Overgrooming & hairloss

[Taff]

I'm after some help and advice. After what started off as what seemed to be FAD my cat I'm now at a stage where I'm more worried than my cat is. Going to be taking him back to the vet but want some second opinions from you guys here first.

After a little while of Alfie licking himself on his stomach and base of his tail he started losing some hair, not completely bald but very thin. I took him to the vet and he gave me options varying from the basics to their surgical options whihc cost almost a grand but seem unjustified.

I've treated the whole houses with flea treatments and been hoovering often to try and clear the house as much as possible. I was hoping that this together with anti-itch shampoos would stop him from licking. I think the main issue is that he gets bites and they scab over and then itch slightly.

I recently moved from using frontline combo to normal frontline but I've had to stop as this caused alopecia. It's listed in the side effects so Is topped using it and his hair is starting to come back on his scruff now.

Anyway, with all the licking he's done in the past week or so, no amount of washing, cleaning with salty water or creams are helping. His belly isn't looking bad anymore but the lower back is missing hair patches, it looks like he's being shaved rather than licking himself bare.

Have any of you guys come across this before if so what did your vet do? My vet is proposing two different types of skin biopsies and trying common allergy tests but that won't necessarily solve it. I've heard about 'anti-itch' injections [perhaps a steroid of some sort]. At wits end really other than just going with the vets suggestion. He'sinsured so not worried about costs just want to get him back looking like he was a couple of months ago.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Em

[chris10]

Over grooming can be behavioral. Any changes in the kitties daily routine and or environment?

[Taff]

absolutely no changes at all. It started over the summer witha little bit of licking and then quietened down having done some extra protection like treating the house and bathing but now that the winter is coming along it seems to be getting worse.

[StormySkiez]

Does he have fleas? Frontline has not been working for me. Advantage has. My cats are indoors, normally they don't need any flea treatment. The dogs get the advantage.

I have one cat that is starting to do the same thing as yours. I have tried different shampoos as a weekly treatment. So far nothing has worked. I have had a lot of issues in the house with the pets so I know my issue could be lingering on from that and perhaps behavioral.

[Taff]

IU haven't seen any on him for a while. He's 6 weeks passed his last dose and to be fair I haven't seen any on him in the last few weeks. I've seen more on him while he was on the frontline. Is advantage a US make? Can't really see it on UK sites for cats.

[StormySkiez]

If you don't see fleas or flea dirt the chances are good he doesn't have fleas. Yes I'm in the US. Here is a link to advantage: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...fm?pcatid=3465

Last summer I switched my dogs to frontline and they got fleas. They never have on advantage.

Let us know if you figure this issue out. I will do the same for you if I resolve my streeks overgrooming.

[Taff]

Will do. Thanks

[Taff]

Just to let you now that Alfie is doing well. He had a steroid injection and the hair on his back has grown back already. His tummy and legs are taking a little longer. Spoke to someone at our local cattery who has also encountered the same with her cats and it turns out that hers were allergic to the mites that live on fleas [must be tiny!]. Anyway, she gave me some herbal medication to try and I think that may also be helping.

[GailC]

Just an FYI. I have a cat who is a big social groomer. He has loved to lick since he was a kitten.
He was licking off some hair earlier this year. At the vet she suggested Bitter Apple spray to stop the cycle of licking which she said could be behavioral. That didn't work so then she suggested switching to a corn free dry food which did help.
I also think his licking is seasonal as he kind of started up again-I think its out of boredom sometimes as well.

[StormySkiez]

Originally Posted by Taff

Just to let you now that Alfie is doing well. He had a steroid injection and the hair on his back has grown back already. His tummy and legs are taking a little longer. Spoke to someone at our local cattery who has also encountered the same with her cats and it turns out that hers were allergic to the mites that live on fleas [must be tiny!]. Anyway, she gave me some herbal medication to try and I think that may also be helping.

So glad to hear Alfie is doing better .

How often does the vet recommend the steroids? What herbal med is he on? I'm switching all the animals to a grain free food and adding fish oil to their food to see if that helps my 2 that seem like they have allergies to start with. It could take months I read if it's the food causing the problems to see improvement.

[strange_wings]

Do you have any information on these "flea mites" ? I've never heard of them before, though I have heard of other types of mites causing problems.

Many mites are very tiny. Ear mites, though not visible to the naked eye are somewhat larger ones you'd find on cats. Various types of native skin and hair mites on animals and ourselves are even smaller - note these aren't bad mites, they're the "cleanup crew" for old skin and such.

Are you treating with Revolution from now on? It's supposed to treat mites, too, though I'm not sure what all types are affected by it.