Rat hair not growing back after op

Re: Rat hair not growing back after op

BengalcatRVN — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 12:44:53 GMT

My cat had 2 shaved legs, shaved belly and neck when he was really really ill. Took a year to regrow, as he was on preds. Medication can affect hair growth. As soon as we weened him off 20mg/day his hair grew straight back. Not liked steriods on him since, was so upsetting to see him all naked, I cried when he first came home! I understand why 'o's find it upsetting without warning!

Re: Rat hair not growing back after op

funkyfish — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 08:33:42 GMT

My JRT still has a mostly bald belly after his cryptorchid castrate, the under coat hair has grown back a little but the longer outer hairs are not there at all 8 months after clipping. I think it may get better with each moult? Like colour point cats when the hair grows back darker apparently after several moults it goes almost back to normal? (A vet i worked with bred some kind of posh cat and had had several neutered).

Re: Rat hair not growing back after op

epartrick — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 06:14:09 GMT

[quote user="Laura James"]

Perhaps its something to do with genetics?

[/quote] It could be, rat breeding isn't the best! I wondered if it was a side effect of her mast cells causing something more nasty

Re: Rat hair not growing back after op

Phrin Vernon RVN — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 22:53:42 GMT

Perhaps

I'd be interested to know what percentage of animals have this tho - and if species is a factor

I've only seen the one that I know of, but as we all know, clients dont always bring things like this to our attention - they are much more likely to moan about it at the school gates, pub etc etc

Re: Rat hair not growing back after op

Laura James — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 22:39:17 GMT

Perhaps its something to do with genetics?

Re: Rat hair not growing back after op

epartrick — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 22:09:42 GMT

I hadn't heard of it happening before but I wonder about the stats too. She is an old girl so maybe thats why but if it happens on spays and neuters then maybe not.

Re: Rat hair not growing back after op

Phrin Vernon RVN — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 21:14:59 GMT

One of our vets had this with his pooch - bald belly 6 months after spaying.

Never thought about it being something we should discuss with owners - good point! I wonder what the stats are?

Re: Rat hair not growing back after op

Laura James — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 21:11:33 GMT

I had my cat castrated back in december (he was cryptorchid - the expensive little git) and his hair still hasn't grown back properly! It's not mostly grown but you can still tell where he was shaved as his fur is thinner there. My college lecturer keeps telling us that hair not growing back is a rare side effect of clipping and we should inform owners of this when admitting

Re: Rat hair not growing back after op

Elerrina — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 21:04:11 GMT

Never encountered that with any of my rats although when my cat had her neck shaved to take bloods the fur never grew back, but i put it down to her being elderly.