ringworm

I have been posting this on Lut's thread but hoped to start another so that we can keep some info current and helpful. I also posted about our current ringworm outbreak on Emily at Cat General and many folks have offered some good information there. Thanks!

Ringworm FAQ
Ringworm battle plan

Above are two sites I have found helpful because they mention the off-label use of the Program in a dog's dosage to help fight ringworm in cats. It is not something likely to be recommended yet by vets, but I choose to try it along with systemic Griseofulvin, topical fungus cream miconazole, shampooing and meticulous cleaning. I am trying the Program because I am having so much trouble getting Emily to take the medication. If I can help by using a safe tablet that only has to be given once or twice - I am going to try it.

I learned that the Program active ingredient is Lufenuron and that it is normally given as a flea treatment. The dose for ringworm (according to my research) needs to be at 50mg/pound or 100mg/kg. The largest dog tablet has 409.8mg and that is what I plan to use. I found a very good price at California Veterinary Supply, where it also talks about using it for cats. 1800PetMeds has it also. It does not require a prescription.

Some of you may not agree with this larger dosing of an off-label use but it is my choice. This is simply something to consider. I may or may not mention it to my vet because his office did not approve when I chose to use Advantage drops many years ago - buying the large dog dose and dividing it among my five cats. They told me that the dog formula was different from the cat formula, but a phone call to the drug company assured me that the formulas were the same.

update August 2007:
I quit the scrubbing, kitty batheing and Griseofulvin. The liquid medication was so stressful for both me and poor timid Emily. I still was a bit of a clean freak and handwasher - but I believe it was the Program that took care of the ringworm. I gave Emily two largest dog tablets (one initially and a repeat the next month) I gave one dose to the remaining kitties as prevention. My cats gobbled up the tablets like a treat, too.

For Emily, it was probably over a month until her hair started growing back nice and thick in those bare patches. Hope this helps someone else. I learned about it from Tracey here on PT. :D

I had success using Program for some kittens 4 years ago. Off-label use of Program has been around at least since 2001. I didn't observe any bad effects. Although there were 3 kittens in together, one of them never got ringworm. My vet also gave me Trezaderm for the spots, which had an antifungal, a steroid and (I think) an itch reliever.

I just wanted to *BUMP* this link information back up as I have read of a few more ringworm battles here at PT. :)