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Thread: Help - Advice on Pulling Hair Out

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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
    3

    Help - Advice on Pulling Hair Out

    I'm asking for any advice on my 2-year-old male cat (Sylvester) who woke up this morning at 5:00 a.m and starting frantically scratching his upper back (close to his head). He scratched so much that he was pulling his hair out and it was bleeding. I took him to the emergency clinic and they suggested it could be an allergy or an anxiety problem. I don't believe he has an anxiety problem. The vet hardly looked at him, so I don't know how she could make that diagnosis. She suggested I take him to a cat dermatologist. Although, I love my cat, I'm concerned about the cost of a dermatologist and possibly allergy tests. I might add that this happened in February, 2003, but it was a severe case. When I found him in the morning, he had actually scratched until it was raw. It took almost 2-3 months to clear up.

    I don't think it's a food allergy, because I haven't changed foods recently. I am concerned that this will continue to happen. Sylvester isn't much of a lap cat, he seems to get overstimulated with too much petting.

    This has been a difficult week for my husband and I. We lost our 16-year-old lab on Monday and our 16-year-old Cocker Spaniel passed away Tuesday during the night. We found him Wednesday mornng. It's been a very difficult and expensive week for us.

    Does anybody have any advice?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Williamstown, Kentucky
    Posts
    3,481
    I took him to the emergency clinic and they suggested it could be an allergy or an anxiety problem. I don't believe he has an anxiety problem.
    This has been a difficult week for my husband and I. We lost our 16-year-old lab on Monday and our 16-year-old Cocker Spaniel passed away Tuesday during the night. We found him Wednesday mornng. It's been a very difficult and expensive week for us.
    I'm not any expert, but I think the little guy might just have anixiety problem because of passing of the two other animals in your house. Our furry friends do feed off your emotions and emotional states. I would follow up with your regular vet and see what he/she has to say.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    State College PA
    Posts
    968
    Try giving him an antihistamine. Chlor-trimaton, the 4 hour pill cut into half and give 1/2 of a pill every 12 hours. If it is an allergy it may help. Antihistamines also tend to calm them down some if it is anxiety. I had a long haired tortie that did this for a short time also. Never really determined why. The other thing I did was to get Soft Paws and put them on the back claws. That way when she scratched she couldn't dig furrows into the back of her head.

    Denyce

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