Question by Ang: My cat is licking herself bald?
My cat Belle is about 8 years old, and I’ve had her since she was a kitten. About 2 months ago, I noticed that she was spending a lot of time grooming herself, and on her belly and between her hind legs she was starting to loose some hair. Since then, she has licked herself completely bald in that area. Not anywhere near the genitals, more along the belly area.

I think maybe it started out that she was itchy like from an allergy and was almost chewing on her own skin to make it stop. But not she just licks herself obsessively and so the hair is not coming back like it should. I did not change food or anything in the time since this started.

I know I could take her to the vet and get her on steroids or something, but I’d like to know if there is something less drastic I could try first. Like, can I rub hydrocortizone (sp?) cream on the affected area to stop the itching? Or what about something that tastes foul that she would not want to lick? Maybe something they use for hot spots in dogs since the condition is kinda like that anyway?

Any suggestions? Anybody had this problem before?
I think I will try the orange peel idea. Can’t hurt, right? But I don’t think I’d try to give a cat a bath. I like my skin intact…

I do agree that an allergy is the likely culprit. But I have not changed anything. Interestingly, when this cat was a kitten she sometimes used to throw up immediately after eating and my vet suspected a food allergy. We tried all the expensive Iams and Science Diet, tried all natural food with no preservatives, even tried cooking people food for her, with no luck. So I just went back to feeding Purina Cat Chow and eventually the problem stopped on its own. Well, sometime she still throws up, but not that often and it’s just something I’ve learned to live with. The vet also tried pills and shots (I can’t remember what it was long ago) with no luck, so we just decided to live with it. I think mostly she threw up from eating too fast because the problem got better when I started feeding her in a different room than my other cat so she didn’t feel rushed.

Best answer:

Answer by vetliu
Your cat is getting older so it’s fur might become more loose. Try to give it a bath and rub the outside of an orange peel against wherever. Most cat’s do not like the smell of that. If your cat just still loses a ton of fur you should take it to the vet. They don’t always give them steriods either so you don’t have to worry about that.

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Question by Hapo: My dog is scratching herself to death?
The vet put her on steroids, removed chicken and other types of food from her diet, claim she was chewing and scratching because of allergies. After $ 500, an no results, I decided to go online and tried these clear capsules with fish oil and vit e in them. They seemed to work for a while but she is back scratching again. I was hoping there was something in the homedic department, (home made) I really think that she has simple dry skin. I got a great plain shampoo and conditioner. Is there an oil type solution I can use sort of like putting her a tub of water with the solution.

Best answer:

Answer by Ali C
See a vet, they’d know best!

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Question by Carson: My dog scratches herself until she bleeds!?
My dog continually scratches herself leaving rashes, sores, and bloody cuts. She’s been to the vet a million times now. She has allergies constantly. We’ve changed her food to a special hypoallergenic diet, shes had antibiotics, has special shampoo in which shes bathed regularly, she’s had antihistamines, steroids, everything under the sun. My dog has more medication the the pharmacy.
I’m committed to taking care of her allergies and doing what she needs but my concern is her constant scratching of her neck, armpits, and face. She is tearing up her skin, leaving wounds and bald spots. What can i do to prevent her form harming herself? I’ve seen those things called soft paws but is there any other options?

Best answer:

Answer by brittanyyyy119
sounds like an idiot to me. put a funnel around it’s neck or something

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Question by Sandy K: I have a 16 year old female Pomeranian named Pumpkin who bites herself and has sores on her body.?
When I take her for a walk or even when she’s home, she spends most of the time scratching herself and rolling on her back and spinning on her rear end.

Pumpkin also barks a lot now and I know she’s in distress but every time I took her to the vet, all he did was give her a shot of prednisone and antibiotics. That had only given her temporary relief. The vet felt she had an allergy and had termed her skin condition as “moist eczema”. I then heard that prednisone is a steroid and too dangerous for dogs so I stopped that.

I wash her with SulfOxyDex. I don’t think it’s fleas or anal glands because I take her to a groomer who said she does not have fleas. I also tried applying benadryl gel with not much success. Pumpkin also has her teeth cleaned once a month.

Now she spends most of her day in the closet or under the bed . The only peace she gets is when she’s sleeping. Do you have any suggestions on how to treat Pumpkin?
I appreciate any suggestions. Thank you.

Best answer:

Answer by guardangelpi
You need to take her back to the vet and tell him that the medicine only worked for a while,nd you have hear so much about prednisone, I think you will find its better to let her finish the whole percription also take to your vet about changing her diet because it might to strong for her now and she might need a adult food.You must find some relief for her she is in pain along with the itching. I had a Jack Russel that did tr he same way and I got her on a better food and she now is great, no scratching or crying.She might not have fleas but she could be allergic to fleas and if one got one her and jumped off. That is what was wrong with my little dog and after I changed her food and she finished her medicine,she was fine.Good luck!!!!!!

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Question by PlayRadioPlay!: Dog peeing on herself, what could be wrong?
I have a female jack russel terrier, she is almost 10 years old and has been fixed. lately she has been peeing on herself. She will go outside to use the bathroom like normal but she will often pee where ever she is sleeping or relaxing, including beds, the couch and the floor. we went a on trip almost 2 weeks ago which is when it started. we thought she just had to go really bad or was stressed which is why she peed in the car, but after we got home she still peed on things and now pees on herself. she stopped for like 2 days.

shes been healthy except for some allergies and ear infections caused by allergies. she also has/had fleas. she acts normal for the most part except for the peeing.

what can cause incontinence in a dog?

Best answer:

Answer by anne b
Age, just like us. I would rule out a UTI, then have a conversation with your vet about putting her on an incontinence medication. Works great.

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