Overgrooming - vet appointment update

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arozeboom

arozeboom

Member Since 2011
Ruby has been OTJ for 20 weeks now. dancing_cat She's been overgrooming off and on for several years but lately its kicked into overdrive. She's going it all the time. Her belly is basically bare and all 4 legs are getting close. All other behavior is normal. Playing normally, her appetite is normal, litterbox habits normal. No change in food (FF, mostly Beef & Chicken), no change in the kind of litter. None of her skin is red. No sign of fleas, no visible rash. I did start feeding her cat grass, but that's only been for the past 3 weeks or so.

We had her checked out for this about 2 years ago and they found no cause. Eventually the behavior mellowed out.

The only recent changes are that our civvie, Midgie, had surgery on June 25th to remove a portion of her left lung due to a tumor. It took Ru until about 2 weeks ago until she finally stopped hissing at Midgie and is willing to eat standing next to her. My stress level is off the charts lately, due to work stress and some other nonsense going on. It seems like for the past week she's overgrooming even more. I get even more stressed when I see her doing it.

Any ideas on what could be causing this behavior? Is she picking up on my stress and responding in this way?

We have a vet appointment on Wednesday to do a check up including blood work and urinalysis (basically a wellness check) so I'll talk to the doc about it then.
 
Re: Overgrooming

I dont know Amy...hyper T??? Sending positive vibes. I know they pick up on our stress but that would mean you've been stressed for a very long time? Poor kitty. Heres hoping this gets figured out.
jeanne
 
Re: Overgrooming

The only other possible symptom she might show is that she's lost some weight, but she's been losing it since we changed to wet foot in December.

The past 9 months have been some of the most stressful I've ever had. Ruby was diagnosed, as soon as we got her OTJ, then Midgie was diagnosed with the lung tumor and had surgery. Very unstable job situations, parents with failing health, blah, blah, blah...sometimes things just snowball. :roll:

We'll see what they say at the vet.
 
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I'm not sure what could cause that .. our civvie twix plucks the fur off her front paws all the time .. not sure why, we also had her checked out and the vet could not find anything going on with her .. we try to stop her when we catch it but she is so dang sneaky!
 
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Have the "free T4" test done.
I have two hyperthyroid kitties and one overgrooms. He is also "borderline" on the regular thyroid blood test and only gets a high result on the "Free T4" test.
My other hyperthyroid kitty is older - his thyroid shows up on the regular thyroid blood test and he doesn't overgroom.
 
Re: Overgrooming

Phoebe_Tiggy_NortonGA said:
Have the "free T4" test done.
I have two hyperthyroid kitties and one overgrooms. He is also "borderline" on the regular thyroid blood test and only gets a high result on the "Free T4" test.
My other hyperthyroid kitty is older - his thyroid shows up on the regular thyroid blood test and he doesn't overgroom.
Click to expand...

What treatment do you use with your kitties? I know the vet who did Midgie's lung surgery does the radioactive-iodine treatment at their office.

I weighed her on our home scale last night and it said she's down a pound from when I last weighed her (a couple of months ago). Then again it also said I'm down 5 lbs since Monday, so I'm questioning its accuracy.

I've now gotten myself completely worked up about it. :roll:
 
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I give them both Tapazole pills every day and get reasonable control of their thyroid levels (blood tests show decent levels, and most symptoms are much improved)

When Buster (overgroomer) was first diagnosed, we were going to get the radioactive iodine treatment. There are pre-treatment tests to do to make sure the kidneys are ok, and while we were doing these tests, my DH lost his job. We cancelled the radioactive iodine treatment. (3 years later, DH is still not working)

My second HyperT guy was dx'd last year.
 
Re: Overgrooming

Phoebe_Tiggy_NortonGA said:
I give them both Tapazole pills every day and get reasonable control of their thyroid levels (blood tests show decent levels, and most symptoms are much improved)

When Buster (overgroomer) was first diagnosed, we were going to get the radioactive iodine treatment. There are pre-treatment tests to do to make sure the kidneys are ok, and while we were doing these tests, my DH lost his job. We cancelled the radioactive iodine treatment. (3 years later, DH is still not working)

My second HyperT guy was dx'd last year.
Click to expand...

Does having FD complicate things?
 
Re: Overgrooming

Hello Amy,

so sorry about your difficulties. Could this be contact dermatitis or, at least, a contributing factor? Can you switch to a totally different type (pine, crystals, brand, etc., ?) of litter to see if that helps some? My Pudge's abdomen was almost bare on Priority clumping litter, his skin did not change its color. I know that people's skin sensitivities can change over a life time; perhaps cats' do, too.

Best wishes,
Sophie
 
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We switched to Feline Pine (from clay clumping) about a year and a half ago, mostly because I wondered if that might be part of the problem (during one of her earlier periods of overgrooming).

The only recent change is that she's been eating cat grass (wheat grass) since early August. She's had trouble with periodic constipation and it seems to help her stay regular. Its just a small container (maybe 3 inch square) and I keep it where she can't reach it unless she's munching on it. She only does that for few minutes every other day or so. She doesn't touch it with her feet or anything, though.

We also haven't changed any laundry detergent or anything like that, so unless there was a formula change, it wouldn't be from anything she's laying on.

I'm probably totally blowing this out of proportion, but the last two times I've had a gut feeling that something was wrong with my girls, Ru was diagnosed with diabetes and Midgie with lung cancer. Luckily, both times it was in the early stages so we were able to get things under control. If this more than Ru just being neurotic I want to get a jump on, too.
 
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Sorry - neither of my HyperT guys are diabetic. Tiggy is diabetic with no other complications at this time *antijinx*

Hopefully someone else can answer re: FD + HyperT

My HyperT guys:
1. lost weight
2. peed more
3. puked empty stomach stuff (bile, saliva)
4. crabby / irritable / hyperactive / attacking other cats
5. 1 overgroomed to the point of naked places on tummy, spine and legs (actually the other guy overgroomed too on occasion - but he has allergy flare-ups, so I attributed it to that)
6. loud sad meowing at night

On tapazole, most of these symptoms are much better.

The one guy still pukes often and has recently started licking his fur off again -- time for a blood test / dose adjustment
 
Re: Overgrooming

Thanks for all the info.
She's got #5 and maybe #1, but none of the rest. Well, she's a tortie so she grouchy and pushy by nature. ;-)
 
Re: Overgrooming

arozeboom said:
Thanks for all the info.
She's got #5 and maybe #1, but none of the rest. Well, she's a tortie so she grouchy and pushy by nature. ;-)
Click to expand...

I have another cat, besides Kate... Shadow. He's a mut, but he looks like a Russian Blue but he has faint rings on his tail. He is an enormous cat... his tail is 13 inches long, he's 15 lbs of muscle and a little pudge. When he stretches from his back tippy toes up and reaches up to me, he is about an inch from the crook of my upper arm and shoulder. Ok, I can say it. He grabs my boobs... he's a man, what can I say? I'm only 5 feet tall, but he's still big. He has gotten into this grooming thing lately. Because he can only bend so far down, he has almost bare skin from right under his ribs down... He really looks like he has old man underwear on! Quite comical... he also walks around meowing sometimes, but that's just his nature. He's a very vocal cat. I wouldn't worry too much unless there's a rash or broken skin or something like that. Shadow just likes to sit and lick. Add in that he's 3 yrs old and thinks his still an itty bitty kitty that can tear around the house and jump on my stomach and we have a recipe for lots of knocked over and broken things... mainly ribs - MINE! I did think he broke my rib once. He jumped off my very high headboard dead on my abdomen and it just took the wind out of me. Turns out, it was just bruised, but for heaven's sake!!

Now Kate is a Calico/Tortie and I only worry with her over grooming when she starts pulling her fur out in chunks. Then I know her skin allergies are flaring up. They do sell a cortisone spray at Walmart and that has helped her on some occassions. Maybe it would help your kitty! Oh and if you think it's the litter, I switched to the Breeze system with the large pellets and the pee pads underneath about 2 years ago and it is so much more sanitary for me.They don't have to walk on big chunks of pee until I can clean it and they don't track or throw litter everywhere. I will never go back!
 
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There is definitely something off with her right now, even if the fur this is psychogenic alopecia. She still plays, her appetite is still fine, but a lot of times, when she's walking around, her tail isn't as perky. I don't know if that makes sense. She does the "fur mowing" thing and licking. Its like she's nibbling on an ear of corn.

We have the appointment tomorrow. I'm going to ask them to do a full gamet of blood and urine tests. If there is something physically wrong, I want to know now so we can address it. Her BG level is still good, so I don't think its an infection. I tested her on Monday night and on her Alpha, she rang in with 118 about 2 hours after she ate dinner.

I did order some Spirit Essences but I'm not sure when they'll arrive. I ordered a stress buster, one for OCD behavior and a skin soother. I don't know if they'll work, but we'll see.
 
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The vet once told me that a lot of cats could be allergic to fleas... or whatever fleas carry, lay, etc. I can usually tell when Kate gotten a flea on her because the patch on her back right in front of her tail is inflammed, flaky and she snatches the fur out.
 
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Her skin looks completely clear. The girl has me puzzled.

I just want her to feel better and be happy. If that involves her being naked as a jaybird, then by all means, she can be naked a a jaybird. :smile:
 
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Since she's been OTJ, she vary rarely has visible dandruff. She used to like crazy, though.
 
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Even if on a particular food for a while, it is possible to develop an allergy to it. Alledgedly, rotating through food groups so the same one isn't used 2 times in a row, is supposed to help - ex rabbit, poultry, beef, goat, then repeat.

If you are using canned, you might do a trial of a partially/completely raw diet with a decent carb count, possibly making your own. See Cat Info for a recipe

Also, if it is an obsessive-compulsive issue, there are a number of meds that have been found helpful to reduce that.
 
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I've thought about the food allergy thing and was wondering if maybe Fancy Feast changed something in their Beef & Chicken formula.

When she was first diagnosed as neurotic (like mother, like daughter, let me tell you!) a few years back the vet offered Prozac but said that there was no guarantee it would work. At the time I didn't want to put her on anything. The thought of pilling her every day is a daunting one. She tolerates shots way better than pills.
 
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One time Kate got it in her head that Shadow must die... She saw a cat outside and decided to take her anger out on him. The chase ensued... it ended with Shadow being scared to death, me and my now exhusband being mauled by Kate and me on my knees in the kitchen floor with my entire body covering Kate like a dome while I sobbed. Mother of Jesus... that was an emotional day. We had to keep them separate for a few days until I could get her to the vet. They gave her Amitriptaline which helped immediately... I gave it to her for about a week. Her little synapses and stuff got right and we haven't had an episode like that again. I have used a few other times b/c she has separation anxiety. It's great to help with moving or trips. They are small, blue pills. She would cheek them sometimes but I've found that just opening her mouth, going in from the side and sticking it on the back of her tongue gives her no choice but to swallow. I have to pill her now twice a day for her heart meds. She saw right thru trying to put it in cheese or a pill pocket... little heffer. She isn't gullible like the dogs!
 
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Some of these meds may be compounded into a transdermal ointment which is rubbed inside the ear. This may be less stressful than pilling.

I had really good luck with pill pockets for Spitzer, using half of one pocket to wrap around a small pill, or a larger pill broken into pieces.
 
Re: Overgrooming

Our appointment was Thursday night. Dr K said Ru looks great. Her BG was 105 (AT) right before we left the house.
At diagnosis Ru weighed in at 14 lbs. She's now at 11 lbs 10 oz. Her heart and lungs sound great. Teeth have some tartar but she's not worried about it. Her coat, other than the over grooming, looks good, too. No dandruff and her skin is clear. They took blood and urine and we should get the results tomorrow. And in classic Ruby fashion, if she has to go to the vet, someone is going to get peed on. I'm just glad it was me this time and not Dr. K or one of the techs. :smile: She hissed and growled the whole time. Dr K just laughs and tells Ru what a drama queen she is.

Dr. K said she would be shocked if the test came back positive for HyperT. (Ru doesn't have any obvious symptoms other than me being paranoid.) She's pretty convinced that the grooming is just my poor girl being a neurotic mess like her mom. ;-) Since I took the wheat grass away she's not grooming quite as much. Also, there was some epic letterbox action on Friday and since then her mood has perked up, too.

And more goods news is that Midgie's 3 month, post lung surgery x-ray shows her lungs are both clear! Her heart looks and sounds good and her lungs sound clear, too. She weighs a massive 5 lbs 12 oz! Every in the office just fawns over her.

All in all, a great appointment (even though I had to change clothes when I got home :lol: )!
 
wow, what a relief I am sure for you! I'm so glad the vet appt went well (other then the pee) :-D I hope the test results come back like the vet thinks, and it's just a nervous habit she may have ..
 
I still need to see the blood and urine results before I can really relax. Just part of the fun of being paranoid. :-D
 
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