We all have to remain extra cautious when it comes to taking care of our dear pets. They are our friends for life and amazing partners who fill our lives with fun and love. Every pet demands a significant amount of your time in his or her care and well-being. Otherwise, they start developing a variety of health issues. Cats are one of the most sought-after pets that many people prefer to have. However, like every other pet they need to be taken care of. Hair loss and scabbing in cats also known as ‘Alopecia’ is a common issue being faced by a number of pet parents having cats.
Understanding hair loss in cats
Alopecia can be broadly categorized into two parts, congenital type, and acquired type. The former as the name suggests is associated with the heredity of the cat and occurs in those cats who are newborns or quite young. The latter, on the other hand, is acquired during the lifetime of the pet. It can result from anything like infection from a mite, allergen, or any specific disease.
Diagnosing hair loss
A number of tests are available for diagnosing this particular condition in cats. Veterinary doctors usually take up skin scrapes in order to check the causal organism behind the infection, say a mite. However, there is a need to conduct a cytological analysis to figure out the possibility of a microbial infection caused by bacteria, or yeast. The infection caused by ringworms is detected by the Wood’s lamp whereas X-rays or ultrasound or both are done in the case of tumor formation. Allergy testing is also conducted in some of the cases by recommending the pet parents to eliminate certain products from the diet chart of the cat. It may take a few weeks to get the results of the food allergy. Any other systemic disorder is tested by conducting a urinalysis and blood testing.
Management of hair loss
Using different drugs like mitigate the infections caused by a variety of causal organisms parasiticidal in the case of mites. Suitable antimicrobials are provided when the microbes drive the infection. A full range of medications is available for these diseases. Thankfully, in many cases, if the underlying causes are diagnosed on time and appropriate treatment is obtained on time, the majority of the cats are likely to grow their hair back.
