7 year old Persian lost her fur.

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Captain Midnight - 19 Jan 2004 02:56 GMT

My 7 year old Persian had been sick with a uritanary track infection,
She was on Anti-batics for 21 days. She is not eating much. I went away
for 8 days and boarded her at the vet,with her husband. An all black
Persian,(beautiful). When I broungt my Honey home I noticed her tail was
real thin?? I called the vet and he said she was nerverous while there
and licked her fur. Some females have hormone changes when they get
stressed out and loose there hair?? Has anyone heard of this?? How long
will it take to grow back. She is also stressed out because her 4 year
old baby boy,My Romeo died from a unirary track infection about 1 month
ago. The doctor told me not to feed them Kitten chow anymore. She loves
the kitten chow and won't hardley eat anything else and is loosing
weight.

Ruth
Malachi 3:10

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Laura R. - 19 Jan 2004 03:47 GMT

circa Sun, 18 Jan 2004 21:56:17 -0500 (EST), in
rec.pets.cats.health+behav, Captain Midnight (RL1298@webtv.net) said,

> My 7 year old Persian had been sick with a uritanary track infection,
> She was on Anti-batics for 21 days. She is not eating much.

Has she been re-tested to make sure that the infection is cleared?
Has she had a complete blood workup to ensure that there's not
anything else going on? Have you talked to the veterinarian about the
possibility of administering an appetite stimulant for a time?

> I went away
> for 8 days and boarded her at the vet,with her husband. An all black
> Persian,(beautiful). When I broungt my Honey home I noticed her tail was
> real thin?? I called the vet and he said she was nerverous while there
> and licked her fur. Some females have hormone changes when they get
> stressed out and loose there hair?? Has anyone heard of this??

Yes. Boarding can be a very stressful experience for a cat, and
obsessive licking is a relatively common response to anxiety.

When I travel, I have a catsitter come into my home to care for my
cats. You can ask your veterinarian if any of the techs there do
catsitting, as it's very common for some of them to do so. That way,
you can feel comfortable that the cat's medical needs are being
handled while you're out, and you'll know that the tech can take the
cat to the veterinarian if s/he sees any signs that the cat should go
in.

> How long
> will it take to grow back.

It probably won't grow back fully until the next season when cats go
through a large shedding/regrowth cycle, which would be spring.
However, some of the fur may grow back before then.

> She is also stressed out because her 4 year
> old baby boy,My Romeo died from a unirary track infection about 1 month
> ago.

Perhaps you might want to talk to your doctor about giving her anti-
anxiety medication for a while? I know that Valium (diazepam) acts as
an appetite stimulant in cats, as well as an anti-anxiety and
tranquilizing medication. It's also used after cats have been treated
for urinary blockages. It is, however, commonly sedating in cats, so
it may not be the ideal choice. There are several drugs that
veterinarians can give for inappetance and for anxiety, and it might
be worth looking into, as it sounds as though your cat is definitely
not feeling herself.

> The doctor told me not to feed them Kitten chow anymore.

Probably because on the cat food scale, it's not the most high-
quality food, plus it's not formulated for adult/senior cats. What
did the vet recommend that you feed her? Can you gradually switch her
over by mixing it in greater proportions each day with the Kitten
Chow?

> She loves
> the kitten chow and won't hardley eat anything else and is loosing
> weight.

You say she will hardly eat anything else, which seems to indicate
that she *will* eat *something* else? What else will she eat? Again,
though, you may want to look at gradually switching her to whatever
the vet recommends that she eat by the mixing method I mentioned
above.

I'd strongly encourage you to call your veterinarian and discuss
these concerns with him/her. Since the veterinarian knows your cat
better than anybody here can from posts about her, your vet can
probably give you much better advice.

Laura

Signature

I am Dyslexia of Borg,
Your a.s will be laminated.

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Captain Midnight - 19 Jan 2004 12:40 GMT

Thanks for your help, I will fax my vet your concerns, I know when Romeo
died(he was my baby,I cry just thinking of him)I changed vets and my new
vet is excellent,I took Honey and Midnight and they were given complete
check ups,$739 worth,they were there all day,I know Honey had a unitary
track infection,but the other vet had her on different pills and he was
a cheap vet in and out 28 dollars and could not call back,lines were so
busy, This vet is GOOD,thats why I boarded them there. But the advice to
have someone who knows pets stay in my house is good too. I always had a
housesitter but my Romeo got sick while I was in Europe and she had no
clue what was up. WHen I got home I took him to the cheap vet and he
said give him these pills and a shot and sent us on our way, 3 weeks
later I went to N.Y. came home a day early and the baby Romeo was
moaning when he peed,SO off we went to the cheap vet,gave us more pills
and said watch him,well he went into urimitic poising,by the time I got
him to the new Emergency vet in the morning ,he died on the way,I could
not believe my Baby was dead.I'm still crying and that was one month ago
yesterday. I watch my other two Persians like a hawk,but we also travel
a lot on business,I will pay the high price of good vet service.I will
get something for her appetite. The doctor said she ate while she was
there,thanks again.

Ruth
Malachi 3:10

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Karen - 19 Jan 2004 15:27 GMT

I'm really sorry to hear about Romeo. I'm glad you are no longer seeing that
vet. Blockage absolutely does not have to be a death sentence and I am sad
thinking that you weren't helped more by your vet. VERY bad vet. Honey is
in a very stressful time right now. She lost her buddy, she was separated
from you and she probably feels your stress over Romeo as well. Please get
some Feliway, try relaxing with her and giving her LOTS of extra attention.
What is she eating and how much?

Karen

> Thanks for your help, I will fax my vet your concerns, I know when Romeo
> died(he was my baby,I cry just thinking of him)I changed vets and my new
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
> Ruth
> Malachi 3:10

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Laura R. - 19 Jan 2004 20:54 GMT

circa Mon, 19 Jan 2004 07:40:05 -0500 (EST), in
rec.pets.cats.health+behav, Captain Midnight (RL1298@webtv.net) said,

Please keep us posted as to what happens.

Laura

Signature

I am Dyslexia of Borg,
Your a.s will be laminated.

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Laura R. - 19 Jan 2004 03:48 GMT

circa Sun, 18 Jan 2004 21:56:17 -0500 (EST), in
rec.pets.cats.health+behav, Captain Midnight (RL1298@webtv.net) said,

> My 7 year old Persian had been sick with a uritanary track infection,
> She was on Anti-batics for 21 days. She is not eating much. I went away
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> Ruth
> Malachi 3:10

Oh, I forgot to mention that you might also want to try Feliway to
see if that calms her.

Laura

Signature

I am Dyslexia of Borg,
Your a.s will be laminated.

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Captain Midnight - 26 Jan 2004 01:29 GMT

Well Honey is eating but not to much. I bought Feliway like you
suggested and she lies quietly on the bed pillow and sleeps.I think she
is cold. Even thought we are it Florida,its cold by our standard. I
bought her vitamins that should help her eat.The vet called to ask how
she was,but I was not home to take the call,I will call him in the
morning and ask him if she was checked for Ring Worm,I know she was
given a shot for the hair falling out the day Romeo died. But I must
tell him that she is almost all hairless now except for her head. Thanks
God that she is alive.

Ruth
Malachi 3:10

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Karen Chuplis - 26 Jan 2004 01:40 GMT

> Well Honey is eating but not to much. I bought Feliway like you
> suggested and she lies quietly on the bed pillow and sleeps.I think she
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> Ruth
> Malachi 3:10

Aww. Many purrs that she destresses soon and her fur returns. My vet carries
little plastic discs you can heat in the microwave and slip under a blanket
or pillow. I've also seen them at Drs. Foster and Smith. Maybe that would
also be soothing. I think they are about 12 dollars. Is there some sound
that is very normal for her to hear that you could play? I was thinking that
maybe even when you have to go out, if there is familiar sound going on it
might also help calm her. Keep us posted.

Karen

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Knack - 20 Jan 2004 05:35 GMT

> My 7 year old Persian had been sick with a uritanary track infection,
> She was on Anti-batics for 21 days. She is not eating much. I went away
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> the kitten chow and won't hardley eat anything else and is loosing
> weight.

Sounds like ringworm; especially since it began at a kennel. Ringworm is
quite contagious; even to you. When a cat's (or person's) resistance is low,
that's when ringworm runs rampant and causes hair loss. have a vet do a
ringworm test. Takes a few days for the vet to get test results back to you.

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