Long Time Overdue! Ruby and Hooligan Update + Something Odd?

melrai · Mar 19, 2013

Hi everyone!

I hope everyone is doing great! I have been insanely busy lately -wow! Between starting up a new business, travelling and starting a new job, it's hard to keep track of everything!

On a positive note, Hooligan ad Ruby have been doing spectacular! They are eating up all their meals wonderfully. Hooligan is Ben going full days with raw as a meal! I couldn't ask for anything better!

That being said, I noticed something weird on Hooligans face today. Please let me know if you guys have heard/seen/dealt with something like this. It's so weird.
Attached are pictures to show what I am talking about. It seems like he is losin hair where his "eyebrows" are. And, on his nose, there is a dot of missing hair.

Has anyone heard of this? Everything else is totally normal, except for the patches of missing hair. It's so odd!

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melrai
Mar 19, 2013

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melrai
Mar 19, 2013

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melrai
Mar 19, 2013

Thank you guys for your help!
Melissa

catspaw66 · Mar 20, 2013

It could be a parasite. I also noticed the whiskers on that side look shorter and broken. The best thing to do is a vet visit.

feralvr · Mar 20, 2013

Wonderful to hear that Ruby and Hooligan are doing so well!!!

Well, the patch you are talking about above the eye is normal. All cats have sparse hairs in that area and when you look at them from the side or back you can see their skin. From the front I don't notice anything wrong with that area above the eye as it is hard to really see in your photos. The nose to me looks like a scratch that is healing :dk: If you are really concerned and see more hairloss over the next days, I would see the vet. :vibes:

melrai · Mar 21, 2013

catspaw66 said:
It could be a parasite. I also noticed the whiskers on that side look shorter and broken. The best thing to do is a vet visit.

Oh goodness! A parasite? Do you have anymore information on such parasite? Just so I can bring something to vet if I go?

melrai · Mar 21, 2013

Feralvr said:
Wonderful to hear that Ruby and Hooligan are doing so well!!!

Well, the patch you are talking about above the eye is normal. All cats have sparse hairs in that area and when you look at them from the side or back you can see their skin. From the front I don't notice anything wrong with that area above the eye as it is hard to really see in your photos. The nose to me looks like a scratch that is healing

If you are really concerned and see more hairloss over the next days, I would see the vet.

I have noticed him lose a little more hair everytime I leave (for the weekend) or if our routine changes. Could that affect his hair loss?

And the patch on his nose, he's had that for quite some time now.

Another thing, he his head EVERYWHERE when he is really happy. Could it be that? Am I just overreacting? Lol.

melrai · Mar 28, 2013

HOOLIGAN UPDATE:

Well, I brought him to a holistic vet I found in the city (finally!) to check out the hairloss situation and the scabs above his tail. As I assumed, it is dermitits due to anxiety. It is caused by lack of affection (as if I can give him MORE?!) and mostly happens when I leave.

He said there is not very much to do about it and if it gets worse, then the medication might have to start. But for now, the scabs above his tail (which he can't really get to anyways) are the worst of it.

He did mention a herbal, holistic medication that might help Hooligan be a little less stressed when I leave. Its called cicaderma boiron. I haven't done much research on it yet. Has anyone ever used/heard of it? Also, do you guys have any other tips on how I can make it better and less stressful for him? I mean, I could try using rescue remedy?

Thanks!

Melissa

melrai · Apr 21, 2013

Well, another weekly update on the little dude. He's been eating his raw like a CHAMP. His favourites have been Rabbit, Horse and Horse/Chicken. He has been eating strictly raw (with the occasional canned food when I forget to thaw raw) for about a week or two now. BUT, of course cause this journey is never EASY, his hairball puking situation has been out of control.

I know I come here with this every time I start raw again, but maybe I just need the reassurance that this is the right thing. I heard here that by giving him raw it will have his digestive system working like it is supposed to so, it is getting rid of all the hair that was left over from 6 months of eating kibble. If that is the case, should I be worried? Should i continue to feed him raw until this is over?

Albeit, I stopped the egg yolk, probiotics and slippery elm cause he was doing really great. I just started back on them.

What should I do?

vball91 · Apr 21, 2013

I would be more inclined to think it was the stopping of the EYL, probiotics, SEB than raw itself. I think a good test though would be to start all those again, and then when he's doing great again, start raw again while continuing the rest. That way, all other things being equal, you will know if he's truly having a problem with raw itself.

melrai · Apr 22, 2013

I have just begun that.

I also brought some grass, for the fiber...maybe he is missing out on some fiber?

I will keep you guys posted xx

Thanks!

mrsgreenjeens · Apr 23, 2013

Wel, and my guess is that when he is missing you, he grooms himself more to calm himself. More grooming = more hair intake = more hairballs.

Mine have been pretty consistently on raw for over a year now, and I have never stopped the egg yolk lecithin or the probiotics or digestive enzymes, but they STILL toss up the occasional hairball

. Not like they used to, but once in awhile...especially during shedding season.

ldg · Apr 23, 2013

Mel, I just saw the exact same post as above, but as a stand-alone thread in the nutrition forum. It'll help us and you if you pick one thread, and stick with it. Just a thought.

The same advice has already been provided, but here was my reply:

LDG said:
Wait - I'm confused. He was doing great, but you stopped the slippery elm, probiotics, and egg yolk? Then clearly they were doing the job, if he wasn't having the same problem with hairballs.

The egg yolks are typically a part of the raw diet, even for prey model raw feeders. But ESPECIALLY during shedding season - the lecithin in the yolks helps emulsify the fat that binds the hair, and the acetylcholine helps motility. And if you're not feeding green tripe, then the probiotics are used by some on a daily basis, forever. In the wild, a cat would eat the stomach and intestines of its prey - which is a dose of probiotics with every meal. Some of us believe it is important to replicate that, especially because a raw diet is so low in fiber (which in omnivores and herbivores is what provides the substrate for healthy bacterial growth in the gut).

The slippery elm is used for many reasons - often just to soothe the digestive system. But if hairballs are particularly bad, the fiber (and coating) from the SEB can help. I don't normally give the cats SEB, but during shedding season, they're all getting it twice a week to help prevent hairballs. I'll probably stop using it the end of May.

So in your shoes, I'd put at least the egg yolks and probiotics back into his diet. If you have to choose just one, make it the egg yolks. When hairballs are bad, it may take as many as 3 - 4 a week. Or part of one every day. And the SEB can be used daily - even 2x a day - if need be.

But if he was fine when on all of them - and now isn't - it seems pretty clear they just need to be added back to his diet!

.

Of course, Sally's observation makes sense on top of it all!

melrai · Apr 29, 2013

Yeah, as I posted this through my phone, I got kinda confused on where I sent it to (then thought I deleted it!). Sorry for the double post.

I'm back on SEB and egg yolk lecithin. I stopped it for a little bit because I thought he had finally overcome it, now I have realized it will be a forever thing. I don't use actual egg yolks, I use it lecithin in pill form, would raw eggs be better? Maybe I should also give green tripe a try...

Thanks for the advice. I am going to go back and use the egg yolk pills and probiotics again. I heard somewhere that SEB has to be given apart from food? Because it absorbs the nutrients when done together?

He hasn't had a terrible hairball since. So, this is gonna be forever!

melrai · Apr 29, 2013

mrsgreenjeens said:
Wel, and my guess is that when he is missing you, he grooms himself more to calm himself. More grooming = more hair intake = more hairballs.

Mine have been pretty consistently on raw for over a year now, and I have never stopped the egg yolk lecithin or the probiotics or digestive enzymes, but they STILL toss up the occasional hairball

. Not like they used to, but once in awhile...especially during shedding season.

You're right. I can't wait until he gets used to this new scheduling, poor guy.

That makes me feel a lot better. I guess it is shedding season and I never thought the egg yolk/probiotic regime would be forever - which is why I stopped it when he was doing fantastic. I guess I should get back on that train, especially with feeding him raw. I might also give green tripe a try!

Thanks for your advice

Long Time Overdue! Ruby and Hooligan Update + Something Odd?

melrai

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catspaw66

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