By Dr. Laura Hady
Now that spring is in full swing, veterinary clinics will see a huge increase in skin disease. While inhalant or food allergies can play a role in skin disease and hair loss, the hidden culprit for large amounts of hair loss may be unregulated hormones in your pet’s body. Here are some of the more common reasons for hormonal hair loss in pets and how they are treated.
- Cushing’s disease is caused by an overactive adrenal gland releasing too much of the stress hormone cortisol into your pet’s bloodstream. While cortisol helps initially to ward off health issues, long-term release can lower their ability to fight infection, can cause hair loss, and raise blood pressure. Pets with Cushing’s disease often drink more water, eat more, gain weight, pant more, have a pendulous abdomen, and have hair loss on the back and abdomen. I tend to see more skin infections, especially yeast infections, in pets with Cushing’s disease. Your veterinarian will want to do bloodwork to screen for the disease and follow up with a specialized test. If your pet has Cushing’s disease, a life-long medication will be recommended to lower the cortisol levels, which should help the quality of the haircoat.
- Hypothyroidism is more common in dogs than cats and is due to low thyroid levels. Dogs will often gain weight without an increase in appetite. They may have low energy, a dull, “bleached out” haircoat, be more prone to skin infections, and lose hair, especially on the tail. Hyperthyroidism is more common in cats. Cats may lose weight even with a good appetite, have diarrhea, and have a poor hair coat despite overgrooming. Your veterinarian may want to measure your pet’s thyroid level along with a complete cell count looking for anemia and any changes in liver and kidney enzymes on a blood chemistry panel. Treatment for both conditions usually requires a pill given twice a day to regulate thyroid levels in the normal range. Improved coat condition and regrowth of the hair may take two to four months.
- Hair pulling (psychogenic alopecia) occurs mainly in cats due to stress and anxiety. Inciting events may be a family move to a new home, a new pet or baby, litter pan relocation, change in food or bowls, disruption to routine, or even boredom. Areas of licking and overgrooming, which usually occur at night, include the flank, abdomen and inner thighs. A veterinarian may collect a small amount of hair and skin to check for mites or fleas. Bloodwork, including a chemistry panel and thyroid level check, may also be recommended. Many of these cats also have medical conditions like food or inhalant allergies that may require a diet change or steroids. If the hair pulling is truly behavioral, it is recommended that the owner provide more litter boxes, a safe area from other pets, and some puzzles and tunnels for a special one-on-one play time each day. Using a pheromone spray or plug-in diffuser, such as Feliway, may help to calm your cat. A low dose of an antidepressant, such as clomipramine, amitriptyline or fluoxetine, may help, but it often takes several weeks to see the full benefit from these drugs.
Large amounts of hair loss in pets can cause us to want to pull out our own hair in frustration. I often let clients know that it may take more than one veterinary visit to figure out the culprit and to get a grip on the best treatment plan for your pet.
