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- Title
The investigation of feline alopecia.
- Authors
Paterson, Sue
- Abstract
Feline alopecia is one of the most common reasons why cats are presented to their primary care clinician. Hair loss can be self-inflicted or spontaneous. Self-inflicted hair loss is usually caused by a pruritic skin condition such as allergy or ectoparasite infestation. Spontaneous hair loss may be caused by damage to the hair by factors such as infection, ectoparasites, immune-mediated disease or neoplasia. It may also be caused by hair cycle arrest due to endocrine disease or metabolic stress, which can lead to either anagen or telogen defluxion. Investigation should start by identifying the cause of hair loss through trichography plus specific tests for the type of hair loss. Investigation of pruritus should include elimination of ectoparasites, food trial and possible allergy testing. Specific tests for spontaneous hair loss include routine haematology and biochemistry as well as endocrine function tests, thoracic radiography, abdominal ultrasound and skin biopsy.
- Subjects
BALDNESS in animals; CAT diseases; ECTOPARASITES; EFFECT of stress on animals; ITCHING; ENDOCRINE function tests
- Publication
UK-Vet Companion Animal, 2016, Vol 21, Issue 1, p15
- ISSN
2053-0889
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.12968/coan.2016.21.1.15