thought it was behavioral. I did adopt a shelter cat about the time this started, actually. I still prefer not to resort to meds. Any ideas? The cats get along fairly well. She's been treated at the vet for worms; she takes advantage every three weeks. The house is flea-free. There are no chemicals used in the house. ~~Candy
Expert Reply
Hi, Candy,
You did the right thing taking her to your vet. It's good to rule out anything serious. At least you know it is behavioral. The truth is that cats get stressed just like humans do. Cats show stress in different ways and one way is through fur loss. The loss is usually caused by excessive grooming, so you may want to watch her to see if she is biting and licking the areas more than normal. Because a cat's tongue is so rough, this can cause irritation and any number of problems. Even if she and the new shelter cat get along, anytime a new pet or person is brought into the house it can stress a cat. A cat can also show stress if someone leaves due to divorce or a child going off to college, for example.
Since you are trying to avoid medications, there are a few other things you can try before you have to resort to shots or medicine for OCD.
- Watch her closely and if you notice she is excessively grooming those areas, distract her.
- Separate her and the new cat when you are not at home. There may be some things going on that you are not seeing. This will also allow her to get used to the new cat slowly, over time.
- Put a collar on her neck to keep her from reaching the areas that are balding.
Finally, you may want to find a holistic veterinarian and see if he or she has any additional suggestions for therapies that might help your cat.
I hope some of these ideas work for you. I understand your concern over putting her on medication. Please keep us posted on how she is doing with the alternative therapies.
~~Lori
Comments
Hi Chrissy,
It's hard to say what might be causing a rash. It could be something as simple as flea bites to something more serious. Since he is acting healthy other than the rash, you could try treating him for fleas and parasites (worms). See if that heals up the problem. If not, your only resort will be the vet, I'm afraid. However, you might get lucky and one of the mentioned treatments will work :).
-- Contributed by: LoriSoardMy cat Tuffguy 2nd has lost a lot of hair arond his bottom and now tummy he is only 1 year old.Today I notice a small rash and i worried me. his day to day sctions seem fine.Other then foing to s vet is there anything i cat do?
-- Contributed by: chrissyHi Richard,
Poor kitty. It's hard to see our beloved pets age. Likely, his foul breath is from his teeth. Many pets have problems with their teeth as they age. I would recommend you have your veterinarian look at his teeth and see if they are in good enough shape to warrant a cleaning. The vet will likely put the cat under a general anesthetic while cleaning. Cleaning around my area runs between $60-$80 for a regular cleaning. This varies widely, however, on how much work needs to be done.
As for the fur loss, the irritation concerns me. Is it possible he has picked up fleas or some type of parasite? Have you noticed him grooming the area more than normal? Your cat's tongue can irritate his skin, as his tongue is very rough. He shouldn't be losing fur simply due to old age. Fur loss is a signal of a health issue or is sometimes stress related. I would go ahead and take him to the vet, if he were my pet, and try to get to the bottom of the problem.
Hope he feels better soon and that you have many more years together.
-- Contributed by: LoriSoardThis page has been accessed 1,056 times. This page was last modified 20:11, 1 August 2008.
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