Scout has a bald spot - could it be Revolution?

[jazzcat]

I got Scout from the shelter on 7/17 and took her straight to the vet for a check up. Everything seemed fine except for some ear mites and a few fleas. They treated her with Revolution between her shoulder blades. Yesterday (two weeks later) I discovered her hair falling out in small clumps with skin attached and upon closer inspection found a round bald spot between her shoulder blades. My first thought was ringworm so I put some topical ointment on the spot that I had left over from treating my kitten with ringworm last summer. The spot turned very red and inflamed looking so I took her to the vet. Their first thought was that it may be a reaction to the Revolution but after using the black light to rule out ringworm there were a few spots that glowed green so they couldn't rule it out. They cleaned the spot and took a culture but it takes a week to grow and find out if it is ringworm.

Everyone at the vet said it didn't look like classic ringworm even though the bald spot is perfectly round. Plus it's like the spot came up over night and it is very large. I dont' think that is typical of ringworm either. Have you guys ever heard of Revolution doing this? I'm just so afraid it is ringworm and I really don't want to separate Scout from my other two cats and go through the lenghty treatment. Any insights are appreciated.

Jazzcat

[Cataholic]

Jazzcat, I can't speak to cats on this, but, Binx had a very similar sounding reaction to his flea/tick treatment two months ago. It looked like he had a burn, and his hair fell out, right in the space that I put the treatment. I, too, tried the topical ointment, but, it didn't seem to do much. The last two months, I have spread the application out about 6 inches...even though it says not to. Now, Binx has 6 inches to do that, a cat won't. But, prolly the amount for a cat is different, too. So, next month, I would spread the ointment out over a three inch area. Despite what it says on the package. That or give it in two doses...half over two inches, wait a day, then the rest over two inches.

Good luck.

[krazyaboutkatz]

I use advantage on my cats and my Sunny had a similar reaction. I freaked out and took him to the vet. My vet gave him a shot of cortisone to help stop itching and said to leave it alone. It healed up by itself in a few days. He said to put the advantage on different areas of his back each month. Storm also had this reaction but it wasn't as bad. Now I put the advantage on different areas of their backs each month and I haven't had a problem since. Good luck.

[jazzcat]

Thanks for the replies. I feel better now. I automatically panic and think ringworm whenever hair falls out since I had to deal with such a bad case of it with my new kitten last year. Poor thing, I had to keep her in quarantine in a bedroom for over three weeks with it plus a URI. I can't stand the thought of going through that again.

Jazzcat