My cat has red, scaly neck skin with hair loss. Why a biopsy?

Question

Hair loss, red, scaly around neck. Blood work normal, no mites, no response to steroids or antibiotics. Lost a pound. My vet wants to biopsy skin?? Just around her neck. Pet's info: Cat | American Shorthair | Female | spayed | 12 years and 2 months old | 7 lbs

Christie Long, DVM · Accepted Answer

I would have to agree with your vet's plan, especially if fleas and ringworm have also been ruled out. Often we just don't get the answers to simple skin problems with simple tests, and we have to biopsy. I recommend submitting the biopsy for dermatopathology - that means a pathologist with special training in dermatology will look at it - and this can mean the difference between getting and not getting an accurate diagnosis. Cats can have some very strange skin diseases, especially around the head, and getting an accurate biopsy will help to get Annie the treatment that she needs.

My cat has red, scaly neck skin with hair loss. Why a biopsy?

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