Tucker is licking his hair off again and has a RASH!

[kimlovescats]

This past summer Tucker did this same thing ... he was nearly bald on his sides and tail and he looked like he had a poodle cut on his legs. I re-treated him for fleas and soon the cooler weather came and his hair grew back. I was relieved and though it was "over". Well, he is doing "whatever" again and now he has a rash on his legs from it. Does anyone have any ideas about what this is? Does it look familiar? I don't generally flea treat during the winter months ... but I can if I need to. Of course, I don't ever see him scratching though .... like he has any fleas?

He is losing some of his hair on his body again, but his legs are the worst this time.










I have also thought about the strong possiblity of it being stress related over-grooming... because he does groom incessantly!!! Do you think eventually by licking his legs too long, he could be causing the sore spots?

[sasvermont]

Kim, I would say that you would want to take the boy to a vet. My second comment would be that it could be hot spots (merged into big ones)......and they can be caused by a few different things. Once you rule out fleas, I would ask the vet for a cortisone shot or two...long acting......and then if that does not work, then a kitty prozac of sorts. Some cats (Miley is one of them) are obsessed with licking....and lick themselves and usually others, including humans. All this is just a guess on my behalf and I would take the boy to the vet soon. He could get a nasty infection going....then $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$!

Keep us posted!

[jenluckenbach]

WOW Kim, I don't know. Has it ever been determined that he has an ALLERGY to fleas? If so, one bite could do it. I guess it's back to the vet. Hope they find the cause.

[catcrazylady]

Poor Tucker!!
I was thinking the same thing Jen mentioned. My mother has a dog that looks very similar to this. The vet treats her for flea allergies. One bite sends her into overdrive! My mother will swear up and down that she doesn't have fleas but the vet said one flea is all it takes when they are allergic to them.
I don't know if that is Tuckers problem but I guess it's possible. Please keep us updated!
Tucker, you are sooooo beautiful and I hope you quit itching soon.
You can't keep losing all that beautiful fur!!

[Logan]

Kim, Butter has had the same problem, off and on, for over a year. Not a flea on him, but he chews and licks his fur right off in spots on his body (not nearly as severely as Tucker has), but he pulls and licks so hard that he starts bleeding. Dr. Robinson determined that it is allergies. No fleas, but we do use Frontline Plus on him to keep them away. About every 3-4 months, I've had to take him in, get an injection, and he clears right up! We were just in there last week. Most of Butter's sores on on his legs, chest, sides and hindquarters, but never his tail!

Thank goodness for that magic shot, as it seems to "fix" him every time. We did change food and it seemed to help for a while, but lately, he started back up, so obviously it wasn't the food after all.

I hope Tucker will be better soon.

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Kim, Peanut has this same problem. These pics aren't that great, but they do show her "hot spots." She usually does her legs first.

And in this one the hair is growing back already.


But you might remember that she started on her tummy for awhile too (don't know what I did with those pics though). The vet said she has allergies - not a flea in site so just "environmental" allergies. It was getting really bad there for awhile with all four legs and her tummy, but I noticed when I stopped giving her Temptations treats, most of the areas eventually grew their fur back. The vet put her on Prednisolone which he said helps them to deal with the allergies. I give her 1/2 a pill a day and it seems to keep her licking at bay. Although I very very very seldom actually see her licking herself, so I wonder when she does it enough to lick herself clean.

I do know the Prednisolone has some not so nice side effects, and Tucker is a lot younger than Peanut, so if you could get the injections for him that might be better than Pred for the rest of his life.

The hard part is how do you tell if it's stress or allergy related. I do believe Peanut's is somewhat stress related because she's just a nervous type of cat. Is Tucker "a nervous type of cat?" If so, it might be stress, but otherwise could be allergy related.

And yes, I believe he could lick himself so raw that he is developing sores from it. That tender kitty skin can only take so much of that rough little tongue.

Good luck, and let us know what you find out.

[jazzcat]

I know she is a different species, but Disney (my dog) does the same thing and it is due to allergies. The vet gave me a shampoo to wash her in and then prescribed 1/2 a Tavist (over the counter). Now that it is under control and she isn't licking her fur completely off I give her the Tavist every 2-3 days. She would lick her fur right off her legs and a couple of spots on her side and make her skin very raw. She still licks a lot and her white fur at those places stays a constant shade of orange/brown from her saliva.

[kimlovescats]

Yes, Tucker is a very "high stress" and sensitive kitty. He is mommy's BABY, and any interference with that status really upsets him! The reason I tend to think it is nervous grooming rather than allergies, is the fact that he only has sores on the parts that he can get to really well.... his legs! Other places that he licks the hair off (underside of tail and sides of his back) never show any redness even, just bare skin!

Looks like this payday is a vet visit for my Tucker Man!

[jenluckenbach]

Have you tried any "bitter" products made for animals to stop the cycle of licking?

[kimlovescats]

No, Jen I haven't thought of that. That's a good idea... thanks!

[jazzcat]

Originally posted by jenluckenbach
Have you tried any "bitter" products made for animals to stop the cycle of licking?

Be careful using that where his skin is raw. I tried that on Disney on spots that didn't look like the skin was broken but it must it stung her pretty bad and made her skin turn really red. Poor thing, I had to give her a bath immediately. She still wimpers if she see that Bitter Apple bottle.

[jazzcat]

Originally posted by jenluckenbach
Have you tried any "bitter" products made for animals to stop the cycle of licking?

Be careful using that where his skin is raw. I tried that on Disney on spots that didn't look like the skin was broken but it must it stung her pretty badly and made her skin turn really red. Poor thing, I had to give her a bath immediately. She still wimpers if she sees that Bitter Apple bottle.

[GSDgurl]

Hey Kim
My cat does the same thing n' she just started it not to long ago either. My Mom's best friend is a vet. I asked her about it.....she said that it was just nerves....although she doesn't have a rash either. I noctie she mainly does it when a lot of different people may be around....cause she is not the social type. Plus my Mom seems to think it might be her age....cause my babys getting old
She does it at..the back of her front lefs, belly, n' the bottom of her tail. Here is a picture of her legs....

People have told me to use Gold Bond n' that didn't work.. I didn't want to use Bitter Apple....I was afraid it might irritate her skin more than it already was. Im goin to try something new now.....my Mom ordered some Avon Oils or something like that n' we were goin to rub it on our hands then on her skin were it is irritated. I'll tell you how it works.

Casey

[kimlovescats]

Thank you for the great input... I REALLY believe it is nerves with Tucker!!! As always, there has been lots of coming and goin here ... and now add the new PUPPY!!!!
You would think I would learn to quit stressing my pets out so much.... will I ever learn? I'm feeling more and more like a bad pet mom these days.

[Logan]

You are definitely NOT a bad mom, Kim!

I haven't even thought of "nerves" being Butter's problem, and as feisty and bold as he is, I doubt that is his particular problem. He is as confident in himself as any pet I have ever owned, and I definitely have the scars to prove it!!!

Our vet has blamed his issues on allergies, which may be exaggerated because he does go outdoors daily, which I am assuming your Tucker does not. Indoor only cats face different issues, I'm sure, and I don't know a thing about combating those! All I know is that the shots he has received, periodically, have helped him tremendously. I will check with my vet and see exactly what he is getting. Maybe it will help Tucker too.

Logan