Go Back   Pet forum for dogs cats and humans - Pets.ca > Discussion Groups - mainly cats and dogs > Dog health - Ask members * If your pet is vomiting-bleeding-diarrhea etc. Vet time!

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old May 25th, 2007, 08:12 AM
~michelle~ ~michelle~ is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: london, ON
Posts: 1,256
should i get the test done?

ok last summer braxton's chest went bald and the rest of his fur thinned out ALOT!! took him to the vet they didnt show much concern (a bad shed???) theres no redness, encrusting, or excessive itching, so it doesnt appear to be allergies. the cold weather came and his fur came back. last summer was when i adopted him so i dont know if this had happened before.
however the warm weather came and his fur is starting to thin again esp on the chest and abdomen.

we were at the vet (a different vet) yesterday, and he has no idea, thinks it may be a weird folicle disease or condition, however he doesnt seem to think its a big deal because he is otherwise healthy (with exception of mild heart murmur)

he is getting a blood panel done to see if there are any abnormalities there.
now I can get a biopsy done of his chest and see if there is a abnormality with the fur , but then he has to be but under for the day etc etc.

now i am wondering if i should put him through the surgery if this doesnt affect him anyother way. i really want to know the answer to this but i dont know if i should put him through this if its not affecting his quality of life
maybe i just worry but i hate putting him under anethestic if its not absolutely necessary. the vet is not pushing for this he has just offered the option, but he said it was wasnt necessary
__________________
Maggie - lil black cat
Moe- Fluffy Orange kitty
Braxton- Rescues britany cross
Logan - Rescued Husky cross
Aiden- Rescued husky cross

Last edited by ~michelle~; May 25th, 2007 at 08:30 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old May 25th, 2007, 08:28 AM
kiara's Avatar
kiara kiara is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Quebec
Posts: 405
If your vet thinks that the test is necessary then I would listen to your vet. The reason for the blood test is to see how the major organs are working before a general anesthetic, which is routine. A biopsy is not an operation but a simple, fast procedure by taking a small piece of skin and testing it for causes of hair loss under a microsope. It is probably a treatable condition. You will know once and for all why your cat is losing hair seasonally and get the proper treatment.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old May 25th, 2007, 08:35 AM
~michelle~ ~michelle~ is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: london, ON
Posts: 1,256
sorry i ment to say the vet said it wasnt nec. sorry i have corrected the error... i prob will get it done im just worried about putting him under because of the heart murmur.
braxton is a doggie

we're doing a blood panel to look for any hormonal abnormalities first before the biopsy.... i wanna get other safer test done before anethestic, as braxton is very sensitive to changes and easily gets worked up in tramatic situations.

any other test anyone would suggest we do as well has anyone else dealt with this prob?
__________________
Maggie - lil black cat
Moe- Fluffy Orange kitty
Braxton- Rescues britany cross
Logan - Rescued Husky cross
Aiden- Rescued husky cross
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old May 25th, 2007, 11:39 AM
Lukka'sma's Avatar
Lukka'sma Lukka'sma is offline
Remembering Lukka
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: London Ontario
Posts: 2,231
Oh I hope the treatment for Braxton is something very simple. Poor little fella. I know it must worry you terribly to know that Braxton has something going on inside and you just haven't been able to pinpoint it yet. I hope all turns out to be OK with him. Lukka and I both send him well wishes.
__________________
Lukka Jan.20 2006 - Aug.19 2008
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old May 25th, 2007, 11:49 AM
Frenchy's Avatar
Frenchy Frenchy is offline
-
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Quebec
Posts: 30,227
I'm not an expert but it sounds like mild seasonnal allergies. The only way to find out is to put him on Vanectyl , but I wouldn't try if I was you, if it's only his fur that's tinning, nothing is bothering him .... I would leave it at that.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old May 25th, 2007, 01:52 PM
bendyfoot's Avatar
bendyfoot bendyfoot is offline
Geek Club CEO
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Ontario
Posts: 5,019
My cat needed a skin biopsy once, for a baldness issue...
would it be possible to do the biopsy under sedation, with local anaesthetic, instead of a general? It would likely be safer considering the heart condition.
Just a thought?
__________________
Owned by:
Solomon - black DSH - king of kitchen raids (11)
Gracie - Mutterooski X - scary smart (9)
Jaida - GSD - tripod trainwreck and gentle soul (4)
Heidi - mugsly Boston Terrier X - she is in BIG trouble!!! (3)
Audrey - torbie - sweet as pie (11 months)
Patrick - blue - a little turd (but we like him anyways) (6 months)
__________
Boo, our Matriarch (August 1 1992 - March 29 2011)
Riley and Molly
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old May 25th, 2007, 02:42 PM
~michelle~ ~michelle~ is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: london, ON
Posts: 1,256
i thought it was seasonal allergies too, but theres no redness, encrusting, or itching, which are typically signs of allergies before hairloss.... i dont know its bizarre
__________________
Maggie - lil black cat
Moe- Fluffy Orange kitty
Braxton- Rescues britany cross
Logan - Rescued Husky cross
Aiden- Rescued husky cross
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old May 25th, 2007, 05:32 PM
Prin Prin is offline
Senior member
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 28,492
My dad's Jack loses all his hair on Purina... No itching, redness, etc, just hairloss. I'd do an allergy test before a biopsy..
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old May 27th, 2007, 08:18 AM
~michelle~ ~michelle~ is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: london, ON
Posts: 1,256
well i did some research and any of typical and atypical causes of hairloss that resemble his signs and symptoms most likely require a biopsy of a thyroid test.
i think i may request the thyroid test first (a little safer!)
I'll keep you all up to date on how he does.... its nothing serious (although i dont think it is!)
__________________
Maggie - lil black cat
Moe- Fluffy Orange kitty
Braxton- Rescues britany cross
Logan - Rescued Husky cross
Aiden- Rescued husky cross
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old May 31st, 2007, 04:17 PM
~michelle~ ~michelle~ is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: london, ON
Posts: 1,256
well im going to go throught with this but i will be getting braxton an ekg before hand to make sure.
__________________
Maggie - lil black cat
Moe- Fluffy Orange kitty
Braxton- Rescues britany cross
Logan - Rescued Husky cross
Aiden- Rescued husky cross
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old May 31st, 2007, 06:23 PM
Hunter's_owner's Avatar
Hunter's_owner Hunter's_owner is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Newfoundland
Posts: 3,633
Well good luck with it and keeps us posted
__________________
We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It's the best deal man has ever made. -M. Acklam
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Forum Terms of Use

  • All Bulletin Board Posts are for personal/non-commercial use only.
  • Self-promotion and/or promotion in general is prohibited.
  • Debate is healthy but profane and deliberately rude posts will be deleted.
  • Posters not following the rules will be banned at the Admins' discretion.
  • Read the Full Forum Rules

Forum Details

  • Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8
    Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
    vBulletin Optimisation by vB Optimise (Reduced on this page: MySQL 0%).
  • All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:19 PM.