"Edna Pearl" wrote in
:

One of my three DSH's, a black 9yo neutered male named Ted, recently
started licking the hair on his tummy excessively, leaving a large,
downy area of near-baldness. He also "scrubbed" a couple spots bald
on his right foreleg.

I took Ted to the vet yesterday, and was told he doesn't have any sign
of any dermatitis or allergy or skin problem -- it's "bald-belly
syndrome." The vet prescribed 2mgs of Valium for one week, 1 mg for an
additional week, then recheck.

An Internet research reveals that bald-belly syndrome is basically the
feline equivalent of obsessive-compulsive disorder. I read that
Valium and Prozac are sometimes use to treat it.

I've been under a lot of stress in recent months-- personal and family
tragedy, illness, and loss, etc. And stress is contagious. Poor Ted
caught it from me. I feel guilty, I guess.

This particular cat and I are very close. F'rinstance, he sleeps on
the pillow by my head at night. His "baseline" personality is that he
is very vocal, skittish, and goofy -- and he only lets me and
sometimes my SO touch him. Now, with a snootful Valium, he's more
whiney, less skittish, clumsy, and totally glued to me -- on my lap or
underfoot at all times, crying when not.

I would be glad to hear from anybody who has been through this with a
cat. It's just breaking my heart.

ep




It is not like you did this on purpose. Give yourself a break. Your cat
will notice the difference. Stay calm and good luck.

Andy