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Treatment will depend on the underlying cause but may include antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, topical ointments, and lifestyle changes. In some cases, cat hair loss may be permanent and require ongoing management or even special cat food to support healthy skin and coat. With the right diagnosis and treatment, cat owners can help their cats recover from hair loss. By following the tips above, cat owners can support their cat’s recovery and help keep their cat’s fur healthy and shiny. Symptoms of skin infections in cats may include redness, swelling, sores, or scaly patches on the skin. If you suspect your cat has a skin infection, consult with your veterinarian for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Common Causes of Hair Loss
Hormonal imbalances can be caused by diseases such as hyperthyroidism or diabetes, or by certain medications. Regular brushing and grooming can help remove loose fur and prevent matting during shedding season. Consult with your veterinarian for recommendations on grooming tools and techniques. The average general practicing vet can make recommendations based on a working diagnosis. In this article we look at how hair loss can appear in cats, some of the causes and how to treat it when it happens! It is helpful to categorize alopecia in cats as spontaneous or self-inflicted and to further subdivide self-inflicted alopecia into pruritic or nonpruritic.
When to go to the veterinarian for cat fur loss
Successful treatment depends on the underlying cause and specific diagnosis. An accurate diagnosis of the cause of hair loss requires a detailed history and physical examination. The physical examination will cover both the cat’s skin and its general health. The veterinarian will also look for signs of skin infections or parasites. Your vet will take samples of the hair or discharge from the ears and scrapes of the skin in order to examine it for the most common skin parasites. By establishing a proper diagnosis and starting adequate treatment, your cat’s hair should grow back with time.
Identifying Feline Alopecia
Cats may lick too much and cause hair loss over painful joints too. Some causes for hair loss in cats can also affect humans, and are contagious. Although this is unusual, it’s worth booking an appointment with your vet as soon as possible to avoid an unhappy pet and owner, too.
This content is subject to change without notice and offered for informational use only. You are urged to consult with your individual medical providers with respect to any information presented. Your receipt of this material and/or participation in this presentation constitutes your acceptance of these terms and conditions. Unfortunately, there isn't one single test that can rule out everything. If you’re not sure if the hair loss is seasonal shedding, try giving your cat a bath.
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You could try removing potential allergens by, for example, switching to a sensitive, non-bio washing powder or perhaps limiting time outdoors to see if a change in environment might help. Alopecia is a broad term used to describe hair loss or baldness in animals. In cats, this condition may present as areas of hair thinning, patchy hair loss, or complete baldness. It is essential to understand that alopecia is not a disease in itself, but rather a symptom of an underlying condition that could range from mild to severe. Once the cause has been identified, your vet can discuss with you the best approach for treating it.
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Specific hormones are responsible for your cat’s hair growth, and a surplus or deficiency in this may also be the reason why your cat is losing fur. This results in inflammatory processes inside the cat’s body, most of the time manifested in the skin. This leads to severe itchiness and compromises the skin’s integrity, making it prone to secondary infections. This cascade of changes along the skin eventually leads to hair loss, often starting as patchy baldness but progresses to a complete hair loss if not addressed accordingly.
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Fungal culture testing involves collecting a hair sample in order to see if ringworm is present. Fleas can leave evidence of their presence in your cat’s fur, and hair loss is most common over the lower back region. Ringworm is a type of fungal infection that can cause round hairless skin lesions. Certain skin mites like scabies are also zoonotic, meaning they can be shared with others. Both ringworm and scabies can cause small, localized hair loss or can cause generalized, widespread hair loss over the entire body. Certain cat breeds like the Sphynx cat are born hairless over the whole of their bodies, and they remain hairless all their lives.
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Skin fragility and hair loss can also indicate cancer in some cases. External injuries like cuts and bites can result in localized loss of fur. Cats with anxiety or behavioral disorders may over-groom themselves and cause broken or barbered hairs. Secondary infections from other causes can result in additional skin lesions besides hair loss (e.g., crusts, redness, flakes, papules, pustules, or bleeding).
There are, in fact, lots of reasons why a cat can be bald or suffer from hair loss or alopecia. If there is still no obvious reason for your cat’s feline alopecia at the end of your vet’s investigation, you may be referred to a veterinary dermatologist or allergist. Congenital alopecia, which may or may not be hereditary, shows up at birth or shortly after.
This can range from slight thinning to large bald spots, and it is naturally alarming for a cat lover to notice this on their feline. If you notice your cat is suddenly losing more hair than normal, don't delay seeing your veterinarian. Because fur loss can be a sign of an underlying disease, you want to make sure you get a proper diagnosis and don't ignore any early warning signs. Your cat may start losing hair for a wide variety of reasons, including flea infestation, allergies, skin infections, and more. If your vet’s investigations show that your cat is over-grooming because of pain in their joints or bladder, they will treat the underlying problem with necessary medication. Diagnosis for atopy is difficult in cats and may consist of blood testing or hypoallergenic skin testing – neither of which are always conclusive.
Environmental allergies might require changes in your home or potentially medications to control symptoms. They will look for signs of parasites and skin infections, and examine the hair at the hair loss site. Sometimes, particularly if mites are suspected, a skin scrape of this area is taken for microscopic examination. If there are suspicious lesions in the area, a skin swab can be taken to check for bacteria. A skin biopsy may be recommended to check for specific diseases and sent to a lab for analysis. A blood sample is commonly included, which can help to identify endocrine diseases.
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