Hi everyone!
I have been searching for a forum to get some advice on my 8 year old himalayan cat. He has been itching his ears and neck and there have been clumps of hair I have noticed around our house for some time. Recently I noticed an area over his neck, moving into the top of his head where the hair was significantly thin/bald.
I took him to the vet thinking he had ringworm - the vet sent for cultures but didn't think it was that given that the skin underneath looked normal. He said he thinks its more consistent with allergies.
For the past week, I changed his food (put him on a hypoallergenic diet - turkey/potatoes mix; his previous organic food had many many ingredients in it) and changed his litter to organic, all natural pine based litter.
I think he probably has allergies although i'm honestly not sure. What else could it be? He seems very itchy and he definitely has watery eyes/sneezes. If it is allergies, how long will it take to subside assuming I have gotten rid of the allergen (food/litter)?
Also, I want to soothe his itchiness. I put some coconut oil on it tonight - anyone have experience with this? I was thinking of giving him omega 3 supplement but I don't want to introduce anything new internally. I want to put something topically over the skin to relieve the itch and allow the hair to grow back.
Anyway, I am just so worried and appreciate your help.
I have been searching for a forum to get some advice on my 8 year old himalayan cat. He has been itching his ears and neck and there have been clumps of hair I have noticed around our house for some time. Recently I noticed an area over his neck, moving into the top of his head where the hair was significantly thin/bald.
I took him to the vet thinking he had ringworm - the vet sent for cultures but didn't think it was that given that the skin underneath looked normal. He said he thinks its more consistent with allergies.
For the past week, I changed his food (put him on a hypoallergenic diet - turkey/potatoes mix; his previous organic food had many many ingredients in it) and changed his litter to organic, all natural pine based litter.
I think he probably has allergies although i'm honestly not sure. What else could it be? He seems very itchy and he definitely has watery eyes/sneezes. If it is allergies, how long will it take to subside assuming I have gotten rid of the allergen (food/litter)?
Also, I want to soothe his itchiness. I put some coconut oil on it tonight - anyone have experience with this? I was thinking of giving him omega 3 supplement but I don't want to introduce anything new internally. I want to put something topically over the skin to relieve the itch and allow the hair to grow back.
Anyway, I am just so worried and appreciate your help.