My cat is losing hair after flea and tick medicine. What should I do?

Related Answers from Veterinarians

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  Answered By Jenny, DVM

  Veterinarian

  Published on October 4th, 2017

  This a side effect if any topical medication. As long as the skin is not red or irritated then no treatment is needed and the hair will regrow but you might want to try a different product next time. If the area is bothering him then you can wash the area with baby shampoo to remove as much as possible and consult your vet if it is not improving

  

  1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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  Answered By Ricardo Fernandez, DVM

  Veterinarian, Veterinary Oncology Resident

  Published on February 3rd, 2018

  Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

  

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  Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

  Veterinarian

  Published on June 15th, 2017

  Maxwell could lose hair for a few reasons. In general things that cause hair loss in cats are: flea allergy, food allergy, hyperthyroidism, ringworm, bacterial infections or environmental allergy. I would advise to take him into the vet to have him examined. They may be able to determine the cause based on physical exam. At home there's not much you can do except protect the area if Maxwell seems to want to lick/scratch it with an Elizabethan collar. If he is not on a reputable flea product, you may put him on one (I recommend Revolution) just to rule out fleas for sure. Sometimes you just have to start moving down the list of things that cause hairless until you figure out which one it is!

  

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  Answered By Lauren Jones VMD

  Veterinarian

  Published on March 23rd, 2017

  Poor Buddy! Hair loss can have a number of underlying causes, including fleas/flea allergies, food allergies, environmental allergies, ringworm, mange, or even traumatic events like burns. Treatment will be determined by the underlying cause. Ultimately, Buddy should be examined by his vet to check for ringworm, mange (caused by mites), fleas, or signs of a skin infection as a result of itching. Until you are able to take Buddy to his vet, closely examine his fur (mostly around the tail base and head/neck areas) for the presence of live fleas or flea dirt. Flea dirt resembles flecks of pepper that turns reddish-brown when moistened with water on a white paper towel. Regardless of whether or not you see fleas, administer a high quality flea preventative, such as Advantage, once a month. Some fleas are good at hiding in the coat, and if Buddy is allergic to fleas, only one flea bite could make him itchy and cause hair loss. If you see signs of fleas, give Buddy a Capstar (available at most pet stores) to kill live fleas in 30 minutes. If you do see signs of fleas, make sure you wash his bedding in hot water and vacuum every day or two. Aside from flea control, there is not much else you will be able to try at home without determining the underlying cause of Buddy's hair loss.

  

  1Pet Parents found this answer helpful