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Cats/lower backpain and hair loss

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Expert: Jessica - 2/19/2006


Question
Mork: nutered 9yr old mixed breed medium hair (strictly an indoor cat). has had some lower back discomfort over the past 8 mos. but it recently appears to be coming more painful as of late (to the touch not with movement). he does not let me brush this area and this morning i've noticed a patch of hair missing at the lower back base of tail area(not red or raw) can you help? He currently is on thyroid medication - Methimazole 5mg daily.  Thank you for your help and assistance.  

Answer
Hi John.  Has Mork seen the vet lately?  There are lots of possible causes for chronic back pain.  That includes arthritis, diabetic neuropathy (diabetes is very common in cats around Mork's age), Rolling Skin Syndrome, Lupus or other auto-immune disease, and Yellow Fat Disease (rare unless you feed him lots of fish-based food).  Those are just a few possibilities.  So I would get Mork in to see the vet ASAP and get him properly diagnosed and treated.

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Jessica

Expertise

The areas in which I have gained the most experience are cat health and feral cat management/rescue. I provide supportive care to chronically ill cats, hospice care to terminally ill cats and also am involved in trap-neuter-return efforts. My specialities lie in taming feral cats and in the allopathic treatment of cats with illnesses or special needs. I also have owned Siamese, Himalayans, Abyssinians, Russian Blues, Savannahs, Bengals, Peterbalds, Don Sphynx and Oriental Shorthairs and am well-versed in cat breeds as well as cat behavior and nutrition.

Experience

I have 15 years of extensive experience with cats ranging from breeding to medical care. My daily routine consists of caring for cats with diabetes, thyroid disease, kidney failure, feline leukemia, feline AIDS as well as feral cats. I have experience with liver patients, heart patients, feline infectious peritonitis, cancer, recovery from amputation and trauma, congenital deformities and most every disease in between. I have assisted cats giving birth and hand-nursed kittens who were neglected by their mother from 2 days old through weaning.

Education/Credentials
15 years' hands-on experience

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