Well, it's been a long while since I've been here, but unfortunately, I'm back asking questions about the same cat.
Mija is our 5-year-old black and white domestic shorthair. She was adopted as a stray--we found her as a kitten walking around a neighbor's yard, starving and eating everything she could find. She has had regular vet care--she was spayed and has all of her annual shots current. Last spring she gave us a scare from apparent lily poisoning; she went into acute kidney failure, lost 4 pounds in a month, and was on IV fluids for a week. She made a full recovery (we had her blood checked a month after she went home to make sure her kidneys didn't have permanent damage--they were working normally) and it's been 9 months since the scare.
In the last month, we've noticed Mija has started losing hair. It started on the back of her legs, and has spread to her thingh, belly, and most recently, behind her elbows. The skin shows absolutely no irritation. I spent some time observing her and she doesn't seem to have any sort of problem with neurotic over-grooming (and besides, behind the elbows would be an odd place to over-groom). Her appetite and water consumption is normal. For the record--Mija is an indoor-only cat and has zero problems with ticks/fleas/etc.
Is this just "one of those things" or could it possibly reflect back on her kidney failure scare in the spring? We thus far haven't brought her to the vet because she seems perfectly healthy in every respect except the hair loss. Also--could it be stress related? We have an elderly dog that stays downstairs (the dog can't climb the stairs). Whereas one cat is totally unfettered by the canine companion, Mija only thinly tolerates her. She'll still come downstairs to use the litterbox, and will hang out downstairs when the dog is outside or out on a walk, but she won't come downstairs during the daytime (usually). But--we've had the dog over a year; I'm not sure why the hair loss would be just in the last month.
Anyone have ideas on what may be happening?
Why is Mija losing hair??
Re: Why is Mija losing hair??
She needs to be seen by your vet...anytime sudden fur loss occurs, needs to be addressed by your vet. Possible causes include mites, fleas, allergies, stress, or internal organ disfunction, and even pain.
Only your vet can determine this through a thorough exam, possibly a skin scrape/culture to rule out skin conditions, parasites, etc....bloodwork should be run if he suspects organ disfunction, including urinalysis and thyroid function testing.
Only your vet can determine this through a thorough exam, possibly a skin scrape/culture to rule out skin conditions, parasites, etc....bloodwork should be run if he suspects organ disfunction, including urinalysis and thyroid function testing.
..........Traci
Re: Why is Mija losing hair??
Now see, that's exactly what I told hubby y'all would say. We're trying to be financially conservative--Mija's emergency cost us over $1200 last spring, and we're expecting our first child in three months--so I understand wanting to "wait and see." But it's obviously getting worse, so it just seems that SOMEthing should be done.
It's a Sunday and tomorrow's a holiday, so we'll call the vet Tuesday. Hubby is saying to call and ask their advice/opinion, but I told him what they'll most certainly say: "It's difficult to say over the phone...the vet would need to see her, etc." But, we'll start with the phone call on Tuesday for now (and will likely bring her in later in the week once the vet says what I'm sure they'll say.
She has zero other symptoms, and that's what confounding us. I've looked a lot of things up online and in my cat vet care book, and they all mention things like scabs, swelling, redness, itching, excessive grooming/licking, etc., and there's none of that going on. This is what brought me here--I'm curious if there's a condition I'm missing that has this same reaction, and if others have experienced this.
Ah, Mija. Like horses, I've learned the most expensive ones are the ones that were free when "purchased."
It's a Sunday and tomorrow's a holiday, so we'll call the vet Tuesday. Hubby is saying to call and ask their advice/opinion, but I told him what they'll most certainly say: "It's difficult to say over the phone...the vet would need to see her, etc." But, we'll start with the phone call on Tuesday for now (and will likely bring her in later in the week once the vet says what I'm sure they'll say.
She has zero other symptoms, and that's what confounding us. I've looked a lot of things up online and in my cat vet care book, and they all mention things like scabs, swelling, redness, itching, excessive grooming/licking, etc., and there's none of that going on. This is what brought me here--I'm curious if there's a condition I'm missing that has this same reaction, and if others have experienced this.
Ah, Mija. Like horses, I've learned the most expensive ones are the ones that were free when "purchased."
Re: Why is Mija losing hair??
And this is the reason for the vet visit. There are numerous conditions that may only present one symptom. I could tell you that hyperthyroidism, for example, may need to be ruled out, since it can cause fur loss, but may not exhibit another symptom (this is not so in the majority of cases, so you know). Bloodwork would be necessary to rule out a condition such as hyperthyroidism. The problem is, many symptoms can mimick something else.
Your vet needs to refer to her health history, and your verbal account of anything unusual occuring from the time she developed the symptom. Additional tests may be required to rule out obvious things, and perhaps additional testing yet, to rule out hidden problems (mainly with blodwork).
It could be stress as well, but don't take any chances, your vet can help you rule things out, I'm sure he wants to keep diagnostics to a minimum, he understands the costs involved.
Your vet needs to refer to her health history, and your verbal account of anything unusual occuring from the time she developed the symptom. Additional tests may be required to rule out obvious things, and perhaps additional testing yet, to rule out hidden problems (mainly with blodwork).
It could be stress as well, but don't take any chances, your vet can help you rule things out, I'm sure he wants to keep diagnostics to a minimum, he understands the costs involved.
..........Traci
Re: Why is Mija losing hair??
An update:
This is why she needs to be seen by a vet: I'm not one.
Hubby brought her in today (following the phone call to the vet that went exactly as I predicted) and the head vet had a look. Apparently his trained eye was able to find some redness and irritation common to an allergic reaction. (*I* didn't see any, but uh...I'm a math and science teacher, not a vet, hee!) Searching Mija more, he found a spot that looked like an allergic reaction to a flea bite. We *thought* we had rid the house of fleas a while ago (never had much of a problem; never saw more than one or two at a time on any animal), but it seems Mija tastes especially good to them.
She got an anti-allergy shot and some Advantage. Glad to know it isn't stress (we were afraid it might be related to all the changes in the house as we prepare for baby), and even better that it isn't something related to internal organ dysfunction.
Just another poster giving support to the Have A Vet Take A Look philosophy.
This is why she needs to be seen by a vet: I'm not one.
Hubby brought her in today (following the phone call to the vet that went exactly as I predicted) and the head vet had a look. Apparently his trained eye was able to find some redness and irritation common to an allergic reaction. (*I* didn't see any, but uh...I'm a math and science teacher, not a vet, hee!) Searching Mija more, he found a spot that looked like an allergic reaction to a flea bite. We *thought* we had rid the house of fleas a while ago (never had much of a problem; never saw more than one or two at a time on any animal), but it seems Mija tastes especially good to them.
She got an anti-allergy shot and some Advantage. Glad to know it isn't stress (we were afraid it might be related to all the changes in the house as we prepare for baby), and even better that it isn't something related to internal organ dysfunction.
Just another poster giving support to the Have A Vet Take A Look philosophy.
Re: Why is Mija losing hair??
glad that Mija went to the vet and all will soon be well...be sure to vacuum all the furniture thoroughly on a daily basis...and carpets, especially around the edges...you can put a flea collar into the vacuum cleaner bag or canister area to keep the little buggers from hopping back down the hose to freedom! just DO NOT put a flea collar on your kitty!!!
wash any bedding that Mija sleeps on and dry in a HOT dryer...fleas are so frustrating...I thought we were rid of them as well, but here I was sitting on the couch the other day and felt one bite my shoulder!!
I was able to grab it and squish it and sure enough, it is a flea...and since then I have checked every cat and dog and not a flea to be found on any...but they will all get the Advantage treatment again and the furniture will be torn apart and vacuumed...
wash any bedding that Mija sleeps on and dry in a HOT dryer...fleas are so frustrating...I thought we were rid of them as well, but here I was sitting on the couch the other day and felt one bite my shoulder!!
I was able to grab it and squish it and sure enough, it is a flea...and since then I have checked every cat and dog and not a flea to be found on any...but they will all get the Advantage treatment again and the furniture will be torn apart and vacuumed...