Monday, February 22, 2021

More Fur Renn

Renn continues to feel the effects of his surgery, which was a week ago last Thursday. He is suffering tremendous shedding. His hair is coming out by the handful. This is accompanied by dreadful dandruff, the worst I’ve seen in any man or beast. Some of the flakes are a quarter inch across, and there are thousands of them. He is not enduring any itchiness or anything that he can feel, so far as I can determine. The picture below is not a good one but the light-hued bits are dandruff.



These fur and skin problems may not be related to the surgery. I have found no documentary evidence of a  correlation between the new pain-killer that he was given and fur-loss or dry skin. However, these issues began a couple of days after his surgery; coincidence suggests cause-and-effect. 


I have started giving my big boy salmon oil, on the same schedule as Tucker (Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays). I don’t think it would be bad for him in any case, but in this instance, it may help. I spoke with the hospital and instructed them to annotate my records, prohibiting the use of the sustained-release buprenorphine in any of my cats. I also told them not to use any new drug, medication or procedure on them without consulting me first. Though I did not mention it, I will use only our usual doctor at the hospital, so far as I am able; she knows my cats better than the others, and she knows I know them best of all.


14 comments:

  1. That is weird, although skin rashes are a known side effect of buprenorphine. Since he had such a bad reaction to the drug, it makes sense to me that there would be a connection. Does the poor guy seem to be otherwise well?

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    1. I searched for side-effects but didn't find that one. Thank you for letting me know. Renn is still a bit lethargic and his appetite isn't what it was, and it wasn't great to begin with. But he is eating and shows some interest in playing. He is getting back into his habits.

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  2. Good heavens! I hope this side effect passes quickly, Renn's been through enough.

    At least he's returning to normal in terms of his regular habits and most importantly, eating. ♥

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  3. We hope those issues go away soon. We use buprenorphine here without any side effects.

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  4. Poor Renn. I'm glad you spoke with the hospital and they are aware not to give your cats medication without consulting you first. Did they have any idea about what is causing Renn's fur loss and dandruff? Is it possible that he came in contact with an external parasite while he was at the vet?

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  5. John, is it possible for him to have a shot of steroids? at least just this once a full shot? That may get the dandruff in control, may provide some relief, and may increase his appetite some. Admiral had some shots every 2 months, reduced to half a shot after the first 2 full ones. I can no longer recall why. Oh. Allergies. It made her Tortie fur look like a million without the skin flakes and for the short time, it did her no harm.
    .

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  6. Dear Renn, hoping you overcome this problem soon. Please eat good and
    get back to your normal.

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  7. Sending purrs to Renn and hopes for the skin issues to go away quickly.
    Surgery is bad enough without having to have skin issues.
    Big purrs to you Renn !!!!!
    Purrs, Julie

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  8. Poor boy. We flake sometimes but it's because its so dry dry dry here. We're electric, too! Anyway, we hope Renn's issue clears up on its own soon.

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  9. Dandruff in a cat..Goodness!
    Never heard of it..How strange!
    Hope it clears up soon, be interesting
    to know what is causing it...!

    And yes, l always stick with my 'own'
    doctor at the surgery..she knows me
    the best, l've been asked at times
    if l want to see another, and l
    always refuse, l'd sooner wait..!

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  10. Poor Renn! Coming so soon after surgery it does suggest that it is related, although I am sure the doctor would disagree. I hope the salmon oil will help.

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  11. Oh goodness, Renn just can't catch a break. I hope he's feeling better soon. I know how much my cats love the oil off the canned salmon so I'm sure giving him the oil isn't a hardship to him.

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    1. It's not the same, unfortunately. The bottle of salmon oil stated that it had "a taste animals love". When any product boasts that, it's a lie.

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  12. Sweetie too has a fair amount of flakes in her fur; I hope that the end of the antibiotics may be helpful for that.

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