My senior cat is bony, losing hair, and has greasy fur. What to do?

Question

My 11 year old Maine Coon cat had lost weight. He only use to eat dry food but we got him to eat wet food to help gain weight. He does not have good teeth to chew the dry food anymore. He feels like he has gained weight but he is so bony. His back bones just stick up. When we started the wet food his hair started to look greasy He is losing so much hair that by his belly and inside of back legs show his pink skin. I am not sure what to do for him? Pet's info: Cat | Manx | Male | neutered | 4 years and 2 months old | 8.4 lbs

Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS · Accepted Answer

Wet food actually helps cats lose weight. It has a higher moisture content, so it takes more of it to give a cat their daily caloric requirements I would have him seen by a vet today or tomorrow. In a senior cat, this weight loss can not only be caused by dental problems, but also diabetes, kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, or cancer. I recommend having a physical exam, geriatric blood panel, and urinalysis to diagnose what is causing his weight loss. Once the cause is found, the vet can discuss treatment options.

My senior cat is bony, losing hair, and has greasy fur. What to do?

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