The cat has a bald stomach, hind legs, and withers: reasons, what to do?

If a cat has a bald belly, paws or withers, this may indicate a pathology. Only a veterinarian can find out the true cause; more details in the article.

The process of hair loss in both humans and animals is called alopecia . Hair loss in a cat can be accompanied by dermatitis and wounds, but it can also be asymptomatic. First you need to determine the cause of alopecia.

Read another interesting article on our website on the topic: “Behavior of Domestic Cats” . You will learn how to understand what your cat is trying to tell you.

From this article you will learn why it happens that cats go bald. You will also know how to diagnose and how to treat an animal with similar problems. Read on.

Where do bald spots come from?

Alopecia is pathological hair loss in a specific area of ​​the body.
Some cats have normal alopecia. For example, in the area from the eyes to the ears, hair grows there less often and owners often turn to the veterinarian on the topic: “my cat’s forehead is bald.” Pathological alopecia is one of the symptoms of dermatitis - inflammation of the skin.

• Allergy
• Skin and intestinal parasites
• Stress
• Hormonal disorders
• Infectious and fungal diseases
• Lack of some vitamins

So dermatitis can be considered a serious reason to visit the veterinarian, but for now let’s look at the existing diseases in more detail.

Allergic dermatitis

In fact, cats have terrible allergies. An allergy may be to:

• Chicken
• Pork
• Cereal feed components
• Cleaning agent
• Filler
• Drugs

And much more.

The allergy is manifested by severe shedding, ulcerations on the skin, scratching and restlessness of the cat. A runny nose and lacrimation appear for the second time.

Cats with allergies are prescribed medicated food for life. The most popular are the food from the Royal Canin and Hills line.

Skin and intestinal parasites

Skin fleas include fleas. They bite the animal and cause discomfort, and the cat begins to itch intensely. The hair follicles are injured from such pressure, and the hair falls out, and scratches appear on the exposed skin.

Fleas do not live on the cat itself, but only on the litter. But dark spots of bites are visible on the pet’s body. Favorite places for fleas are the chin, base of the tail and lower abdomen.

In the presence of internal parasites, cats do not tend to tear off their skin, but their fur falls out intensively. Simply because there are not enough nutrients for hair.

Treatment involves treating the cat for parasites.

Stress

A cat experiences severe stress if:

• A small child appears in the house
• Other animals appear in the house
• Moving
• Long road
• Going to the vet

The fur flies off the animal's body quickly and rapidly, and if nervous tension continues for a long time, then bald areas appear on its body.

Treatment: eliminate the stress factor. If for some reason this is not possible, then the cat is prescribed sedatives or anti-stress food.

Hormonal disorders

Causes of hormonal imbalance:

• Change of seasons
• Estrus
• Taking hormonal medications, for example, during estrus or to stimulate it
• Disorders of the pancreas, thyroid glands and adrenal cortex
• Long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Treatment consists of restoring hormonal levels, but before this the animal goes through a long journey of various diagnostic manipulations.

Fungal diseases

The most famous fungus is lichen. It is widespread, and you can only get sick when your immune system is severely weakened. It appears as bald spots on the face, with redness and peeling of the skin.

Diagnosed by pointing a Wood's lamp at the affected area.

It is treated by taking antifungal agents on the skin itself and internally.

The cat has lost hair on his belly

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The cat's belly hair fell out, leaving only a short fluff. A “bald patch” has formed in the form of a triangle. The skin under the fluff is clean, pink, dense to the touch, there are two papillae on the sides. We noticed this about a month and a half ago, apparently he went bald at the end of summer.

The cat is 13 years old, no breed, neutered, not vaccinated, has not been ill with anything, active and cheerful, pees every day, poops once a week. We feed him all his life raw fish and meat, cucumbers, sometimes peas, etc., in the summer, grass from the street. Kitiket once a week. Doesn't go outside, only taken out a couple of times all summer.

“Yes, there is such an opinion among our brother. Not everything is so simple; very often even a good doctor underestimates diet therapy. In this matter I adhere to the opinion of BSAVA - the British Association of Small Animal Veterinary Medicine. This is, so to speak, a globally recognized brand of approach in global veterinary science.

Let me give you this example: So you give a cat a raw egg, a very healthy product, both proteins and fats and amino acids, but the egg contains avidin, which is killed by biotin, by the way, this can be the cause of baldness. Or you give your cat vitamin B1 and sea fish, such as cod, or just fish oil, which is healthy, but sea fish and fish oil contain the enzyme thiaminase, which simply breaks down vitamin B1. These substances are called antivitamins and are sometimes found in healthy foods. And the type of feeding that you use is called unbalanced feeding. In addition to antivitamins, many minerals compete with each other in the body, for example calcium with phosphorus, etc. The result of their mutual competition is a violation of bone mineralization in kittens, the so-called juvenile osteopenia of kittens.

Well, in the end, you must agree that those who advocate for straight women do not take into account that porridge and the whole list of that horror

Source

Diagnosis of alopecia in different parts of the body

Only a doctor can determine why a cat is going bald. The basis of diagnosis includes medical history, visual examination, and microscopic examination of hair roots.

The pet's blood is examined and a scraping is taken from the skin. If a tumor is suspected, an x-ray or ultrasound is performed.

The diagnosis is partially helped by the localization of bald spots on a cat:

1. Symmetrical baldness of the abdomen, thighs, sides, and front legs is a characteristic symptom of a skin disease.
2. Due to stress, cats tear out hairs in the anus, on the back, paws, stomach, and inner thighs. This happens especially often in the following breeds: Siamese, Abyssinian, Himalayan.
3. Hormonal disorders are usually indicated by alopecia on the bridge of the nose, base of the tail, hips, and chest. The skin ceases to be elastic.
4. In the case of a lack of thyroid hormones, pet hair is easily pulled out in the pelvic area, on the stomach, chest and neck.
5. Cancerous formations provoke bald spots on the stomach, chest, and paws. Oncology can cause complete hair loss.
6. Vitamin deficiency is characterized by the appearance of small, round bald patches, which can unite. The skin in places where there is no fur is bright pink.
7. Fungal infections are characterized by the appearance of bald spots with scaly, cracked skin.

Scratching a pet's skin is dangerous due to infection and the development of an inflammatory process.

To make it easier for you to determine the cause of your pet's baldness, we have prepared a table. It contains all the main pathologies accompanied by hair loss in a cat:

Diagnostic methods

After conducting an examination, the veterinarian will prescribe treatment according to the reasons that provoked the problem.
It is not recommended to self-medicate. As soon as your cat's fur begins to peel off, you should contact your veterinarian. He will conduct a series of studies to identify the cause of alopecia and prescribe therapy. First, the doctor learns about how the animal eats, where it lives and how often it goes outside. This helps to identify the source of the pathology. Next, he examines the cat, checking the condition of the hair using a microscope. The pet must undergo blood tests, hormone tests and scrapings to find out why the cat is bald and shabby. To identify the development of disorders of internal organs, it is necessary to do an ultrasound examination or radiography.

What is flaking and how does it manifest itself in bald people?

Peeling is the formation of scales (squama), keratinized pieces of the epidermis. The separation of keratinized particles of the epidermis occurs constantly and is a normal physiological process, that is, the skin is renewed. With various skin diseases, this process intensifies. Scales can be separated either in very small (pityriasis-like) pieces or in plates. Depending on the underlying disease, the skin may be swollen, hyperpigmented, or, on the contrary, thin out and become almost transparent and reddish.

As we can see, flaking in Sphynx cats can be caused by a variety of factors, so it is necessary to make a diagnosis after a comprehensive examination of the cat. At home, if there are no other lesions on the skin besides peeling, you can try changing your skincare products and being more attentive to your cat’s hygiene. If there is no positive dynamics, try to make an appointment with a dermatologist. The doctors at our veterinary clinic will carefully examine your pet, perform a series of diagnostic tests to identify the cause of the flaking, and prescribe the optimal treatment.

Typical symptoms

Signs of developing alopecia are easy to detect even without veterinary education. The first symptom is thinning hair on the sides of the body, behind the ears, and in the tail area. Progressive pathology provokes the appearance of other characteristic signs:

• hair loss in large clumps;
• exposing areas of skin that acquire a pink or reddish tint;
• formation of unsightly crusts in areas affected by alopecia.

If your cat is going bald due to a serious medical condition, sores, scabs, or whitish bumps may form in the problem areas. The skin in the bald area sometimes becomes hot and loses its natural elasticity.

Many cats with alopecia become restless, experience constant discomfort, and avoid contact with their owners in every possible way. A cat may constantly lick and scratch hairless areas of the body, further injuring them.

With Itsenko-Cushing's disease, which affects cats in isolated cases, the animals not only go bald. Other symptoms are also observed - increased hunger and thirst, an increase in the size of the abdomen, and thinning of the epidermis.

One area of ​​the body is going bald

Baldness in the area of ​​the hind legs most often occurs with liver lesions.

If only one area is balding and there are no visible reasons for this, you should urgently consult a doctor for a full comprehensive examination.

Possible factors causing alopecia:

• allergic reaction to medications, food, dangerous contacts;
• damaged hair follicles;
• injuries;
• stress;
• failure of endocrine processes;
• liver diseases;
• avitaminosis.

Avitaminosis

For normal functioning, the cat's body requires a complex of vitamins.

For normal functioning, the cat’s body, like the human body, requires the entire complex of vitamins and minerals, and the lack of them provokes various pathological processes. A lack of vitamins of a certain group is manifested by specific symptoms characteristic of this particular pathology.

Alopecia

A lack of B vitamins in the body can cause periodic vomiting in a cat.

1. Along with the main symptom, there is a disorder of the digestive system in the form of periodic vomiting.
2. Signs of dysfunction of the nervous and muscular systems appear.
3. The animal is weak, lethargic, has an unsteady gait, and a sharp loss of weight.
4. Global deficiency of vitamin B1 is expressed by paralysis and convulsions.
5. Eliminated by eating more raw meat, bone meal, and yeast.
6. Among other things, replenishment is required through the use of special vitamin preparations.
7. Deficiency of vitamins B2 and B5 is manifested by cracks in the mucous membranes, slower growth of babies, decreased heart rate and body temperature.
8. Eliminated by consuming dairy products and foods of plant origin.
9. A lack of vitamin B12 manifests itself in more serious complications such as constipation, urination problems, enlarged liver and spleen, and intestinal colic.

Help only under the supervision of a veterinarian.

Cirrhosis of the liver

Liver cirrhosis in a cat.

As a result, a malfunction occurs, and subsequently a complete failure of all functions of the organ. There are several reasons for the appearance of this pathology.

Primary factors

Primary factors are most often caused by gradual intoxication of the body and, as a result, a large accumulation of toxins in the liver. Another reason that led to cirrhosis is hypovitaminosis of group B. With this pathology, symptoms appear after some time, as a result of the action of some aggressive factor. Provoking factors are also the failure of metabolic processes and hereditary predisposition.

Lack of food containing B vitamins can lead to cirrhosis of the liver.

Secondary factors

Infectious or invasive diseases and pathologies of the cardiovascular system act as secondary aggressors.

Infectious diseases can cause cirrhosis.

Signs

1. For a long time, the only sign of cirrhosis may be the pet’s baldness in the abdomen and hind legs.
2. Further, as the disease progresses, the abdomen becomes enlarged, which may indicate ascites.
3. The cat looks tired, shows apathy and aggressive reactions to any attempts at contact.
4. Decreased appetite, weight loss, and severe thirst.
5. Frequent urination.
6. In the final stages, convulsions, loss of coordination, and decreased vision are noted.

An enlarged abdomen may indicate ascites.

Treatment and therapy

Treatment is aimed at maintaining the heart and stopping the progression of the disease. If you refuse to eat, force-feeding is used using a drip infusion of glucose solution. Vitamin therapy and diuretics are prescribed.

If you refuse to eat, feeding with a drip solution is used.

Endocrine focal symmetric alopecia

Like most pathologies, it cannot arise independently and there are quite a lot of provoking factors: hypothyroidism, hyperfunction of the thyroid gland, hyperfunction of the adrenal cortex, diabetes. As a rule, symmetrical baldness is not accompanied by itching, although in the presence of allergic reactions such a phenomenon is quite possible, but in very rare cases.

As a rule, baldness is not accompanied by itching.

Treatment

Treatment depends on the identified pathology and is applied strictly under the supervision of a veterinarian. The owner’s only comprehensive help is timely contact with a specialist.

Treatment should be strictly under the supervision of a veterinarian.

Minuses

But there are also unresolved issues in statin treatment. Thus, from 40 to 75% of patients stop taking statins within 1-2 years after starting treatment. Patients name the reasons for this: fear of developing undesirable effects from the instructions for the drug (46%), disbelief that the medicine prolongs life (29.4%), taking a large number of other pills (27.6%), forgetfulness (26.5 %), poor control of blood cholesterol levels while taking medication (18.8%), drug withdrawal by a non-attending physician (13.5%). At the same time, the actual development of undesirable effects on statin therapy was observed only in 11.7% of patients, and their manifestations were mild and moderate in severity.

Muscle symptoms

The incidence of symptoms of muscle damage is 7-29%, according to various sources. These include:

• muscle pain;
• muscle weakness;
• muscle inflammation, determined based on examination of a sample of muscle tissue and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI);
• myonecrosis - muscle damage, determined by a significant increase in serum creatine kinase (CK) levels;
• rhabdomyolysis - destruction of muscle tissue with acute kidney damage with an increase in serum creatinine;
• autoimmune myopathy is a rare complication accompanied by severe muscle damage even after discontinuation of the drug;

The reasons for this are not well understood. According to one version, there is a decrease in coenzyme Q10 in muscle tissue and a decrease in the level of vitamin D. The work of mitochondria is affected.

Muscle symptoms occur in 7-29%.

Symptoms usually appear in both arms or legs. The period of appearance is about 4-6 weeks after starting to take statins. Sometimes, with diseases of the joints and ligaments, pain increases. This may be due to muscle weakness. Unusually, physically active people are more likely to suffer from muscle symptoms. One study found that athletes were less tolerant of lipid-lowering therapy.

According to research, these symptoms are rare. But the studies themselves often exclude older patients, those with impaired liver and kidney function, and those taking certain medications, that is, it cannot be said that this is an ordinary elderly person with a “bouquet of diseases.”

Diabetes mellitus and insulin resistance

It has been established that long-term use of statins under certain factors can contribute to the development of insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus. This is evidenced not only by research data, but also by national recommendations of some countries.

Risk factors for developing diabetes when taking lipid-lowering drugs may include:

• high body mass index (BMI);
• elderly age;
• heart failure;
• myocardial infarction in the last six months and high cardiovascular risk;
• family predisposition to type 2 diabetes;
• Asian race;
• smoking, alcohol abuse.

Effects on the liver

When taking statins to reduce the negative effect on the liver, you must avoid taking:

• alcohol;
• drugs that are metabolized in the liver along the same pathways (for example, amiodarone, sulfonamides, methyldopa, cyclosporine).

Statins can negatively affect a damaged liver.

They should not be prescribed for active viral hepatitis until liver parameters return to normal.

Drug interactions

Statins have multiple effects. This is due to the fact that they do not act in isolation, but affect many chemical reactions in the body. This is especially important in patients taking multiple medications for cardiovascular diseases.

How to treat baldness

How to treat alopecia largely depends on the diagnosis. Many mustachioed owners, when they see a bald area, scream in horror - “deprivation!” and begin to look for something to anoint. The approach is completely wrong.

For feline alopecia, complex treatment is most often prescribed. Local therapy is indicated if there is a bacterial or fungal infection.

The algorithm is as follows:

• Treatment of the underlying disease that causes hair loss in cats.
• If skin parasites are identified, drops, tablets, and shampoos are prescribed to get rid of them. The prognosis is good if antiparasitic treatments are carried out regularly.
• For infections, a course of antibiotics.
• In case of an allergic reaction, the allergen is eliminated. If your cat has a food allergy, review the diet and eliminate it. The prognosis is good if the food is chosen correctly. If the allergen is not identified, the prognosis for recovery is cautious.
• If it's stress, the cause should be ruled out. With proper behavior correction, the prognosis is satisfactory. The therapy is long-term and requires patience from the owner.
• If tumors occur, surgical intervention is required. Timely surgery gives the right to make a positive prognosis. In advanced cases, the animal is not operated on.

Regardless of the reason, it is additionally necessary to strengthen the animal’s immunity. Sometimes the question arises about selecting a diet in accordance with age, state of health, and physiology.

Preventive measures

Proper prevention often allows you to avoid problems with hair loss.

• You should carefully choose food for your pet, feed it not only dry food, but also high-quality homemade food (vegetables, dairy products, herbs). The diet should contain a lot of vitamins.
• Vaccination is required, taking into account the schedule for a specific breed.
• It is recommended to protect the cat from stress and injury and provide him with the best living conditions.
• Products for hair care and antiparasitic skin treatment are also needed.

Causes of alopecia

Baldness of a cat's paws is observed mainly when:

1. avitaminosis;
2. allergic reactions;
3. the presence of ectoparasites;
4. endocrine disorders;
5. liver and kidney diseases.

Excessive hair loss in a pet, which occurs as a result of a lack of vitamins (the symptom is especially pronounced with vitamin B deficiency). In this case, alopecia is accompanied by periodic vomiting, slower growth and weight gain, and disruption of the muscular and nervous systems.

Allergies in cats most often occur to components of food or litter. With a specific immune response, in addition to baldness of the paws, skin hyperemia, the appearance of peeling and rashes are noted.

Ectoparasites (fleas, ticks) cause severe itching of the skin, as a result of which the cat constantly itches and licks itself and baldness is observed in these areas.

Endocrine pathologies occur mainly in castrated and sterilized cats, since after removal of the glands that produce sex hormones, shifts are noted and the balance of hormones is disturbed.

Liver diseases develop as a result of constant intoxication of the body, diseases of the cardiovascular system, hereditary predisposition, group B hypovitaminosis, as well as some invasive or infectious diseases. Most often, the answer to the question of why a cat’s belly and hind legs go bald is liver disease – mainly cirrhosis.

Problems with the endocrine system

Alopecia, caused by disturbances in the endocrine system of cats, is not so rare. The specific endocrine disease may vary. Additional symptoms of hypothyroidism are lethargy, sometimes obesity, and decreased body temperature.

With hyperfunction of the adrenal cortex, swelling appears. What bald cats look like due to the endocrine system can be seen in the photos of special sites about feline health; accurate illustrations will help owners quickly recognize the disease in order to begin its treatment.

Food allergy in cats: symptoms and treatment (photo)

Most often, a variety of food products act as allergens. Among them:

• sweets;
• bright vegetables and fruits;
• meat;
• dairy products (cottage cheese, sour cream, cream, etc.);
• eggs;
• corn.

At the same time, they can provoke irritation not only in their “pure” form, but also when they are part of dry food. For example, cheap economy-class products constantly contain cereals and vegetable cakes, as well as corn and harmful additives that can lead to an allergic reaction.

All cat owners should closely monitor the condition of their pets and stop thoughtlessly overfeeding animals with natural products and poor-quality “drying” at the first signs of deterioration in their pet’s well-being. Warning signals cannot be ignored. If you can't find the source of the problem on your own, go to the vet.

Symptoms of food allergies:

• wet eczema on the neck, abdomen, inner thighs;
• severe itching;
• discharge from the eyes and nose;
• in some cases, severe hair loss in the affected areas is possible;
• swelling of the larynx and difficulty breathing (if this symptom appears, urgent veterinary assistance is required).

The following treatment is possible, carried out exclusively under the supervision of a doctor:

Purpose of a special diet - the cat is transferred to a special food, all natural products are excluded from the diet.

Use of antibiotics as prescribed by a specialist.

Daily treatment of affected areas with special preparations that have a disinfectant and antimicrobial effect.

A bath with a special shampoo together with treating the animal against ectoparasites.

After completing the course of treatment, it is necessary to bring the animal back to see the attending physician. As a rule, after severe allergic reactions to natural food, the cat is switched to dry food, selected taking into account the individual characteristics of the body.

Only a doctor can tell you how to treat a cat’s allergies. Therefore, if your pet rubs against all corners and cannot find relief from the itching, and its skin is covered with wounds and begins to get wet, immediately go to an experienced veterinarian. Remember: the health of your beloved purr is in your hands.

What causes a cat to go bald, what happens to it

Cats go bald for various reasons.

These include:

pregnancy or stress. During pregnancy, lactation, or due to severe stress, a cat may begin to lose fur. But there is no need for treatment; after a while it will grow again;

• baldness above the eyes. At the age of 14 to 20 months, cats, especially dark shorthaired cats, begin to lose hair above their eyes. This process is natural and, if there is no redness, treatment is also not required;
• side effect of the medicine. Sometimes baldness occurs after taking medications;
• consequences of the injection. Sometimes baldness occurs in the area where the injection was given after a couple of months. In addition, there may be skin thickening and hyperpigmentation. Everything also goes away on its own;
• fleas. There are varieties of fleas that cause baldness.

• ringworm. Signs (in addition to hair loss): peeling of the skin, the appearance of crusts, and sometimes itching;
• allergy/contact dermatitis. It happens that a cat develops an allergy from antibiotics or some food component, as well as from interaction with certain materials, metals, and chemicals. In addition to hair loss, redness, bumps, and itching occur;
• solar dermatosis. This reaction to sunlight usually occurs in white cats. It goes away on its own (although the animal will need to avoid sunlight), but sometimes medications are also necessary. Symptoms: hair falls out, redness occurs, crusts and sores appear on the nose and ears;

cheyletiellosis. The causative agent is a tick. The cat itches a lot, but if the disease has not worsened significantly, hair loss is usually minimal;

Important! Ticks easily climb onto other animals and even people.

folliculitis. Infectious disease of hair follicles, occurring on the face, neck, head, accompanied by itching, hair loss;

hyperthyroidism. It happens due to increased secretion of thyroid hormones. With this disease, the fur is easily pulled out and falls out profusely, the cat itches and licks a lot, which causes irritation on the skin;

neurogenic dermatitis. Due to stress, anxiety, or boredom, a cat may lick itself a lot. As a rule, fur loss is symmetrical. To heal, you need to understand the cause of the stressful condition;

alopecia areata. An autoimmune disease that goes away on its own. Fur falls out on the head, neck, body (without itching).

• seborrhea. It can be congenital or acquired (after feline leukemia virus, infectious peritonitis, feline immunodeficiency virus, ringworm, parasites). It manifests itself in different ways: scales appear on the skin, the fur becomes very dry/oily, an unpleasant odor occurs, hair loss occurs;
• hyperadrenocorticism. Caused by elevated levels of corticosteroids (occurs not only for natural reasons, but also as a result of prolonged hormonal treatment). Signs: baldness, thinning of the skin, hyperpigmentation, comedones, bruises;

demodicosis (glandular acne). A tick-borne infection that affects the face and neck. If demodicosis is generalized, this indicates immunodeficiency. Symptoms: baldness, the appearance of scales, redness, itching;

polymorphic erythema. It appears due to increased sensitivity to a medication or infection, and may be one of the manifestations of oncology or other diseases. There is loss of fur, blisters (near the mouth, ears, groin, armpits), and sometimes ulcers. Sometimes the temperature rises and apathy appears.

Important! There are many causes of baldness and medications are not always necessary. But still, do not self-treat; be sure to take your pet to a veterinarian for an accurate diagnosis.

Psychogenic alopecia

Hair loss in cats can be psychogenic in nature. That is, the cause in this case is obsessive behavior. For no apparent reason, a completely healthy, well-fed and well-groomed cat goes bald in a short time. With careful observation, the owner may notice some features: the cat is overly preoccupied with grooming procedures.

When a cat constantly licks, bites and pulls out fur, it not only violates the integrity of the coat, but also injures the skin. In bald areas, areas of redness, sores and sores may form. To get rid of the pain, the animal licks the injured areas even more, which only worsens the situation.

This behavior is called biased. If a cat is in a stressful situation for a long time, for example, he cannot catch a bird outside the window, or is limited in physical activity, he shifts the action to himself, as if he is self-soothing. The most common expression of biased behavior is “self-grooming.”

The reasons that cause psychogenic baldness can be very different:

• Isolation and limitation of physical activity.
• The appearance of a new member in the family - it can be a new pet or a newborn baby. The focus of attention shifts to the “new guy,” and this fact causes negative emotions in the cat.
• Separation from owner or family members.
• Repair or relocation.
• Boredom.

These problems can be avoided if you pay enough attention to the cat: play with it often, caress it, provide conditions for normal physical activity, and take care of its psychological comfort.

Baldness treatment

Depending on the root cause of the baldness of the cat’s paws, an appropriate therapeutic regimen is selected.

• In case of vitamin deficiencies, it is necessary to adjust the diet and add special vitamin and mineral complexes to the diet of a cat who is severely balding.
• In case of allergies, it is enough to eliminate the foreign protein and the pet’s fur will become shiny and thick again.
• If the cause of baldness of the paws is ectoparasites, then it is necessary to get rid of them with the help of special veterinary drugs and the cat’s coat will be restored.
• When a cat goes bald due to endocrine disorders, treatment consists of prescribing hormonal medications to the pet.
• For liver pathologies, maintenance therapy is prescribed, which will eliminate intoxication of the body, help the liver cope with its functions, and also prevent the progression of the pathology and the development of secondary diseases.

When a cat becomes bald on its stomach near its paws, it is very important to correctly diagnose and choose treatment. Otherwise, the animal’s condition may worsen and, in addition to baldness, there will be loss of appetite, depression, impaired coordination, vision, and convulsions.

Description of the problem

The structure of cat hair is not similar to human hair.
Unlike humans, most cats do not tend to go bald as they grow older. Despite periodic molting, they retain dense vegetation on their body even in old age. That is why the appearance of bald spots is always considered a pathology. The exception is hairless cat breeds. In these pets, the lack of hair on the body is a congenital feature.

Intense hair loss (alopecia) occurs in different areas of the body or can be symmetrical. The following areas are predominantly deprived of vegetation:

• stomach;
• back;
• lateral areas of the body;
• hips;
• hind legs;
• tail part.

Baldness in animals can be partial or complete. Most often, hair is lost during illness or as a result of reactions to negative stimuli. In some situations, a cat goes bald due to natural processes in the body.

In the presence of unfavorable factors, baldness can develop in both males and females. Most often, this pathology is observed in mature individuals and extremely rarely affects kittens.

Why does a cat's belly go bald?

Representatives of the cat family are characterized by periodic renewal of their coat. But if large bald patches become noticeable on the animal’s body, the owners need to worry about the health of the tailed animal. Baldness is otherwise called alopecia. With this pathology, cats may experience large amounts of hair loss all over their body and on their paws.

If a cat's belly is severely balding, this may indicate a malfunction of some organ or system of the body. It is also worth noting that alopecia is usually not an independent disease, but only signals the appearance of some other pathology.

Symptoms

Even an inexperienced owner will be able to determine the moment when his cat begins to go bald. During this period, the amount of animal fur in the apartment increases, and bald patches appear on parts of the pet’s body.

You can try to identify the causes of baldness on your own. To do this, you need to carefully examine your pet's skin. With some diseases, the animal may develop a characteristic itching. Your cat may often scratch the bald spot. More serious illnesses appear as sores, scabs, or peeling skin. In some cases, small bumps may appear.

Even if there are no visible reasons for a cat to have hair growing on its belly, it is necessary to take the animal to a veterinarian for a comprehensive examination.

Diagnostics

It's not always easy to understand why a cat suddenly started going bald. Usually the exact cause of the pathology is established by excluding all possible causes for baldness.

It is worth carefully examining the animal, paying special attention to the abdomen, hind and front legs. It is necessary to assess the condition of hairs in the coat

Also estimate how large an area is affected by the patch of baldness. Is there a border to the bald area, or has the animal’s coat simply thinned out? It is necessary to exclude infectious and fungal infections of the skin.

If your cat has recently had surgery, alopecia may occur at the site of the suture. Sometimes hair falls out in areas of the body where the animal has been injected with medications.

Consequences of injury

Observing a cat after it has fallen and been severely injured, you will notice that it has also lost a lot of hair on some parts of its body. Sometimes injuries are visible and easy to diagnose, but they can also be hidden, which is even more dangerous.

Hair loss is sometimes the only visible symptom of internal injuries. Therefore, having detected the appearance of alopecia after a fall of a pet, you need to immediately report this to the veterinarian observing the cat.

Bald spots in combination with fearfulness and wariness quite accurately indicate the stress the cat has experienced. With this state of psychological health, the pet does not want to be handled, does not allow itself to be petted, looks for secluded corners, and may flinch from sharp and loud sounds.

IMPORTANT! As you can see, bald spots on a cat’s body always indicate some kind of health problem, so this symptom cannot be ignored.

Examination by a veterinarian and diagnosis

The effectiveness of treatment depends on an accurate diagnosis. As mentioned above, you should definitely contact a special clinic. Prescribing medications yourself is very dangerous. From such “treatment” the cat may lose all its fur.

At the veterinary hospital, your pet will be able to undergo the necessary examinations. One of the main tests is a trichogram. Thanks to it, they receive information about the condition of the coat, making the first conclusions about the causes of the disease.

To care for a cat, you need to know what a furminator is for, whether cats need clothes, everything about mating cats, how to choose a comfortable carrier, whether you need to sterilize a cat, how to trim a cat’s claws, how to make toys for a cat with your own hands, how to give birth to a cat how to make a scratching post.

Did you know? Smuggling cats from ancient Egypt was punishable by death.

How to treat the disease?

To quickly cure a cat, you need to know the source of the disease and why the cat’s hair came out. If a cat suffers from baldness due to allergies, then the owner must protect the pet from the irritant. Afterwards, the cat is prescribed histamines, immune system stimulants and hypoallergenic products. If the source is parasites, then bald spots on the tail, back, and legs are treated with ointment against ticks or fleas. In addition, the veterinarian prescribes medications that improve the functioning of the immune system. For endocrine diseases, drugs are used that restore the action of the glands. If alopecia in cats is caused by an abscess, then antiseptics and antibiotics are prescribed.

Prevention

Problems when a cat has bald ears, belly, peeling heels, back or tail at the base arise quite often, but they are quickly treated. But in order not to injure the animal, violations should be prevented. To prevent the appearance of alopecia, veterinarians recommend monitoring the hygiene and nutrition of the animal. The cat must be kept in clean conditions so that it does not get infected. In order to identify violations in time, it is advised to regularly consult a doctor and independently check the condition of your pet’s skin. This will allow you to find out at the first stages of the development of the pathology why the fur is coming out and remove the disease. If hair falls out on the ears or the back becomes bald, you cannot treat it yourself, so as not to worsen the condition of your pet.

Baldness treatment

Depending on the root cause of the baldness of the cat’s paws, an appropriate therapeutic regimen is selected.

• In case of vitamin deficiencies, it is necessary to adjust the diet and add special vitamin and mineral complexes to the diet of a cat who is severely balding.
• In case of allergies, it is enough to eliminate the foreign protein and the pet’s fur will become shiny and thick again.
• If the cause of baldness of the paws is ectoparasites, then it is necessary to get rid of them with the help of special veterinary drugs and the cat’s coat will be restored.
• When a cat goes bald due to endocrine disorders, treatment consists of prescribing hormonal medications to the pet.
• For liver pathologies, maintenance therapy is prescribed, which will eliminate intoxication of the body, help the liver cope with its functions, and also prevent the progression of the pathology and the development of secondary diseases.

When a cat becomes bald on its stomach near its paws, it is very important to correctly diagnose and choose treatment. Otherwise, the animal’s condition may worsen and, in addition to baldness, there will be loss of appetite, depression, impaired coordination, vision, and convulsions.

Hair loss in a cat due to physiological reasons

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There are several types of reasons that affect the baldness of an animal. The first group includes physiological ones. For example, this is molting: the seasonal change of fur in domestic cats can sometimes drag on for 2-3 months. This is due to room temperature and jet lag. At the same time, a pet that loses hair profusely looks healthy. Another reason for this group is stress. It is a mistake to think that cats adapt to any situation. These animals have a subtle mental organization. Any stressful situation for them can trigger hair loss. Some breeds become completely hairless. Against the backdrop of hassle, the pet may lose appetite, become sad, and even get sick. Poor nutrition has a negative impact on the animal's appearance. Cats can go bald if they lack B vitamins. If the owner feeds his pet fried fish, sausage and other “delicacies” seasoned with salt and spices, then don’t be surprised by the clumps of fur on the floor. From such a diet, the cat will not only go bald, but will also develop gastrointestinal diseases. Physiological causes of baldness include pregnancy. During this period, cats undergo hormonal changes, and they also lack vitamins. In lactating animals, hair loss around the nipples is observed. Finally, old age is a natural cause of baldness. Older cats rarely have thick hair, but they are full of bald spots.

Principles of treatment

When starting to treat allergies, it is necessary to identify the allergen.

Reactions to flea and other insect bites can be eliminated by local treatment of the skin and hair with insecticidal agents. Particularly popular are drops on the withers - Bars, Barrier-super, Frontline.

Food allergies are eliminated by eliminating hazardous foods from the diet and prescribing antihistamines. Dust – creating conditions for a comfortable living of the animal: regular wet cleaning of the premises, cleanliness of the habitat.

Atopic dermatitis, due to the genetic nature of the disease and its chronic long-term course, is treated throughout life using maintenance therapy and the prevention of secondary pathologies.

The most common disease of the pancreas is pancreatitis. Since baldness can occur only with severe pancreatitis, treatment consists of intensive care, namely:

• elimination of pain – antispasmodics, painkillers, anesthetics, analgesics;
• combating dehydration - saline, colloidal solutions, droppers, injections;
• reduction in the production of destructive secretions - atropine and analogues;
• relieving edema and slowing down pancreatic functions - hormones, ribonuclease;
• removal of intoxication;
• severe case - surgical intervention.

Following a diet containing foods that have enveloping properties is mandatory.

Pyoderma and bald spots.

Help for pyoderma consists of a complex of therapeutic measures: local treatment, oral medication, injections, herbal medicine. For local treatment, anti-inflammatory gels, tinctures, streptocidal ointment, Cefakure, Maxidin are prescribed.

Antibiotics – Tylozolin, Lincomycin hydrochloride, Clindomycin, Cephalexin, Erythromycin. Gamma globulins, Staphylococcal anatoxin, Evinton, Neoferon, Bactoneotim. Healing drugs – Gamavit, Katazol.

Herbal medicine – chamomile, celandine, calendula, sage, eucalyptus.

Hyperthyroidism

The goal of treatment for hyperthyroidism is to reduce the level of thyroid hormones in the blood.

There are two main treatment methods available: drug support throughout the entire life cycle and surgical removal of the gland. Long-term use of medications that inhibit the production of thyroid hormones containing thiourea is indicated. Medicines that support the functioning of the heart and the entire vascular system. Medicines that support kidney function.

Treatment of hypothyroidism comes down, first of all, to replenishing the deficiency of the hormone that led to the disease. The main drug prescribed for pathology is Levothyroxine sodium. The dose is selected individually for each animal, depending on the existing deficiency and body weight. The course for complete recovery is designed for four weeks of use. At the same time, we can take drugs that slow down the binding of serum proteins - glucocorticoids, salicylates.

Treatment of reactive pancreatitis in children

If symptoms of pancreatitis appear, you should immediately consult a doctor. Some forms of pancreatitis require intensive care in a hospital setting!

Diagnosis of the disease is carried out using a blood test (biochemistry) and ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity. If the diagnosis is determined correctly, then the treatment of reactive pancreatitis in children has the same principles as the treatment of the acute form of the disease.

The treatment mechanism for reactive pancreatitis includes diet and complex drug therapy. These could be antibiotics, enzymes, antihistamines - the correct drug treatment regimen should be determined by a doctor.

An important condition for the treatment of reactive pancreatitis in children is diet. The principles of nutrition during illness include:

exclusion of all possible irritants from the children's diet in order to ensure functional unloading of the pancreas; introduction of steamed or boiled products - they are recommended to be taken warm and grated; maintaining the energy value of the diet - it is necessary to reduce the protein content in favor of fats and carbohydrates; small and frequent meals - three meals a day are contraindicated for reactive pancreatitis. Instead, you should adhere to a scheme of 5-6 meals a day at intervals of no more than 4 hours.

The doctor may recommend spending the first day of treatment on therapeutic fasting, which allows drinking only mineral water without gas. And the very next day you can introduce light chicken or rabbit broth, porridge, boiled chopped vegetables (excluding cabbage, legumes, radishes and radishes), low-fat cottage cheese, and omelet.

Drug treatment of reactive pancreatitis in children is aimed at:

• pain relief;
• maintaining digestion and ensuring food digestion;
• detoxification;
• if necessary, relieve allergy symptoms;
• increasing the body's resistance (vitamin therapy).

Find out more An important step in the treatment of reactive pancreatitis is the normalization of the digestive process1. For this purpose, the modern enzyme preparation Creon®2 is used. It replenishes the deficiency of pancreatic enzymes and promotes comfortable digestion of food. Due to its high safety profile, Creon® can be prescribed to children from birth2,3. More information about the use of Creon® in children can be found here. The main condition for the prevention of reactive pancreatitis is adherence to the principles of a healthy diet. Parents need to systematically but persistently change their child’s gastronomic tastes, understanding that what is tasty and dangerous is a possible step towards pancreatic pathology and chronic diseases.