I originally posted this on the hyper t forum, but thought I'd post here too.
This may seem so obvious to some, but I only recently figured it out and my vet completely missed it. I've had Isis for 14 years and during that time she has suffered from asthma attacks and been given multiple steroid injections. She also suffered from dandruff and was labeled a "fastidious groomer" by our vet because she had large bald patches from grooming herself incessantly. When another of our cats, Cleo, was diagnosed with hyper thyroidism and about to undergo I 131, another vet prescribed Wellactin fish oil. I gave it to all my cats for several months. During this time, Isis lost so much hair she was almost bald. Our vet suspected hyper thyroidism after one test that showed high levels. (a later test was normal, and that is another story!) Long story a bit shorter: it was FISH! I made the connection finally. Isis is allergic to fish. Eliminating fish (and it is in almost every dry food and many wet even though labeled "turkey dinner" for example)from her diet has resulted in a thick, glossy coat of hair the likes of which I have never seen on her, and NO dandruff! Just thought this might help others who have similar problems with asthma or grooming issues.
This may seem so obvious to some, but I only recently figured it out and my vet completely missed it. I've had Isis for 14 years and during that time she has suffered from asthma attacks and been given multiple steroid injections. She also suffered from dandruff and was labeled a "fastidious groomer" by our vet because she had large bald patches from grooming herself incessantly. When another of our cats, Cleo, was diagnosed with hyper thyroidism and about to undergo I 131, another vet prescribed Wellactin fish oil. I gave it to all my cats for several months. During this time, Isis lost so much hair she was almost bald. Our vet suspected hyper thyroidism after one test that showed high levels. (a later test was normal, and that is another story!) Long story a bit shorter: it was FISH! I made the connection finally. Isis is allergic to fish. Eliminating fish (and it is in almost every dry food and many wet even though labeled "turkey dinner" for example)from her diet has resulted in a thick, glossy coat of hair the likes of which I have never seen on her, and NO dandruff! Just thought this might help others who have similar problems with asthma or grooming issues.