Help! Truman's pulling out his fur!

[amanda.]

i've had my little one, truman, for about a month now... i was petting him this morning, and noticed a raised bump on his tail, about an inch long. further inspection (much to truman's dismay) showed that the bump was kinda scaly... almost dandruff-ish, and was rough and crusty to the touch like a scab.

well.. i called a vet in my parent's hometown (we're visiting for the holiday) and he said he could see truman friday morning.

here's the problem -

whatever it was, truman ate it... or chewed it off and hid it. i've looked everywhere in the guest room (where truman's been all day), and in his carrier (the only other place he's been) and the scabby/scaley thing is gone.
what's left is a gross looking spot of raw skin. it was bleeding a little, so i got some gauze and blotted it.. but he wouldn't sit still enough to let me examine it.

the vet's appointment is friday at 11:30 am... will he be OK until then?
is there a big risk of infection? the spot where it *was* is about halfway down his tail, on the underside.

any ideas as to what he might have and/or how to treat the open wound?

thanks so much!

[Painten]

If it was just the one lump it could have been just a scab from a cut or something. If more develop it could be a flee bite allergy or excma. My cat suffers from excma and we have to change her treatment every couple of months as it stops working, as soon as it stops working we notice scaly patches on her skin. She will lick the scaly bits off and lick her skin red raw, and it will bleed a little. It doesn't hurt them to eat the scabs, it's just a gross animal thing to do.

Some times a course of tablets (hormones) helps and it goes permanetly, so my vet says.

I hope it was just a scab and not an allergy, good luck at the vets.

[KatMom]

Hello Amanda;
I emailed you back this morning. It could be numerous things. Painten is right... It could be the residuals of fleas, Dry skin/ exzema, it could even be an Old wound....that he has dug open. I'd check him over real good..( this could be fun ) But as much as possible , looking for dry patches. If it were me I'd put a little neosporin on it till tomorrow. I don't think it's anything major...I'm sure Truman will be fine. For dry skin, I give my crew a bit of Tuna in Oil periodically. RELAX and have a Great Holiday. Truman will be Ok , I'm sure of it. Let us know what the vet says tomorrow. :D
Take Care
KatMom

[amanda.]

can you guys tell this is my very first experience with having a kitten?? :o

maybe i'm not giving him enough credit- i think everything is a major catastrophy!

it's just that he's so young and tiny... he just got over a URI, and now he's got the scaly/scabby thing.

poor lil guy.

the spot seems to have scabbed over, and he continues to groom that area a lot. otherwise, he seems just fine- still eating like a pig and playing nonstop. i just didn't want the area to get infected, since where the spot is located is really close to his rectum - wasn't sure if being in the litter would cause it to get all nasty and infected.

i'll let you know what the vet says - my cousin is in vet school, and looked at the spot this morning... she seems to think it's some sort of allergy. she recommended that i ask the vet to do a skin scrape.

i'll keep you posted.

thanks so much for your help, guys. :)

-amanda

[KatMom]

Thanks for the update. Since Truman is just getting over a upper resp. infection. It could be why this has not healed yet. If his system is fighting off a URI. ( Keep us posted ) By the way.....We have all been a pet owner for the first time ; at one time or another. "" That was so long ago It makes me feel OLD "" LOL !! Not to Worry !! :D

KatMom

[Magnum]

Truman has himself a wonderful "first time kitty mom"! :D

Hey KatMom, you know what makes me feel old? I found my baby pics, you know the ones they take at the hospital the day you are born, and they are in black and white :eek: . LOL

[KatMom]

Yeah me too !! LOL !! But trying to think of my very first Pet was mind boggling. I grew up with my Grandparents...Grandma was a Female DR. Doolittle. If it was a critter we had it around somewhere. She did rehabilitation for zoo's and a wildlife preserve. So it took awhile before I could figure out what was actually MINE. I realized I had a Kitten named Essie. I was 3 or 4 when I found Essie. A yellow / orange tabby kitten.
Boy that brought back memories !! Soooo Long ago !! LOL I feel antique

KatMom

[amanda.]

well...

it seems as though little mr. truman has eczema.

he's doing just fine - the patch of fur is still totally gone, but the dryness/scaley part of the exposed skin is healing nicely.

we had a little scare last night... he got a hold of a piece of celophane, and swallowed it down before i could get it out of his mouth. luckily, it passed this morning. :o

OH... thanks again kat and magnum for the behavior tips. the bitter apple worked WONDERS. he's still a crazy little guy, but he's not attacking nearly as much.

i'll have to post some of his christmas pictures soon.

thanks again! :D

[Magnum]

Glad Truman is doing better. Poor guy, I wish him a speedy recovery on his skin :D. Oh boy, I hate it when my furkids give me those type scares...although I can't say I have had the plastic wrap poodie one....lol. Bu Bair snuck some hersheys kisses and had sparkly poodie......LOL It wasn't funny at the time, but the vet said it brought a new meaning to being festive for the holidays.

[KatMom]

YAY !!! Truman is OK ! Thanks for the update !! I'm glad the Bitter Apple Worked for you & Truman . YES ; Another success story !!! Kiss Truman for me !! Let us know how he braves Christmas ! Looking forward to Christmas Pics .

Kisses to Truman
KatMom

[amanda.]

:)

i will give him lotsa kisses.

trust me, he's greatful for his cyber-aunties!

otherwise, his momma would be clueless! :o

[KatMom]

That's what Cyber Aunties are for !!! ;) ((( HUGS & KISSES TO TRUMAN )))
LOL !! :D

KatMom

[KatMom]

My Dog Savana has Cyber Aunties too !! As Clueless as you are about Truman.....I am about Savana . I just found out that she thinks the cat litter box is a Open All Night Snack Buffet....I pick up my Baby Gate tomorrow to block her off. See we all are learning !! I can tell you just about anythng for kitties...... But the Barking kids ....I'm still working at it !


KatMom


PS ; Savana's Cyber Auntie's are Magnum , and Squawksx3. I would be lost without them !!

[Magnum]

I just found out that she thinks the cat litter box is a Open All Night Snack Buffet

ROTFLMBO!! Now that is funny!!!

We have a lot of stray cats in our neighborhood and they like to leave presents in our yard, especially by my rose bushes. Both Magnum and Bu Bair know this treasure site and I have to keep after them with "Do not seek the Kitty Kandy". :p

[KatMom]

Magnum...... I can tell when she has been in the Laundry room....The Cat litter sticks to her lips. Litter Lips tells on her every time !! :p :p

KatMom