Stud Tail, Can any breeders give me some info? Options

[Lee Lee]

Can any of you seasoned breeders give me any info on Stud Tail, eg is it normal, does it go away.

One of my studs (Birman) has the greasy spot and the Ragdoll has some hairloss.

I have had my Birman for several years and just thought he always missed that spot when he was grooming.

When I got my Ragdoll recently the lady I bought him off said he had a bit of a bald patch but not to worry as it was Stud Tail.

I had never heard of it before and I would just like to know more on this subject.



Thanks

Veronica.

[tisha]

Where is the bald spot? My stud boy has recently got a bald spot on the top of his tail probably about a third of the way down. Is this stud tail? I have never heard of it before. Wonder what it means exactly, and what causes it.

[Lee Lee]

Hi Tisha

Spot is at the base of the tail, where I am led to believe there is some sort of gland.

Im sure there is no need for any concern, I was just interested and with all my cats want to
know all there is to know.

None of my books have any info on this subject, I have to take my dogs to the vets soon so will ask the
vet and see what he says.

I just thought someone may have been able to give me some info on this subject.

Like, does this only occur in breeding season? How do the breeders cope with this when they
show their boys?

Maybe someone can help us out??

Veronica.

[tisha]

Shadow has two spots near each other, about roughly a third down from the base. I noticed though now, he has been scratching or chewing at it, so looks like a vet visit here too. At least we have a break from showing for a bit over the summer, hope to get it back to normal before showing starts up again.

[Heather Sharada]

Stud Tail is quite normal in male entire cats - there is a bit of information here on these sites....
http://www.provet.co.uk/Petfacts/healthtips/studtail.htm
http://www.fabcats.org/acneandstudtail.html

Several of my girls get it and it is quite common as the young boys reach adulthood...only a nuissance when you are exhibiting as it does not wach out easily. Most exhibitors use dish washing liquid or some sort of petroleum based product to remove it and quickly wash and rinse it becfore shampooing.

If it is not cared for sometimes the hair thins out so it needs attention - as a maintenance on studs that are not shown i have sprinkled talc into the area and brushed it out once or so a week.

[gazey]

Most entire males that are breeding suffer from stud tail at some time. It is perfectly normal. It does need attention though as left untreated it will get very greasy and hair loss will occur. I have a 4 year old breeding male that has it all the time. I bath his tale approximately once a month with Morning Fresh dishwashing liquid. It takes around 3 washes and 3 rinses and lots of massaging the area to get a good result, but my male seems to enjoy it and that treatment should keep the hairloss away.

[Heather Sharada]

Ah ha - Goop has arrived in Victoria - an amazing product for dealing with stud tail that I met in New Zealand.....info on CW.

[tisha]

Shadow's is not stud tail then. It is on the top surface of the tail for a start, and it is not greasy. He has a line of hair loss. It appears possible that he has rubbed it off, or possibly chewed it. The skin appears to be healing, so will keep an eye on the hair to see that it grows back. If not, I might have to try to cover his tail to stop him rubbing or chewing it. (Can just picture him with pretty ribbons all round his tail lol)

[kim]

Hi Lee Lee And Tisha,

My shaded silver persian male "Bugger" gets terrible stud tail.

My routine bath includes mechanics hand cleaner, plus several washes in "Blast" dishwashing liquid. ( i prefer the concentrate dishwashing liquids).

Anyway for the stud tail i use preen stain remover, with the oxy-action stuff in it. I spray the tail entirely to the roots, leave it for a few minutes, then coat it with both the mechanics handcleaner and dish liquid several and then rinse. I do this several times, rinsing thoroughly between. It may take 3-4 goes before it all comes away, but it is the easiest method for removing the built up sebum that i have found in 8 years of having Bugger. I do not like to rub/massage the tail furr as it leads to knots in the longhaired coat, so i work the stuff i use in the direction of the hair growth.

Tisha, my boy gets stud tail on top of his tail, as well as underneath for about the first 2/3rds of the length of his tail. It is not retsricted to one area of the tail only. But it is normally very greasy, and as you say it is not greasy on your boy, i am unsure as to why the hair loss has acurred.

Rest assured that it can be controled, but as others have said it is best to stay on top of it, by washing regularly, ie monthly.

Kim Koroknay.
KOROKAT SILVER PERSIANS