Conference misery::feline_v1

    Sweetie has a problem with very sparse fur on his ears.  The vet
    said it was because of a sex hormone imbalance, and it was better
    not to treat it because hormone treatments can have bad side effects
    (do I remember correctly that they include an increased risk of
    cancer?).  I do remember the vet said a hallmark of the type of
    problem Sweetie has is that the fur loss is symmetric on the body.
    Although the fur is still sparse on his ears, and it "wears off"
    very easily elsewhere on the body (I have to keep an eye on the
    area under his collar), he is basically fine.  There was a slight
    increase in the fur loss on his ears
    after the diagnosis, and then things stabilized, and
    the diagnosis was several years ago.  If this is the same problem
    Tasha-Marie has, I wonder why she is losing what I gather from your
    note is a fairly noticable amount of fur -- could she be sleeping
    on something rough that tends to "wear off" the fur?
    
    I think there are lots of things that can cause a temporary fur
    loss;  maybe your friend's cat had something different, like an
    allergic reaction that one steroid shot fixed up.
    
    Hugs to Tasha-Marie, who is beautiful fur or no.
    
                                      

    Monroe also had a problem with hair loss.  The vet said that he
    was lacking in male hormones (my husband got a kick out of that
    since he has always been of the opinion that Monroe was a wimp)
    and prescribed Megace.  I don't remember the dosage.
    
    Monroe's hairloss was accompanied by a change in behavior.  He became
    very skittish (unusual for him) and would hide behind the toilet
    in the bathroom all day.  A few weeks on medication and his behavior
    was back to normal and his hair was coming back.  
    
    His hairloss was around the neck and ears and also along his back
    to his tail.
    
    Jo

    What is Megace?  Is Monroe on it for life?  Does it have side effects
    like those previously mentioned?
    

    
    
    And remember Tasha Marie is a female and has a female hormone
    problem. I imagine the medicine would be different.  But then
    again its the same problem.  This is just such a confusing
    problem!!  Thanks everyone for all your thoughts and input.
    
    
                                     Donna
    

    This may be totally irrelevant - but I have a Siamese who bites
    fur off of his legs when he is nervous - We went through a period
    when he had very funny looking legs - luckily he has "chilled out"!
     
    Could this be your problem?

    			Hair Lose Problem
    
    I too, have a nervous Siamese, that will pull her hair out of her
    back.  Though I don't believe Tasha has the same problem, I found
    it interesting that different Vets will give you different remedies.
    (I had 3 Vets with 3 different "possible " solutions)  I tried them
    all and the best was doing nothing at all.  The problem comes and
    goes, and I've adjusted to vaccuming more often when the problem
    arises.
    
    	But the point I guess I'm making is,  get several opinions (some
    Vets will talk to you over the phone rather then another visit)  And
    try a variety cures.  A medication with side effects may be as a result
     of taking the medication for months or years for the cat to be
    effected.  You may have cured the problem long before that. 
    
    	I am convinced that though, Vets are a lot better then they used
    to be, but they still at times, only guess or are guided by their educations
    theories (many are different)  
    
    	Good luck, I hope you find a solution.
    
    RTD

    Megace is a hormone (male or female? Beats me!) and Monroe only
    took it for about 2 weeks.  He hasn't had a reocurrence of the problem
    since that original bout.
    
    I would sure hate to be a vet.  I find it hard to criticize them
    since they often have little choice other than trial and error
    treatment.  Since their patients can't tell them what is wrong they
    often have to make educated guesses.  And, many cat illnesses show
    the same symptoms.  I give my vet alot of credit.  Not only does
    he have to deal with my sick cat, he also has to deal with me (who
    has a tendency to think she knows more than the vet sometimes! 8^>)
    
    Jo

    How is Tasha Marie doing?