Why is my cat's recurring hair loss & red skin eosinophilic granuloma?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Cat | American Shorthair | Male | neutered | 1 year and 7 months old | 12 lbs
My 1 1/2 year old neutered male cat has been having some hair loss. Some of the patches are very small and spread out. And there is one large patch of thinning hair at the base of his tail. One patch is reoccurring under his chin and it's very red and raw. His brother has eosinophiloc granuloma complex. Could he have it too or is this something else? What can I do to treat him? His appetite is fine, but he has been a little bossy towards my other cats. Thanks!
3 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on January 26th, 2018
Hello. It is very difficult to diagnose a skin problem just by looking at it, & certainly harder by a picture. If this is similar to what your other cat has, then I might be suspicious of a mange mite called Demodex gatoi. I would first talk to your vet about treating both cats ( & any others in the house ) with Bravecto, just to rule this out ( it is also great for fleas). For EG, some cats will respond nicely to occasional steroid injections. You can also do a hypoallergenic diet trial to rule out a food allergy. Antihistamines sometimes will control symptoms, especially Certirizine ( your veterinarian can recommend a dose ), & some cats are being treated with a relatively new medication for allergies in dogs called Apoquel. So, once your veterinarian has confirmed what the skin lesions are, treatment can be started. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
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Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on January 31st, 2017
This sounds very suspicious of either a flea allergy or a condition called eosinophilic granuloma complex or eosinophilic plaques. This condition is a hypersensitivity reaction that is diagnosed with a good examination and sometimes biopsy of the skin. It can be treated for with medications prescribed by your veterinarian, so it is best to get Minerva seen right away before it starts to spread to other parts of the body, causing more discomfort for her. Here is a website article that talks about this condition in cats http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=656
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on September 29th, 2019
This looks like eosinophilic granuloma complex but it is very difficult to diagnose skin problems just by looking at some photos. I suggest you have him to your vet for an exam. ( https://icatcare.org/advice/cat-health/eosinophilic-granuloma-complex )
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
I think my cat has eosinophilic granuloma complex. It looks a lot like this photo but a little worse. How can I help heal it? And how can I know for sure that it is eosinophilic granuloma complex? What tests are involved to get that result? Thanks
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