Alopecia (Hair loss)

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Alopecia is the loss of hair. Alopecia is not a disease; it is a sign or symptom of a number of diseases or disorders. 

SOURCE & CAUSE(S)

Alopecia can be caused by many conditions including hormonal problems, nutritional diseases, physical and chemical factors, parasites, and immune-mediated diseases. 

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

• Areas of baldness
• Hair loss with the absence of irritated skin
• Hair loss with skin irritation and scabs

DIAGNOSIS & TESTS

Diagnosis begins with a complete history and a physical exam.  Because alopecia is the result of some underlying disease process, expect your veterinarian to do several tests to rule out a few causes and to perform tests looking for the chief problem. You veterinarian will likely do the following:

• CBC/Chemistry Panel - These blood tests will evaluate various internal organ functions, including the heart, liver, kidneys, pancreas, metabolism, and electrolyte balance. The CBC (complete blood count) is a measure the amount and different kinds of red and white blood cells are present in the body.


• Skin Scraping - This test involves scraping the skin of a lesion and making the lesion bleed slightly. This will be virtually painless for your pet; the substance scraped will then be put on a slide and examined under a microscope.


• Fungal culture - This test will determine if your pet has a fungus present on it’s skin. Your veterinarian will pluck tufts of hair from around your pet’s lesions and place it on a fungal culture medium. The medium is put in a warm, dark place for a 7-21 days to allow growth and then examined under a microscope to determine the type of fungus present.


• Baseline T4 or Total T4 (TT4) - This blood test will determine the level of T4 thyroid hormone in the bloodstream.  Your veterinarian may perform this test to rule out any thyroid issues that may be causing hair loss in your pet.

TREATMENT & MANAGEMENT

Treatment will be determined once the underlying process causing the hair loss has been diagnosed.

PetsMD Recommends:
Linatone - For Healthy Coats	21st Century Healthy Skin and Coat Supplement - Level Two	Alaskan Salmon Oil for Cats