New development in the bald belly...

I took Shadow to the vet last month for shots, and a check on her belly where she keeps licking the fur off. Anyway, the vet said it was most likely a nervous condition and to keep an eye on it. She does good for a while, then goes back to it. Today, I checked her belly, and above the usual spot, there's a smaller spot that she's been licking where the skin has small, dark colored spots. I don't see them anywhere else on her, and when I rubbed my fingernail over it, she got the feet going and started to purr. It must itch.

Any ideas?? I don't have the money to take her back to the vet yet. I have to take her back next month because she's got stage 3 periodontal disease (she won't let me clean her teeth - she goes into hysterics - had them cleaned 3 years ago and only feed her hard food but it happened anyway) and they may have to pull 2 of her teeth and I just don't have the $300 it may cost. They said she'd be ok until then. I'd appreciate any ideas anyone has. Thanks!

 

hard food can cause cavities - sticks to the teeth like chips stick to ours.

Chessmind can answer this better - but if the dental problems are chronic you might want to have some bloodwork done.

The itching spots on the belly could be allergies related to food. What kind of dry food are you feeding? Check the ingredients...if it's mostly corn that could be it. You might want to try switching foods to see if that helps. A lot of dry food contain corn and various other crap. Cats are carnivores and need meat in their diet.

 

Thanks for the answer. She's a finicky eater. She doesn't like soft food. She likes dry, crunchy food, and it's what our vet recommends. She gets either Purina One for Sensitive Systems, or Purina One for Hairballs.

The vet we saw when we took her in last was new and I didn't much like her. She made me angry when she insinuated that I was neglecting my cat by not brining her in for teeth cleanings every 6 months. We had always been told 2-3 years if they're on a dry diet. Perhaps that was wrong, but I don't neglect my cat. I brush her and feed her right and take good care of her. I can't afford the $100+ a cleaning costs every 6 months. I tried to brush her teeth from the time she was a baby, but she freaks out, and I don't want her hurting herself or going into distress.

I'm going to talk to a lady tomorrow at church who works for the local pet rescue and maybe she can recommend someone who does dental work for less money than my vet. I won't stop taking her there - we've taken our animals there for over 30 years. I just don't know what to do. I don't want her to be in pain, but I don't have $300, and they don't make payment plans because no one ever follows through with them.

 

every 6 months!!! I would wonder about having to put any animal under anesthesia that often!!!

I have one cat that is now 6 and I've had her 4.5 years and so far she's never had to have a cleaning, another who is 9 and had one cleaning. I let my vet tell me when they need it, I'm lucky as they only think it needs to be done when it needs to be done rather than do it on a biannual basis.

and no - there is no way I'd try to clean my cat's teeth either...then I'd be paying bills for having my arm stitched back on :roll:

 

I don't know if this might be your answer, but ever since I switched to Purina One (weight control) all of the cats have been getting that black gunk in their eyes, which none but Tigger have had. Switched them back to plain ol' Cat Chow (till I can afford the Innova again) and they cleared right up (except Tigger's). You might want to try switching food?

 

Have you tried that stress releif plug-in thingy? Feliway I think it's called? My vet has them in his office and it definately works with my cats...as soon as they get in there they stop meowing loudly and freaking out, they just get curious as to where they are.

That could help with the stress relief and be less intrusive than shots and stuff like that. Good luck with your poor baby.

 

the Feliway diffuser work wonderfully but are a bit high priced (at least for me anyway)...another option to help keep your cat calmer/relaxed is by adding some Bach's Rescue Remedy to her water. I have to do this for my foster as she's also a fur puller. Her belly is bare and since I started adding the Bach's to her water I don't find nearly as much fur laying around as I did. A small bottle is about $7 and lasts for quite awhile.