Why is my cat's armpit irritated with hair loss? Should I see a vet?

Question

My cat has an irritated looking patch of skin by his armpit that has resulted in hair loss in that area. I am wondering exactly what this is, what could have caused it, and if I need any type of prescription or to take him to physically see a vet. His demeanor and eating habits have not changed and does not seem to be irritated by this patch. Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Shorthair | Male | neutered | 3 years old | 16 lbs

Penelope Graben, DVM · Accepted Answer

Hi there, Thanks for the good picture. This is quite an inflamed patch of skin that Hamilton has. The pink granulation tissue tells me it's been present for likely a week already. Its difficult to tell without physically feeling around and palpating the wound, associated lymph nodes, and other physical exam findings. It could be an old wound that is in the healing stages or it could be something like a skin plaque that is growing and worsening. It looks like he has been spending a lot of time licking at it, indicating itch or pain. I recommend taking Hamilton to see his veterinarian for a full physical and they will be able to advise best for diagnostics and treatment after seeing him. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Why is my cat's armpit irritated with hair loss? Should I see a vet?

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