Slow/No Fur Growth: Diabetes Related?

[Misterbeesmom]

ok here's another question.

Back before mr biddles was diagnosed with diabetes, he had a decrease in fur growth. That is, he had a shaved spot from surgery/bloodwork that had not filled in after a few months. Now we're going on to 6 more months, having the diagnosis in november, which of course brought around more shaving for more bloodwork, and a big patch of shaved tummy when he had his ultrasound in january. No new fur has filled in anywhere.

Granted his diabetes has been outta control for 6 months, so i know his body isnt functioning at 100%, but i never see lack of fur growth as a symptom for diabetes.

Thoughts? I'm curious how this relates. Thanks!

 

[Critter Mom]

Saoirse had post-shaving alopecia last year. Not sure whether it was due to pancreatitis or early stage renal insufficiency. Following a recommendation from Tanya's Site (www.felinecrf.org) I started giving Saoirse a B-complex supplement (Jarrow B-Right, 1/10 capsule per day for 10lb cat) and also for a short time I gave her a full 3mg Zobaline tablet each day. Her fur started growing back pretty much straight after the start of the vitamin B supplementation. Note that she was not receiving insulin at that time (couldn't get an Rx - long story) and it was a job to keep her numbers in the normal range with careful scheduling of meals.

I don't know whether this may be relevant but thyroid issues can affect hair growth. Saoirse was ever so slightly hypothyroid when her fur wasn't growing (and her coat was badly rusted, too).

In February Saoirse had enucleation surgery after suffering an intraocular haemorrhage. The fur started growing back straight away (and it was black). She was receiving insulin in February.

Saoirse had a dental last week and the vet also removed a skin tag on her back so she has had two patches of skin shaved. Give me a shout in a few weeks' time to see how the regrowth is going. (I have PTSD-related memory problems so it will go out of my head to post an update. )


Mogs
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[jayla-n-Drevon]

Thyroid has been known to have odd hair growth ... whispy

 

[Misterbeesmom]

Saoirse had post-shaving alopecia last year. Not sure whether it was due to pancreatitis or early stage renal insufficiency. Following a recommendation from Tanya's Site (www.felinecrf.org) I started giving Saoirse a B-complex supplement (Jarrow B-Right, 1/10 capsule per day for 10lb cat) and also for a short time I gave her a full 3mg Zobaline tablet each day. Her fur started growing back pretty much straight after the start of the vitamin B supplementation. Note that she was not receiving insulin at that time (couldn't get an Rx - long story) and it was a job to keep her numbers in the normal range with careful scheduling of meals.

I don't know whether this may be relevant but thyroid issues can affect hair growth. Saoirse was ever so slightly hypothyroid when her fur wasn't growing (and her coat was badly rusted, too).

In February Saoirse had enucleation surgery after suffering an intraocular haemorrhage. The fur started growing back straight away (and it was black). She was receiving insulin in February.

Saoirse had a dental last week and the vet also removed a skin tag on her back so she has had two patches of skin shaved. Give me a shout in a few weeks' time to see how the regrowth is going. (I have PTSD-related memory problems so it will go out of my head to post an update. )


Mogs
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Very interesting. Mr biddles black coat started getting rusty last year. I figured it was age. One vet said possible cushings but they all thought highly unlikely. He has hyperthyroidism but gets regularly checked and the most recent bw showed normal. Now maybe he is slightly hypo for him though within range? I dunno. The other issue we know of is the chronic b12 deficiency, which may be the reason. However, after repeat injections in feb/march which got his b levels up, his fur still had not started to grow in. I'm trying to figure out if his B levels were checked last year when this started. Is it just called B12 on labwork or is it called something else, do we know?...

The pancreatitis numbers have gotten worse. Maybe its all down to that.

 

[jayla-n-Drevon]

The high end of hypo thyroid may be your culprit??

 

[Misterbeesmom]

The high end of hypo thyroid may be your culprit??

Maybe i'll knock out his evening dose of methimazole. He gets 1 tablet in morning, 1/2 tablet evening.

You would think he would need more methimazole as he ages though, than less. I dont like tinkering with too many meds, supplements, foods at the same time. Dont know what to do.

 

[Critter Mom]

Mr biddles black coat started getting rusty last year. I figured it was age.

So did the vet who failed spectacularly to spot Saoirse's diabetes symptoms. She put the rusting down to age. (We're with a different practice now.) I wish to goodness she had seen Saoirse after a few months of insulin treatment sporting her lovely new and very black coat!

Non-sun-related rusting is most frequently due to an l-tyrosine deficiency.


Mogs
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[Larry and Kitties]

Many of my cats hav had slow-growing fur. Not clear if age or diabetes related,

 

[Critter Mom]

Useful articles:

http://yuppiepuppiesgrooming.com/?p=231

From the above article:

• If started young, some dogs will grow back almost to natural texture. However, as the dog ages, the chances of it developing Post Clipping Alopecia with each shave are increased.

• The chance of an older pet growing back its hair are slim to none.

• If a pet develops Post Clipping Alopecia, you might also want to have your vet do some blood work. If the pet is on a nutritional diet then there could be something medically wrong on the inside that only blood work test results will find. Common aliments are enlarged heart, obesity, thyroid, cushions [Cushings?] disease, diabetes, kidney failure, and tumors (fatty and cancerous).

[Emphasis mine]

http://www.petmd.com/blogs/dailyvet/2009/december/15-5143

In the above article the vet suggests melatonin as a possible treatment avenue to explore; interesting considering that it also plays a role in pigmentation.


Mogs
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[Tuxedo Mom]

The high end of hypo thyroid may be your culprit??

This is very possible. My Tuxie is early Cushing's and is right at the borderline for hypothyroid. He had an ultrasound done in January 2015 and has had no hair regrowth...partly from the Cushing's and partly from the low normal thyroid (which is due to the Cushing's) You could always have the thyroid functions checked.

 

[Critter Mom]

Forgot to add above that Saoirse's thyroid levels were back in the normal range in February (when her hair regrew OK after being clipped).


Mogs
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[Misterbeesmom]

So did the vet who failed spectacularly to spot Saoirse's diabetes symptoms. She put the rusting down to age. (We're with a different practice now.) I wish to goodness she had seen Saoirse after a few months of insulin treatment sporting her lovely new and very black coat!

Non-sun-related rusting is most frequently due to an l-tyrosine deficiency.


Mogs
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Um ok thinking creatively here - i read this on another site: " Tyrosine is metabolised in the liver and tyrosine is necessary for synthesizing thyroxin, a hormone produced by the thyroid gland"

By that rationale, can it be suggested that if the liver isnt working up to snuff because it is inflamed from unreguated diabetes, that it is then not metabolizing tyrosine, which in turn is not synthesizing thyroxin, making it possible that a previously hyperhtyroid cat might become less hyperthyroid? AND get rusty in the bargain?

Incidentally let me add the rust color on mr b is along his sides and legs. He has a sort of thick stripe of black down his back, his tail, and his head is still black. So he did not get rusty all over. Important?

The only thing is, he's been rusty far longer than he had any liver trouble, so that might deflate my hypothesis.

 

[jayla-n-Drevon]

Is he "rusty " where he licks himself often?
The saliva can stain the hair....

 

[jayla-n-Drevon]

Um ok thinking creatively here - i read this on another site: " Tyrosine is metabolised in the liver and tyrosine is necessary for synthesizing thyroxin, a hormone produced by the thyroid gland"

By that rationale, can it be suggested that if the liver isnt working up to snuff because it is inflamed from unreguated diabetes, that it is then not metabolizing tyrosine, which in turn is not synthesizing thyroxin, making it possible that a previously hyperhtyroid cat might become less hyperthyroid? AND get rusty in the bargain?

Incidentally let me add the rust color on mr b is along his sides and legs. He has a sort of thick stripe of black down his back, his tail, and his head is still black. So he did not get rusty all over. Important?

The only thing is, he's been rusty far longer than he had any liver trouble, so that might deflate my hypothesis.

nice detective work!!

 

[Critter Mom]

Is he "rusty " where he licks himself often?
The saliva can stain the hair....

Very interesting! What's the mechanism behind that, Jayla? The fur on Saoirse's head doesn't show any discoloration.


Mogs
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[Misterbeesmom]

Very interesting! What's the mechanism behind that, Jayla? The fur on Saoirse's head doesn't show any discoloration.


Mogs
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No. In facg, over the months he has groomed less. The only stains he has are on his white areas - corn/grass litter stains. I've not heard of saliva staining before. Is that associated with diabetes?

 

[jayla-n-Drevon]

Very interesting! What's the mechanism behind that, Jayla? The fur on Saoirse's head doesn't show any discoloration.


Mogs
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I see this often at my grooming salon--red/pink stained paws.... "private areas that often end up with yeast...

Tearstains are typically the result of porphyrins. Porphyrins are naturally occurring molecules containing iron – waste products from the breakdown of red blood cells -- and are mostly removed from the body in the usual way (in poop). However, in dogs and cats, porphyrin can also be excreted through tears, saliva, and urine.

When tears and saliva containing porphyrins sit on light-colored fur for any period of time, staining will occur. And if it seems your pet’s tearstains are worse after he’s been outside, you’re not imagining things. The iron-containing stains do indeed darken when exposed to sunlight.

 

[jayla-n-Drevon]

No. In facg, over the months he has groomed less. The only stains he has are on his white areas - corn/grass litter stains. I've not heard of saliva staining before. Is that associated with diabetes?

not as far as I know.... however if the diabetes is not well regulated it would not surprise me because the glucose/sugar going thru the system will in the end turn to yeast if continually licking and staying moist /warm/ wet.... and usually a dark place (i.e. ears-vagina-rectal-armpits)....

 

[Critter Mom]

Thanks for the info about porphyrins, Jayla. Interestingly, Saoirse's front paws are where the discoloration is most pronounced.


Mogs
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[Lily-Fish]

Lily had three big shaved patches from her bloods in October and then her DKA episode in Feb. She has only started growing her fur back since she has been regulated (so around middle March). It may simply be that the nutrients have not been sufficient to support hair regrowth?

 

[Misterbeesmom]

Lily had three big shaved patches from her bloods in October and then her DKA episode in Feb. She has only started growing her fur back since she has been regulated (so around middle March). It may simply be that the nutrients have not been sufficient to support hair regrowth?

Thank you, i hope that is the case.