Naturally Occurring Hair Loss
Various naturally occurring changes, including seasonality and aging, are known to alter the hair cycle process.
Seasonal variation.
Many mammalian species undergo changes in hair production across seasons. A common pattern in some mammals 74 involves 2 molting periods, wherein hair or fur is shed in early autumn replacing a summer coat with a winter coat and again in the spring replacing a winter coat with a summer coat. Some species also undergo a change in hair color . These seasonally induced changes in hair are associated both with variations in day length and alterations in the levels of certain hormones.47,74 In temperate regions, long days are associated with lower levels of melatonin and prolactin and shorter hair , whereas short days are associated with higher levels of both hormones and longer hair . Although little is known about the control of seasonal variation on pelage in nonhuman primates, the role of prolactin in affecting seasonal molting patterns has been well established for Djungarian hamsters,34 goats,32 sheep,75 and deer.25 Further support for the role of prolactin comes from an examination of hair regrowth cycles, which are delayed in prolactin-treated mice.23
Aging.
What Is The Treatment For Tapeworms
A variety of products are available to treat tapeworms in cats but they are not all equally effective. For the best advice on the type of deworming preparation most suitable for your cat, you should seek the help of your veterinarian. The most effective worming products are only available by prescription from a licensed veterinarian.
“After treatment, the tapeworm dies and is usually digested within the intestine, so worm segments do not usually pass into the stool.”
The deworming medication called an anthelmintic may be given as a tablet or an injection. After treatment, the tapeworm dies and is usually digested within the intestine, so worm segments do not usually pass into the stool. Side effects, such as vomiting and diarrhea, are rarely reported with the newer tapeworm medications.
Nutritional And Hormonal Imbalances
Nutritional factors.
Although vitamin D is thought to play a role in hair production, most of the evidence for this hypothesis comes from studies of mice lacking the vitamin D receptor and humans with VDR mutations.16,51 Targeted removal of the VDR in mice produces a cluster of clinical signs that includes alopecia.61 The alopecia appears to be the result of an inadequate response of hair follicles to anagen initiation.100 Selectively restoring VDR to the keratinocytes by crossing VDR knockout mice with transgenic mice expressing the human VDR successfully prevented the development of alopecia.21 Because the effect of the VDR on hair loss is ligand-independent,99 the actual role of vitamin D in regulating hair growth remains elusive. Furthermore, little is known about the role of the VDR in hair loss in nonhuman primates.
Alopecia has also been associated with other deficiencies and overdoses. A syndrome of alopecia, weight loss, and hypoalbuminemia in Western lowland gorillas eventually was traced to protein deficiency.70 This finding is consistent with the reported hair loss and hypoalbuminemia in young baboons experimentally exposed to a protein-deficient diet.22 Hair loss has also been linked to folacin deficiency in squirrel monkeys.93
Hormonal imbalances or changes.
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Muscle And Joint Pain
Certain parasites can invade the soft tissue in the joints and muscles, where they become enclosed in a cyst-like manner. This results in irritation and pain, which is often mistaken for arthritis.
Also, the toxins released by the parasites can cause an inflammatory response within the body. Plus, pain can be experienced as a result of the immune systems response to the parasites.
If you are not able to zero down the cause behind sudden pain in the muscles, joints or any other part of the body and the pain is getting worse day by day, consult a doctor.
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Different Types Of Alopecia
Alopecia is the medical term for hair loss, and there are two main types: alopecia areata and androgenic alopecia. Alopecia may cause hair loss only on the scalp or all over the body. It may result in thinning hair, patches of hair loss, some balding, or total baldness, and it may be permanent or temporary. There are numerous causes, including genetics. Talk to your doctor about possible treatments.
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Psychologic Factors And Hair Loss
The role of psychologic factors in hair loss is not well understood. Here we focus on various behavioral characteristics that may lead to hair loss and examine the concept of stress-related hair loss.
Self-induced hair loss.
Monkeys and apes can develop an abnormal pattern of behavior in which they pluck their hair.14 Some animals pull their hair, out creating bald patches, whereas other hair pullers show little evidence of hair loss. This disorder shares some similarities with the human pathologic disorder trichotillomania.116 In both cases, the act tends to be highly ritualized and repetitive: after the hair is pulled, it usually is manipulated and then ingested. Some investigators speculate that hair pulling is brought about by environmental stressors or by exposure to impoverished captive environments.96 Indeed, 14% of rhesus monkeys housed in individual cages developed this pathology.62 However, other medical conditions may underlie the development of hair pulling, and therefore a health exam is necessary to rule out physical causes. This point was underscored in a recent study of psychogenic alopecia in cats. Cats that had previously been diagnosed with psychogenic alopecia were reevaluated. Of the 21 cats in the study, 16 actually had a medical disorder, the most common being atopic dermatitis, leading the authors to conclude that psychogenic alopecia is overdiagnosed.115
Hair pulling by others.
Stress.
Thinning Hair Following Pregnancy
Other hormonal imbalances can also lead to hair loss, especially the wildly fluctuating hormones that occur following pregnancy and childbirth. It takes time after pregnancy for hormone levels to return to normal, so it’s not at all uncommon for post-partum moms to notice thinning hair or even patches of baldness. This often occurs about three months after babys arrival. Don’t worry as the rest of your body recovers, so will your hair follicles. The hair loss is only temporary your hair will grow back.
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Lice Feed In Small Amounts If Blood
While it is true that blood loss in the scalp affects the health of the follicles burrowed within, the amount of blood lice in an average lice infestation suck is not a lot. Only in severe cases, when a head lice infestation remains ignored and untreated, is when the scalp starts losing out on nutrition.
What Are The Other Tapeworms That Can Infect My Cat
The other common tapeworms that can infect a cat are members of a group called Taenia. The intermediate hosts of these tapeworms are mice, birds, or rabbits.
“…cats acquire Taenia infestations by eating infected mice, birds, or rabbits.”
In a similar manner to Dipylidium transmission, cats acquire Taenia infestations by eating infected mice, birds, or rabbits. Tapeworm medications are highly effective at eliminating these parasites. However, if your cat continues to hunt and eat prey, reinfection can occur with passage of tapeworm segments in 6-8 weeks. In cats that hunt frequently, regular deworming may be needed.
Another less common group of tapeworms called Echinococcus is of increasing concern as a threat to human health. These tapeworms cause serious, potentially fatal disease when humans become infected. Infection with this parasite is harder to diagnose than Dipylidium because the segments are small and not readily seen. Trappers and hunters in the north central United States and south central Canada may be at increased risk for infection with this worm when strict hygiene is not practiced. Foxes, coyotes, and the wild rodents upon which they prey are important in the life cycle of this parasite.
Humans become infected through ingestion of the eggs, and may not show clinical signs until years after ingestion.
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Emotional Stress And Your Hair
When you’re dealing with a life-altering event, like a divorce or break-up, bankruptcy or other financial problems, the loss of a home, or the death of a loved one, significant emotional stress can also disrupt the normal cycle of hair growth. Significant emotional stressors can cause temporary hair loss, but once stress is brought under control, normal hair growth is usually restored.
Symptoms Of Hydatid Disease
The symptoms of hydatid disease depend on which organs are affected. The most commonly affected organ is the liver. The kidneys, brain and lungs are sometimes affected. In rare cases, hydatid cysts may form in the thyroid gland or heart or within bone.Symptoms can occur a long time after infection, sometimes months or years later. Sometimes there are no symptoms at all. If they occur, symptoms may include:
- stomach upset
- CT scan
- MRI scan
- examination of blood, urine, sputum, faeces or other bodily fluids if a burst hydatid cyst is suspected
- blood tests for antibodies to the cysts.
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When Should I Call The Doctor
- You see worms in your child’s poop.
- Your child shows signs of infection after travel to an area that doesn’t have good sanitation.
- Your child has masses or lumps under the skin and develops a fever, headache, or any of the other symptoms of cysticercosis.
If your child has seizures or trouble moving, walking, or talking, go to the emergency room right away.
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Outlook For People With Parasitic Worm Infection
Most people respond well to treatment and feel better within a few weeks. A full recovery can be expected in most cases.
It may take longer to recover if you have a severe case, compromised immune system, or coexisting health condition.
The following tips can often help prevent parasitic worm infection:
- Avoid or limit your consumption of raw or undercooked meat, fish, or poultry.
- Avoid cross contamination during food prep by keeping meat separate from other foods.
- Disinfect all cutting boards, utensils, and countertops that touched raw meat.
- Dont eat watercress or other freshwater plants raw.
- Dont walk barefoot in places where soil may contain feces.
- Clean up animal waste as soon as possible.
Also, be sure to give your hands a good scrubbing with soap and water at these times:
- before eating
How Are Tapeworms Diagnosed
Most commonly, an owner recognizes that their cat has tapeworms through the observation of proglottids on feces or in vomit, and brings this to the attention of the veterinarian. When segments of the tapeworm break off and pass into the cat’s stool, they can be seen crawling on the surface of the feces. These proglottid segments look like grains of cooked white rice or cucumber seeds. Less commonly, segments are seen moving around the cat’s anus.
You should note that tapeworms are not readily diagnosed with routine fecal examinations. Because of this, you should notify your veterinarian when tapeworm segments are found in your cat’s stool.
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Can Head Lice Make Your Hair Fall Out
Head lice are types of parasites that need human blood to survive. They typically stay close to the scalp, behind the ears and on the nape of the neck. Sometimes they can be found in the eyelashes and eyebrows. Female lice can lay six to eight eggs daily on the scalp, contributing to an infestation. The lice eggs, or nits, hatch in about nine days and continue the life cycle.
Lice certainly arent pleasant to deal with, but theyre usually not as bad as people think. If you catch the infestation early enough, you can usually deal with the lice overnight using a dimethicone-based lice removal oil. Dimethicone is safe, effective and FDA approved its a far better alternative to the insecticides used in many over-the-counter head lice products.
However, what happens when you have a severe lice infestation? Is it possible for hair loss to occur? With head lice working behind the scenes to drink blood and lay eggs, one might assume that they would damage the hair. But surprisingly, this isnt the case.
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How Will Roundworms Affect My Dog
Adult roundworms live in the affected dog’s intestines. Many dogs do not have signs of infection however, dogs with major roundworm infections, especially puppies, show diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, dull hair, and a potbellied appearance. The dog may cough if the roundworms move into the lungs.
You may notice the adult roundworms in your dog’s feces or vomit. They will appear white or light brown in color and may be several inches long.
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Where Does Cat Lice Come From
Cat lice is caused by the cat louse, Felicola subrostrata. It is most often found in unfavorable environments such as in dirty and overcrowded conditions and is usually seen in malnourished or otherwise sick cats or kittens. It is often seen in feral or stray cats that have not received flea or tick preventatives and live in these kinds of adverse environments.
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Itching Flaking Or Crusting Of The Scalp
Itching, flaking, or crusting of the scalp may be caused by:
- Cradle cap, an oily, yellow crusting on a babys scalp. It is common in babies and is not caused by an illness. It does not mean that a baby is not being well cared for. See a picture of cradle cap.
- Dandruff, a shedding of the skin on the scalp that leaves white flakes on the head, neck, and shoulders. It may be a form of a skin condition called eczema, which causes increased shedding of normal scalp skin cells. Dandruff can also be caused by a fungal infection. Hormonal or seasonal changes can make dandruff worse.
- Head lice, tiny wingless insects that cause itching and raw patches on the scalp. Head lice are most common in school-age children.
- Ringworm, a fungal infection of the outer layer of the scalp and in the hair. It usually causes a rash made up of circular patches with raised, red edges that resemble worms. The rash spreads from these edges, often leaving the centre clear, giving it a ring shape.
- Ongoing skin conditions, such as psoriasis and seborrhea.
- An uncommon, recurrent skin condition called lichen planus. This condition appears more often during stress, fatigue, or exposure to medicines or chemicals.
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