Hairless Linus

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Mjh516

Mjh516

Member Since 2014
Linus was diagnosed last July and has been pretty regulated. His blood levels were good at his last checkup. For the past several months, he has been licking so much that his front legs are now pretty much hairless. His hair does not seem to grow back, once it is gone. Linus weighed about 20 pounds at the start of this journey. He now weighs about 16. He is still ravenous all the time...he gets fed Fancy Feast low carb canned food.
Does anyone have experience with this compulsive licking? Is it a common effect of the diabetes? Can anything be done to help my boy look better?
 
If allergy has definitively ruled out, compulsive behavior may be treated by fluoxetine, compounded for application in the ear (no pilling, because it tastes awful!)
Otherwise, itching might be allergy of some sort, anti-allergy meds could be tried.
Has he been tested for hyperthyroidism?
Are you home testing his glucose yet?
 
Ouch! If it's never happened before, I'd think it was an allergy. Did you change something? Shampoo? New food? Hope ya figger it out. He's a cutie. On a humorous note, I sometimes wish Fred was a hairless cat. Shot time would be easier :p. Just kidding Fred.
 
Yes, he was put on meds for allergies because his skin was so pink. That seems to have resolved itself.
I check his levels on a regular basis. They are fairly consistent and his vet is pleased with them.
I will ask about the meds..fluoxetine .. And the hyperthyroidism. I do not think he has been tested for that.
Linus had his belly shaved for a test, back in July, and the hair never grew back . And now his legs..... Is this a common side effect of diabetes.
Thanx for you suggestions.
 
Jamye and Fred said:
Ouch! If it's never happened before, I'd think it was an allergy. Did you change something? Shampoo? New food? Hope ya figger it out. He's a cutie. On a humorous note, I sometimes wish Fred was a hairless cat. Shot time would be easier :p. Just kidding Fred.
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No change in food. No baths unless we go to the vet/groomer....we have an appointment this Wednesday for a bath.
The hair loss /licking has been going on for a few months.
 
I've been watching Fred, closely, because he really loves the FF salmon feast classic and fish cat food has a reputation for containing histamine, a protein that can cause allergic reactions. Fish is in the top 3 allergy inducers for cats. Weird huh? Cats love fish! I only give it to him a few times a week. The rest of the time, he gets chicken and turkey and liver. No beef.
 
I have been giving Linus FF fish and shrimp almost exclusively because it has 0 carbs. Think I should add in turkey. Since he is always ravenous, he will eat anything.
 
Yeah I would add in some Classic Turkey and Giblets ( 39 phosph/ 58 cal/ 3 carb) and maybe some Classic Chopped grill feast (39/57/4).
 
Tennessee has the same problem with hair growth, or rather lack of growth. It started years before he was diagnosed with diabetes. He had surgery on his tail to remove some sebaceous cysts, and it took over a year for the hair to fully grow back.
Most recently in December, when he was treated for Pancreatitis he had some IV fluids at the vet's office. They shaved his "wrists", and the hair has not grown back in most areas, and in others is has grown back patchy.
We only have the licking problems on his tail, where the cysts have grown back.
Hopefully a food change will help Linus.
 
Andrea&Tennessee said:
Tennessee has the same problem with hair growth, or rather lack of growth. It started years before he was diagnosed with diabetes. He had surgery on his tail to remove some sebaceous cysts, and it took over a year for the hair to fully grow back.
Most recently in December, when he was treated for Pancreatitis he had some IV fluids at the vet's office. They shaved his "wrists", and the hair has not grown back in most areas, and in others is has grown back patchy.
We only have the licking problems on his tail, where the cysts have grown back.
Hopefully a food change will help Linus.
Click to expand...
At last, a fellow baldie!! I really do not think his hair will ever grow back, since the shaved belly from last July is still like a cue ball. I just hope the licking stops so there is no more hair loss. Have changed to the suggested food. Since he will eat ANYTHING, the switch was not a problem. Now we just see.....
Thanx for the imput.
 
PS...
Linus now weighs 15.4 pounds...down from 20+ In a year. I am hoping that it is because it is a result of the 0 carb food. Just wait and see on that, too, I guess.
 
My vet wanted to do a ultrasound before we got our Acro diagnosis.
All I could think was he would freeze during the winter because the hair on his stomach would never grow back!
Luckily we did not end up doing the ultrasound.

It's good that Linus has lost some weight. Tennie was down about 3 lbs before he was diagnosed. Now he is back up to around 17lbs.
I just try and keep him steady because one of the symptoms of Acromegaly is weight gain.
 
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