Help! My Cat Is Losing Its fur
At Animal Emergency Care of Braselton, we are here for all of your animal wellness needs, from the everyday to the emergency. If your dog or cat is losing fur, we can help.
Why Your Dog/Cat is Losing Fur
There are several possible reasons that a pet might lose fur. If your dog or cat is losing an excess amount of fur (i.e., more than what they would normally lose via shedding), causes might include:
- Allergies – Food allergies, seasonal allergies, and contact allergies are the most common causes of alopecia, or loss of fur. Pets with allergies also have reddened skin, bumps, and hot spots. Certain dog breeds are more susceptible to allergies. By examining your pet’s coat, we can tell if allergies are a likely cause and counsel you on next steps in treatment.
- Mites or fleas – Fleas and mites can lead to alopecia. If our vet sees fleas or mites on your pet, we can provide topical treatment to kill the pests.
- Infection – Infections can cause loss of fur and scaly skin. We can provide medication to treat the infection and soothe your pet’s red, itchy skin.
- Hormonal issues – Problems with the thyroid or adrenal gland can cause a range of cat or dog health problems, including hair loss that worsens over time.
How Our Veterinarian Treats Alopecia
When you bring your pet to our Braselton animal hospital, we will perform a thorough examination to figure out the possible cause of fur loss. Based on what we find, we have several treatment options.
If a test confirms that your pet has a hormonal imbalance, we will deliver a hormone injection to restore balance. This can stop your pet’s hair loss and allow new fur to grow in.
If we suspect food allergies, we can suggest what foods to avoid. Common allergens include soy, wheat, corn, and eggs. By changing your pet’s diet and tracking his or her response, you can eliminate fur loss as an allergic reaction.
For an infection or pest problem, we can administer medication or antibiotics to soothe inflammation, control pests, and heal the skin. Once we get the underlying pest problem or infection under control, your pet’s fur will start to grow back.
Call us today to make an appointment with our Braselton emergency care staff for alopecia, or for anything else.
