First, how urgent is this?
Go now
- Widespread red, weeping skin, or the cat scratching until it bleeds.
- Sudden swelling of the face or eyelids.
- Open-mouth breathing, or obvious effort to breathe.
- Sudden collapse, or unable to stand.
Contact your vet today
- One or more round bald patches, with scaling at the edges.
- Red skin, crusts or small pustules.
- Constant licking of the belly, legs or around the anus, down to bare skin.
- Weight down 5% or more within two weeks at the same time.
Record and observe
- More shedding with the season, with no red or broken skin and normal energy and appetite.
- A little dandruff near the tail base, with no itching.
- Already under vet care: record how itchy and how far it spreads (photos), and bring the record to the next visit.
Before you set off
- Where the hair loss and redness are, and how far they spread (photos).
- How itchy: scratching, licking, biting, and whether it is worse at night.
- Any recent food change, litter change, new furniture, new carpet or new pet.
- Any fleas or ticks seen, or other animals in the house itching too.
- Shampoos, household cleaners and parasite treatment history.
- Do not use human creams, steroids or home remedies on the skin.
What your vet may ask and do
- Ask: when it started, and whether it is spreading.
- Ask: how itchy, and whether fleas or ticks have been seen.
- Ask: recent changes in food and environment.
- Do: skin tests (scraping, hair pluck, cytology).
- Do: a fungal culture, to rule out ringworm.
- Do: a flea and allergy assessment, including a food elimination trial.
- Do: blood tests and thyroid where needed; deep infection needs long treatment.
Where to go in Hong Kong
- Hong Kong 24-hour vet list
- 24-hour emergency, Hong Kong Island
- 24-hour emergency, Kowloon
- 24-hour emergency, New Territories
- What emergency and test fees look like
Call the clinic before you drive over, to confirm tonight's arrangements and the location.