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ALOPECIA - FELINE ACQUIRED SYMMETRICAL

Note for Pet Owners:

This information is provided by Provet for educational purposes only.

You should seek the advice of your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for your pet.

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Description
A rare condition of acquired symmetrical hairloss due to hypotrichosis

Cause
Unknown

Breed Occurrence
Affects neutered male and female domestic cats aged 2-12 years (average 6 years)- rare in purebred cats.

Signs
 Thinning of the hair  begins in the genital and perineal regions and eventually spreads to affect all the hind-quarters, the tail, inside the thighs, and the underside of the abdomen. Hair cover along the top of the back remains normal though in some cases hair is lost along the sides of the chest.. Hairs can easily be pulled out (epilated) with the fingers.

There is no irritation and the skin is normal.

Complications
None

Diagnosis
The hairs are not damaged - they have fallen out and hair loss is not due to trauma. Other rare causes of this include :

  • Hypothyroidism
  • Hyperadrenocorticism
  • Excessive shedding

Histopathology of skin biopsies reveals that the  hair follicles are in the telogen stage.

Treatment
Treatment may not be necessary. Thyroid hormone has been used (liothyronine at 20mg/cat every 12 hours by mouth) initially gradually increased  up to 50mg/cat for 12 weeks

Alternative treatments that work in some cases include sex hormones (often in combination) including testosterone, progesterone, medroxyprogesterone acetate, oestradiol, diethylstilboestarol.

Relapses are common off treatment, and these drugs may result in side-effects which are worse than the underlying problem of thinning of the hair coat.

Prognosis
Good 

Long term problems

 

Updated January 2016

 
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