Hot spot

[sandysandy1]

Hi,

My cat has a hit spot on her stomach that she constantly licks. It's to the point where are the hair is gone and the skin is raw. I've tried e-collars which helped but then she figured out how to use that to scratch the spot. I want to take her to the vet but I'm afraid they will give her a steroid shot. I've heard that steroid shots are very bad for their health. Is that true? Are there any other alternatives?

Thanks!

[evewisewoman]

Hi sandysandy1,

I just finished reading your comments. You talk about your cat licking the
fur on her stomach until the hair is gone. My first cat, Mandy, used to
do that too. If your kitty's skin is raw, I'd suggest taking her to your vet.
They won't necessarily give her a steroid shot. Your vet might have another
suggestion. As to whether a steroid shot is bad for her health I don't know.
The vet didn't give Mandy a steroid shot when she had that issue. To be
honest, I don't remember what she recommended. While I had Mandy,
who was my cat, I was also taking care of two of my sister's cats, two
siblings, a male and a female. Anyway, the vet thought that perhaps the
reason Mandy was overgrooming and licking the fur off her tummy , she
had a bare tummy, not raw though, was because she was rather anxious.
I adopted my Mandy from an animal shelter when she was about a year
and a half and told she might have been abused at some point. You
should know this. Maybe your cat is overgrooming because she is anxious
too. Is that possible. I would definitely bring your cat to your vet and see
what your vet suggests as far as why she may be doing this and what to
do about the raw skin on her tummy. Good luck to both of you.

[BluCrystal]

No good vet would give your cat any medication that would be harmful.  I used to work for a vet, and sometimes when an animal would not stop licking, he would crush some kind of pill (I dont recall what it was), add a bit of water to make a paste, and smear it on the area being licked.  This paste appaently was harmless to the animal in any way, but tasted nasty, so they would not want to lick.  Ask your vet about it.  Fair warning: if you and your vet choose this method, know that she if she gets it in her mouth, it will make her froth and slobber at the mouth, but that is okay under this circumstance.  

[opus88]

hi sandy...I will send you a link to a previous question on the same matter so you can read through.

you are right abt steroids avoid them for a cat unless absolutely necessary, they can lead to many health problems..such as diabetes in cats, and besides for symptoms such as your kitty has it would just be treating the symptoms and NOT the cause....

let us know how she makes out with the changes listed...if not mentioned below than i also suggest you change the type of litter you are using, use unscented and preferably something natural such as paper pellets or walnut husks...NOT corn. but if you stay with the clay litter at least be sure its non scented...

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Cats/Balding-cat/show/1906723?personal_page_id=473886