Ringworm in multiple cat household - update 9/27

[critters]

1 large dog sized tablet per cat. They are palatable and 9 out of 10 will simply eat it. (broken up into about 4 pieces)

LOL. My monsters didn't read that book--only 1 of them will just snarf it. The others, however, don't mind if they're crushed and mixed into canned food.

I haven't finished all the posts, but bleach is your friend!!

[doolittleky]

Lizzie, It has been so long ago when I had it with my multianiaml household that i don't remember it so clearly as the ones that have had it recently. I do remember how expensive it was for me because i had to treat all my animals( cats and dogs) with Fulvicin which is very expensive. They were on it for over a month and maybe longer. I was jsut about to see if my doctor at the time would prescribe it to me so i could get it cheaper since it was costing me so much from the vet. About that time I finally got rid of it. I also used Conafite as the topical. I was very lucky that I didn't get it when they had it because i was always rubbing my face all over them. I did have it after that once when I had a smaller outbreak and I just used the conafite on it and it went away.

Good luck. I know it is very frustrating!
Melissa

[Lizzie]

I just spent the last two hours at the vet with all three kittens then had to leave them in their carriers in my car while I set up a room for them. I feel really terrible that I had to move my frail and very elderly Ginger into a smaller bedroom, out of the room she's pretty much lived in for months. She lost her lovely long low sofa too, where she could eat as well as sleep. But I couldn't put three very active kittens in the smaller bedroom for a month, that would have been cruel also. There was no perfect solution. Anyway, I had to clean Ginger's new bedroom thoroughly first, put in new bedding and move her over. Then clean her room and set it up for the kittens.

After discussion with the vet, we decided that it was safer to treat all three kittens, even though two of them show no sign of ring worm. Better to treat them all, even though the medication can be hard on the liver, than discover just as Cattulus is almost well that the other two have signs of it. I will check all the other cats daily, looking for signs. They are all much older, so not in the most vulnerable category, and have survived years in a shelter.

Clean, treat, check and hope. Time for a cuppa and one of those cookies.

[catmandu]

Knock on Wood, noringworms at the Found Cat hotel.
Good luck with your Cats.

[kimlovescats]

Here is a bit I found online:
Ringworm is a fungus, and not a worm. While mildly contagious to humans, ringworm isn't as bad as many people think, so don't panic! Ringworm is not dangerous to cats, or to humans except for young children, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems. It typically appears as a roundish bald spot commonly found around a cat's face, ears, head, paws, and tail accompanied by scabby, reddish or grayish welts.

Common treatments include twice or more daily applications of over-the-counter anti-fungal creams to the affected spots. An Anti-flea medication called Program® (Lufenuron) may also be effective in treating Ringworm, but its use is "off label". Your vet can ask the manufacturer (Novartis) to fax the studies and dosage information. Lime dips, and other prescribed medications may be worth reserving for more serious cases.

In humans, ringworm looks like round reddish welts. Avoid sun exposure to the welts, and apply anti-fungal cream on and around the welts at least twice a day. Consult your doctor if you're concerned or if the welts are spreading.

.................

I had a small ringworm outbreak in my kennel a few years back, I gave a few baths, applied some spray anti-fungal on some areas, anti-fungal creams on others, and let it run its course. I know many people panic over it, but it's not all that bad .... ugly, but not harmful or life-threatening. I would much rather have a ringworm outbreak than a coccidia outbreak!!!!

Good luck, and try not to stress too much over this!

Hugs,
Kim

[Lizzie]

The problem is, I do have cats with compromised immune systems - my FIV+ boys, and so I really need to battle the infection. If I didn't have them, I would be more laid back about the problem.

You raise an interesting question though and I'm going to post a new thread in Cat Health asking why people who have cats with healthy immune systems treat ringworm since the medication can damage the liver, and have other side effects.

[kimlovescats]

The problem is, I do have cats with compromised immune systems - my FIV+ boys, and so I really need to battle the infection. If I didn't have them, I would be more laid back about the problem.

You raise an interesting question though and I'm going to post a new thread in Cat Health asking why people who have cats with healthy immune systems treat ringworm since the medication can damage the liver, and have other side effects.

You are right, with the FIV+ kitties I would be more concerned with the outbreak having more of an affect on them! My vet told me about the liver and kidney risks with the medication, so I opted to try local treatment and thankfully that was all I needed!

[Reachoutrescue]

Lizzie, I know what you are going through...I have three kits here with ringworm. I am worried my boys are going to get it....let's hope we are in the clear. Keep me posted, and I will do the same.

[Lizzie]

After a lot of thought, and after seeing that two of the kittens are having rather loose stools, I decided to wait on giving the oral medication and treat topically for now. I accidentally left the shampoo at the vet's last night so tonight was the first application - not easy because the lesions are very close to the top and side of his eye. Then I had to apply Conofite which really stung him. He now has a second small lesion above his left eye and a bloody mark in his ear - so back to the vet to check on that tomorrow. I'm checking everyone in the household each evening and have found no ringworm on any of the other cats so far, but it's early days yet.

My own lesion is clearing up nicely with the lime juice and aloe vera treatment. I must remember to buy betadine or a chlorhexidine soap tomorrow, and some soft gloves to wear in this isolation room, my hands are already red and sore from constant washing.

[smokey the elder]

I had an outbreak 3 years ago. My vet prescribed Program (high dose, I forget what it was) and Trezaderm for the spots. It took about 2 months to clear up. One of the kittens never got it, even though she was in with two infected kittens.

[Lizzie]

I brought up Program with my vet since so many PT'ers had mentioned it and he said it didn't really help. I wish I could use lime juice and aloe vera on Cattulus as well as myself but, besides being "alternative" medicine that I don't mind experimenting with on myself but believe I shouldn't on a cat, the poor kitten would literally go up the wall if I put lime juice on the open lesions.

[Reachoutrescue]

I really hope all goes well for you Lizzie. I hope I do not get that as well. Yes, I beileve the kit would go bonkers if you were to put lime juice on the wounds...but then again, it may work. My mom used to use lemon juice on my cuts and scrapes as a kid....it hurt, but the wound was better in a day or two. Crazy huh? Good luck hun.

[kimlovescats]

I've heard / read of other "home remedies" as well .... one of which is to put a small dab of BLEACH on the spot!!! You think lime juice would burn????? Don't think I would want to burn my kitties with bleach! Again, all I can stress is try not to stress .... even if you do nothing, it will clear up on its own!

[Lizzie]

Tracy - you may well not get it. My vet told me he'd handled hudreds of cases in both cats and dogs, some very severe, and all bare handed but he'd never got it himself. I think I am prone since I got it on my arm from my first cat about 30 years ago, and now this one.

Kim - I'm working on it all but not stressing. When I checked online, I found out that the reason it's bad for FIV+ cats to get ringworm is because they can't take the oral medication, so that made me feel better since I've decided that I prefer the topical approach. I may, of course, be proved very wrong in my approach. It's difficult dealing with something that you can't see even though you can see the results.

[Reachoutrescue]

Tracy - you may well not get it. My vet told me he'd handled hudreds of cases in both cats and dogs, some very severe, and all bare handed but he'd never got it himself. I think I am prone since I got it on my arm from my first cat about 30 years ago, and now this one.

I know I may not...I hope not! But I worry for my boys. I am takinmg every precaution!