Here is some info about the symptoms - sounds like allergies to me, probably food or inhalant allergies, but I'm not a vet and there are other possibilities. I've heard of hair-pulling being associated with cardiomyopathy and thyroid disorders however I don't recall if itching was also associated with those.

I'm uncomfortable with steroid use unless there is a specific reason it is the best treatment. When shooting in the dark like this - well, what are you shooting for? For instance, one time my vet asked me to try a short dose of Flagyl w/one of my cats - I asked to what end - he said if the Flagyl worked quickly that ruled out XYZ conditions and made it more likely the cat had ABC conditions, and if it did not work at all the cat probably did not have ABC conditions. He also told me - if the Flagyl works then we can try THIS next, if the Flagyl doesn't work then we can try THIS next. THIS being the next step in the diagnostic plan. If your vet can tell you that then there is a point to trying the pred and I might try a short course. If your vet just gave it to you because he/she doesn't know what to do and/or is just stalling for time, then I'd be very uncomfortable with that. So the question for me always is - what's the purpose and what's the plan?
http://www.catsmag.com/features/apr98.html#allergy
http://www.petinfocenter.com/allergi...gies_atopy.htm
http://www.vetinfo.com/cathair.html
http://www.vetinfo.com/callergy.html
http://www.vetinfo.com/catfur.html
http://www.vetinfo.com/catskin.html
http://www.vetinfo.com/catpara.html
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/food_allergies.html

http://www.peteducation.com/allergies/itchdz.htm

http://www.peteducation.com/cats/catearskincond.htm
http://www.vetmedcenter.com/Consumer...p?id=8497&dt=p http://www.vetmedcenter.com/Consumer...p?id=8892&dt=p http://www.vetmedcenter.com/Consumer...p?id=8490&dt=p http://www.vetmedcenter.com/Consumer...p?id=8499&dt=p http://www.vetmedcenter.com/Consumer...p?id=8498&dt=p http://www.vetmedcenter.com/Consumer...FL1XX.xml&dt=A

http://www.macnet.org/~wilcox_k/diet.html
http://www.vetinfo.com/catmed.html#Prednesone and diabetes


[This message has been edited by EileenKay (edited October 27, 2000).]