Hair loss/steroids

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jwr4@webtv.net - 06 Jun 2004 22:34 GMT

Last year my 4 year old cat was injected with a steroid and took pills
for a couple weeks to treat flea dermatitis that was causing hair loss.
I also began applying Frontline.

It worked and all the hair came back. I eased up on the Frontline over
winter, but several weeks ago the hair began coming out again on his
back legs.

If the vet wants to inject him with steroid again, would that be safe?
Can steroids do more harm than good?

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MacCandace - 06 Jun 2004 23:06 GMT

<< If the vet wants to inject him with steroid again, would that be safe?
Can steroids do more harm than good? >>

I believe that steroids do not have as many adverse side effects on cats as
they do on humans (and dogs, as well). I would ask your vet this question when
you take your kitty in but I have heard of cats getting repeated steroid shots
without adverse side effects.

Candace
(take the litter out before replying by e-mail)

See my cats:
http://photos.yahoo.com/maccandace

"One does not meet oneself until one catches the reflection from an eye other
than human." (Loren Eisely)

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Teresa Glover - 08 Jun 2004 23:50 GMT

Extended steroid use in cats DOES cause feline diabetes but I don't know if
your cat would be in danger of this. I'm sure your vet would know.

Signature

Teresa, Georgie, Bella and Annie
mid Tennessee, USA
http://www.geocities.com/terrijo_222/prettyBella.html

> << If the vet wants to inject him with steroid again, would that be safe?
> Can steroids do more harm than good? >>
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> "One does not meet oneself until one catches the reflection from an eye other
> than human." (Loren Eisely)

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Cheryl - 09 Jun 2004 01:46 GMT

In the fine newsgroup "rec.pets.cats.health+behav", "Teresa
Glover" <terrijoG@charter.net> artfully composed this message
within <news:10cc9fmc15pff77@corp.supernews.com> on 08 Jun 2004:

> Extended steroid use in cats DOES cause feline diabetes but I
> don't know if your cat would be in danger of this. I'm sure your
> vet would know.

It doesn't necessarily cause it, it can speed up a predisposed
tendency toward becoming diabetic. As with anything, if a treatment
for something like allergic reactions that causes poor QOL for a
seriously itchy cat who is ripping out his own fur, making him bleed,
and you can't find the cause, you have to keep that in mind and be
proactive with having the vet test BG levels (yearly is probably fine
for a young cat who is getting steroid treatment) and watch the diet
and their weight. I think it is crueler (is that a word?) to withold
the only thing that will ensure a better *present* QOL when nothing
will stop the itching.

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Cheryl
/meowmy of Sir Itchybod Sham

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