Hagrid is gone. Update #40

[Prairie Purrs]

The vet thinks my big tuxie has allergies of some sort. He's been shaking his head and scratching his ears, and he lost his appetite, which is unheard of for Hagrid.

He had a Depo-Medrol shot on Tuesday, and I resorted to Fancy Feast to get him to eat. He's been inhaling the Fancy Feast, and his ears do seem a bit less itchy, but otherwise he hasn't been at all perky. He's got a follow-up vet visit Monday.

No clue so far what he might be allergic to. Up until he decided he didn't want to eat it anymore, he's been chowing down on good quality food. I haven't used any new cleaning products lately, and I avoid harsh chemicals.

I'm worried about my handsome fella. I don't know why he'd suddenly develop allergies at age 9. I just hope to find some way to make him feel better very soon.

[columbine]

If it's any help, chlorpheniramine (generic Chlor-Trimeton, often available as generic "allergy relief" pills) has been proven safe for cats. 1/4 of a 4 mg table ground up & dissolved in water, then mushed up in smelly canned food, twice a day, can really take the edge off of an itch until you identify the culprit. Just make sure chlorpheniramine is the ONLY ingredient.

Kicking all the grains out of Smudge's food was a big help to him, but all this rainy weather might be responsible for the remainder of his itchies, as mold is another common feline allergen.

Good luck, Hagrid! If your human wants to rub something soothing on your ouchies, emu oil is totally safe, and doesn't taste too bad either.

Love, Columbine

[Prairie Purrs]

Columbine, thank you for the info! June was an extremely rainy month around here, and mold counts have been high or very high all summer, so perhaps that's the culprit.

I'm hoping it's not food allergies. Regulating his diet will be tough because (once his appetite returns to normal) it won't be easy to keep him out of the other cats' food.

I'll look into the chlorpheniramine and the emu oil. Thanks again!

[Medusa]

Is Hagrid losing hair, especially at the sites where he's itching the most? My Creamsicle has allergies and we don't know what she's allergic to either, most likely food but what? As soon as I take her off the Prednisolone, she loses hair by the handfuls. If it's an environmental allergy, you'll have fun trying to find out what it is that Hagrid's allergic to. In the meantime, I sure hope that he feels better soon. He's such a big, handsome tuxie boy!

[Prairie Purrs]

Is Hagrid losing hair, especially at the sites where he's itching the most? My Creamsicle has allergies and we don't know what she's allergic to either, most likely food but what? As soon as I take her off the Prednisolone, she loses hair by the handfuls. If it's an environmental allergy, you'll have fun trying to find out what it is that Hagrid's allergic to. In the meantime, I sure hope that he feels better soon. He's such a big, handsome tuxie boy!

His ears have taken the brunt of it, although there's one sore spot on his head where he's lost some fur. His coat is much duller than usual, though. It's usually so soft and glossy.

[Medusa]

His ears have taken the brunt of it, although there's one sore spot on his head where he's lost some fur. His coat is much duller than usual, though. It's usually so soft and glossy.

That's where it started w/Creamsicle. Then she lost almost all her hair on her tail; it looked like a rat's tail. When you pet him, lightly tug on his fur and see if it easily comes out in what my vet called "paint brush" clumps. If so, it's important that you get some meds for the itching. My vet said that it's like having poison ivy and it's very uncomfortable for them. C's coat was always soft, too, but it felt lifeless and lacked sheen once the allergy took hold.

[Prairie Purrs]

Hagrid left for the RB yesterday. He took a sudden turn for the worse, and I had no choice but to let him go.

The best guess (because the liver biopsy tests haven't come back yet) is that he had liver cancer. It was definitely a liver problem, which apparently crashed his immune system.

The skin issue, incredibly, was ringworm. Or, possibly, ringworm plus complications. It took the skin biopsy results to diagnose ringworm (it didn't show up on the light test). Obviously, Hagrid's compromised immune system allowed the ringworm to take hold and get very bad. I've no clue how he got it, though--no new cats here for over two years.

In any event, I'll have to have all the other cats checked and/or treated, plus a lot of cleaning. Nobody else appears to be affected, but of course I'll take all the precautions.

I'll post a memorial to my sweet boy later today, when I'm functioning a little better. It's impossible to believe that he won't be coming home.

[Pinot's Mom]

I'm so very sorry for your loss. You tried so hard to pull Hagrid through; if hope and prayers could have done it alone, he would still be with you.

RIP, dear Hagrid, and Godspeed to the Bridge. God's Peace to your family.

[Medusa]

Oh my, I am so sorry about this. You certainly did everything you could to pull Hagrid through but w/a compromised immune system, sometimes it's just too much for them. At least now his battle is over and he can rest and be the healthy boy he was meant to be. RIP, sweet Hagrid and peace to your dear mommy.

[Catty1]

If love could have saved Hagrid, he would be here still.

Sadly, every single thing you could do and your love was not enough.

Hagrid - so handsome, a personality and being who will always be in your heart.

Play free, Hagrid, at the Bridge.

[jenluckenbach]

Oh gosh, how sad. I am SOOOO sorry. RIP Hagrid, sweet boy. You will be missed.

[kittykatharine]

Hagrid left for the RB yesterday. He took a sudden turn for the worse, and I had no choice but to let him go.

The best guess (because the liver biopsy tests haven't come back yet) is that he had liver cancer. It was definitely a liver problem, which apparently crashed his immune system.

The skin issue, incredibly, was ringworm. Or, possibly, ringworm plus complications. It took the skin biopsy results to diagnose ringworm (it didn't show up on the light test). Obviously, Hagrid's compromised immune system allowed the ringworm to take hold and get very bad. I've no clue how he got it, though--no new cats here for over two years.

In any event, I'll have to have all the other cats checked and/or treated, plus a lot of cleaning. Nobody else appears to be affected, but of course I'll take all the precautions.

I'll post a memorial to my sweet boy later today, when I'm functioning a little better. It's impossible to believe that he won't be coming home.

I am so sorry that Hagrid had to leave you. That is one of the most difficult things to experience and nothing I or anyone else can say will make the pain go away. Hagrid was obviously loved a great deal and he lived a long and loved life. He knows that he was loved and taken care of and hopefully is now watching over you, like a little guardian angel. Hagrid will be missed but never forgotten.

[moosmom]

RIP Hagrid. You are in a MUCH better place. Play hard at the Rainbow and know you were loved.

[mrspunkysmom]

I am so sorry for your loss. Play hard at the bridge, Hagrid.

[slick]

I'm so very sorry for your loss. RIP sweet Hagrid.

**shakes head in sadness**
Too many purrbabies crossing the bridge lately. I don't know what to make of it.