Jasmine is losing hair on her belly!!

Hello everyone, as you know my sweet girl Jasmine was diagnosed with pancreatitis tuesday. I have been following the vet's orders and giving her 4 mg of cyproheptadine a day. (I cut the pill in half and give her 1/2 in the morning and 12 at night). Well as I was putting the pill in her mouth I notice she has lost hair on her belly!!! I have called the vet who will be back on monday but I was wondering if any of you have heard of this? I looked up the side effects on line and hair loss is not one of them. By the was on the upside she is eating more so that's a good thing!

There are two possibilities I can think of right off, of which I have one cat with one, and another cat that has had the other, but is over it now.

1. Feline Alopecia: Hair Loss, often caused by stress (that was the case for my girl when we moved; she's stopped now. It was her belly and back of her legs. Here is a website to learn more about all the reasons for hair loss:

http://www.peteducation.com/article....1+2141&aid=195

2. Feline Hyperesthesia: Overgrooming. (Often caused by stress, can become habitual as it has with my little Squint who has seizures and has been through major double eye surgery), but here's a website on that as well:

http://www.cathealth.com/hyperesthesia.htm

There are many articles on both, but the stress of an illness can cause either of these.

I hope your precious Jasmine fares very well through this time and all love is just let out between you two.

Warmly,

Julie O'

Originally Posted by jamasmom

Hello everyone, as you know my sweet girl
Jasmine was diagnosed with pancreatitis tuesday. I have been following the vet's orders and giving her 4 mg of cyproheptadine a day. (I cut the pill in half and give her 1/2 in the morning and 12 at night). Well as I was putting the pill in her mouth I notice she has lost hair on her belly!!! I have called the vet who will be back on monday but I was wondering if any of you have heard of this? I looked up the side effects on line and hair loss is not one of them. By the was on the upside she is eating more so that's a good thing!

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Thank you Julie. I thought about stress after I posted this. Giving Jasmine her medicine twice a day is a battle. She won't take it willingly so unfortunately I have to pry her mouth open and drop the pill in then hold her mouth shut until she swallows. This could be very stressfull on her, unfortunately I have to do this for 20 days and this is only day 5!

It could be from pain, cats will overgroom an area that is sore in attempt to make it stop hurting.

Cypro effects serotonin, which is why it can have drastic effects on mood and behavior in cats. It wouldn't be too hard to imagine that it could make her overgroom, too.

LOL, I do it every day for one of my cats as she won't use the "Pill Pockets" that are very handy with cats that like them. I also have a cat that loves the "Pill Pockets". Have you tried those? You just stuff the pill inside (I break them in half for smaller pills) and just let them eat them? (As long as they're not capsules, since they do chew them). They're both "lifers" on these meds.

Sounds like you got it doooooooowwn!! Great job!! When you pry, are you gently, but gently squeezing the sides of the teeth while pulling down the bottom teeth with your other hand (that happens to also hold the pill for pilling?)
(Just want to make sure so the jaw doesn't get cracked or something).

It does sound like you have everything down. Look at those links, ask your vet again if the pills do not work and we can go from there!

Warmly,

Julie O'

Originally Posted by jamasmom

Thank you Julie. I thought about stress after I posted this. Giving Jasmine her medicine twice a day is a battle. She won't take it willingly so unfortunately I have to pry her mouth open and drop the pill in then hold her mouth shut until she swallows. This could be very stressfull on her, unfortunately I have to do this for 20 days and this is only day 5!

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Hi Julie,

I've tried the pill pockets, she's to smart for that . I have not tried squeezing the side of ther mouth. I try to lay her down and as gently as I can pry open her mouth, this results in a wrestling match between us, but this is one time I insist on winning. I will try your way tonight and let you know how it goes.

Thanks,
Susan

It doesn't take much doing it this way (it's the way the vets and all do it), so you can definitely press very lightly against the sides of the teeth (be sure not to press the lips), then gently pull bottom lip down and as you're squeezing sides GENTLY, use other hand, just a finger, to pull down the little bottom teeth. If you have kittle held firmly in your left arm (if you're right-handed) it should be pretty easy - a lot easier, anyhoo.

Oh, and I think my links explain that yes, pain could also be a factor. Oddly, the skin, even though they're overgrooming, usually becomes sensitive.

If there's anything loud, new, new furniture, surprises, new people, new food, litter boxes, new cat, anything different, this could actually be a cause for these underlying problems, above.

Okay, let us know how it goes with your pilling!! :-D

Warmly,

Julie O'

Originally Posted by jamasmom

Hi Julie,

I've tried the pill pockets, she's to smart for that

. I have not tried squeezing the side of ther mouth. I try to lay her down and as gently as I can pry open her mouth, this results in a wrestling match between us,

but this is one time I insist on winning. I will try your way tonight and let you know how it goes.

Thanks,
Susan

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Poor Jasmine!! I bet it might be from over-grooming from her tummy hurting. HOpefully she will be feeling better very, very soon. I use a pill plunger for any meds. I am able to get it way back in their mouths and then never risk them tasting the pill if it is bitter. It has worked very well for me over the years. I just scruff lightly and lift them up and plunge with the other. Then give a treat. They seem to accept it when they know the treats are coming . Hope Jasmine feels better soon.

Thanks Feralvr I never thought about scruffing her, I'll try that tomorrow. She just got her pill tonight and it was another wrestling match . I thought about trying a pill shooter but it's so hard to keep her mouth open and then she just keeps it in there and drools all over the place. The fact that she fights me gives me hope but she's not gaining any of her weight back and that worries me. A few people have told me it would take at least a week for the medicine to kick in I hope they are right.