Why is my dog or cat losing fur in one area? How do I treat it?

Hello. It is very difficult to know exactly what this might be, but it does resemble a healing abscess. If she is constantly licking the spot, then you might want to put a light Elizabethan collar on her to prevent further self-trauma. But, if she is not bothering the area, then just keep an eye on this for the time being. Anything you put on it will just get her licking it off & perhaps doing more damage to the skin. Any additional concerns, it is best to have your veterinarian physically examine the skin for additional possible treatment. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be a benign or malignant growth. There is no way of knowing what it is just based on its appearance. This is often differentiated by a test called a fine needle aspirate (FNA) which is a pain free, inexpensive and easy procedure which in most cases will help reach a diagnosis. Sometimes a biopsy is needed for a definitive diagnosis. I recommend that you have him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good night!

Hi Sara! Thank you for using PetCoach! Skipper is very handsome! :) You know, this hairloss spot could be from many different things. Some possibilities (just to name a few): 1. ringworm 2. mange 3. bacterial infection 4. localized vaccination reaction (some vets vaccinate low down on the legs so check to see if your vet did this) 5. injury Since he doesn't seem to be bothered by it at this stage I would suggest you try some antifungal medication on it for a couple weeks to see if there is any resolution. If not, then I would take him to your vet for an exam. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Equate-Athletes-Foot-Antifungal-Cream-0-5-Oz/21950095 In case it is ringworm, be sure to wash your hands after touching that area! Hope this helps. Best wishes!

Hi there! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! There is a variety of reasons that can explain alopecia or hair loss. The causes can easily be differentiated by the clinical signs associated with it and the physical exam findings. If Freckles is only showing some hair loss without scratching or overgrooming then it could conditions such as alopecia areata that can affect cats and usually resolves on its own. If there is evidence of scratching and you start noticing some redness or irritation associated with it, then other conditions such as allergies are possible. If you notice him overgrooming himself in that area then it could be something like psychogenic alopecia which is more of a behavioral issue. I think that since he is not having overt clinical signs and it is mostly hair loss, I think it is possibly transient and could resolve on its own. You can monitor this closely and if it does not resolve or it worsens then have him examined by your veterinarian. Good luck!

It's difficult to compare the size of the area in the 2 pictures, but if the area is getting larger, then I would certainly recommend having your veterinarian examine Muffin. The best way for us to decide how to treat skin problems is to do some simple skin tests and examine a sample under the microscope. That will determine if there is a bacterial infection, fungal infection, yeast infection or even a parasitic infection like mites. I wish I could give you an answer by just looking at the picture, but since Bacitracin isn't working it's time for some additional testing to figure out what is going on. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

This could be a skin infection caused by a fungus (ringworm), or bacteria or an old injury. Since ringworm is contagious to people and other pets in the house, I suggest you have this examined by your veterinarian to rule out a fungal infection. In the meantime do wash your hands after handling your kitty. Your vet will want to take a brush sample from the spot and culture it and until the culture has grown, will probably give you some medication to treat it.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be due to ringworm. This could also be just a focal skin bacterial infection, among other possibilities. I recommend that you have Fawkes evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check for these possibilities and treat accordingly. Ringworm can be transmitted to humans so just in case this is what is going with Fawkes, wear gloves when handling this lesion. Good luck and best wishes!