Hereditary, Congenital, and Acquired Alopecias

The document from 2017 provides an overview of various types of alopecia in dogs and cats, including hereditary, congenital, and acquired forms. It discusses conditions such as canine hypothyroidism, which can cause alopecia and is treatable with levothyroxine, and canine hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing's Disease), which leads to symptoms like alopecia and has a prognosis of around 2.5 years post-diagnosis. Postclipping Alopecia, Alopecia X, and Feline Paraneoplastic Alopecia/Dermatitis are also covered, with treatments ranging from observation to medical therapies, and prognoses varying from good to poor. Other conditions like sex hormone dermatosis, congenital hypotrichosis, and various follicular dysplasias are mentioned, with treatments mainly addressing secondary infections and cosmetic concerns. Psychogenic alopecia in cats, caused by excessive grooming due to stress, is diagnosed by ruling out other causes and treated by addressing the stressor and possibly using behavior-modifying drugs, although the prognosis is variable. Overall, while some alopecias have effective treatments and good prognoses, others are primarily cosmetic issues or have guarded prognoses depending on the underlying cause.