Why is my cat losing hair on his chest? Should I be concerned?

Hi, and thanks for your question. This could be due to an allergy, although it could also be infection or mites. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat with a high quality flea treatment, then ask the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveal an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try to discover the cause of the allergy. Three main type of allergies are usually affecting pets: food allergies, flea and parasite related ones and environmental type (allergens coming from trees, pollens, dust etc etc). Some medications can be given by the vet in order to repair any possible skin lesions (like steroids and antibiotics). The following products can be found online and can be tried as a first line approach: Douxo PS Calm shampoo, Essential 6 spot on by dermoscent, Krillex Krill oil chews. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

has any topical medicine for fleas been applied recently? They do have reactions that can cause hair loss after application in that area. Another thought is if he rubbed against something to cause irritation and he is licking the fur to make it wet and pull more hair out. If it is non painful and there are no open wounds and he is acting normal, I would watch it for a day or so. If it bothers him or gets larger then I would have him checked, if not the hair should regrow on its on

[Hair loss](https://www.petcoach.co/article/causes-of-hair-loss-alopecia-in-cats/) can be caused by allergies or infection of the skin, and in severe cases by metabolic issues. Chronic stress or excessive licking of an area can also lead to hair loss in just one particular place. Preventing your cat from licking and chewing at the area with the use of a T-shirt or Elizabethan collar (cone) may help. Examine the area for redness,parasites, bleeding, bruising or discharge. If you see a target-like or red "ring" of irritation, it may indicate a fungal infection called [ringworm](https://www.petcoach.co/cat/condition/ringworm/), which can be easily spread to other people and pets so should be handled carefully. If you do see anything suspicious, consider an exam with your veterinarian for a definitive diagnosis and treatment. Hair regrowth may take a few months depending on how much hair is lost as well as the underlying cause.

Cats do this for several reasons. An allergy or a bite can cause them to over groom one area and cause sores and an infection. Sometimes it can be stress and behavior induced. check for any fleas to see if that is a reason and treat with prevention. From there your vet can assess the area and see which medications would be helpful to control the reason. If it is behavior with a stress component, you may need to add feliway diffusers to help

It sounds like he could have a skin infection on his chest which could be related to being a diabetic. Have your vet take a look at him to determine the cause. He probably needs an antibiotic to treat. If he is not on a reduced calorie diet than he should be switched to one. OM is a great diet for cats that need to lose weight. Talk to your vet about the best diet for your cat.

You can see this occur in some dogs and it can be completely normal but, just like anything, it can be pathologic as well. Monitor the skin very closely for redness, itching, progression of hairloss or scabbing. If these signs are seen it is more likely pathologic and he should be examined by his veterinarian. Otherwise point it out to the veterinarian at his next regularly scheduled exam. An omega-3 fatty acid can help maintain good skin and coat health. Make sure to get a supplement for dogs specifically. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hi. It is difficult to say from the photo. Hair loss can be caused by infection, allergies, irritants, yeast, ectopic parasites like mites/fleas/etc., and many more. I would recommend getting him seen by your veterinarian, and having them perform skin testing based on mist probable cause