ugh, I think we have a ringworm outbreak...

[Catsnclay]

Your mom gave me a BUNCH of sites to look at, I know she still has them bookmarked


As to the shampoo for you, don't bother wasting your money. Just keep your hair clean and the rest of you clean, too!

Wash your hands often - and then do it again!! I also found that a solution of a capful of bleach in a spray bottle (fill the rest with water) and spray down all the areas where the cats have been: beds, litterboxes, etc.

Make sure not only that the cats get Rx's but you too. You will have to see your doctor for one that is much better than OTC drugs.

I have a brand new tube of antifungal cream (they gave us 2) - PM me your address and it is yours! And just remember that:

Ringworm is very contagious

Be extremly careful and if you possibly can, seperate the cats with it from the others - unless it is too late. You will just have to let it run its course, but once it is through your entire house, the 'bright' side is you may not get it again for a long time.

Do you know how you got it?? Is the cat indoor/outdoor?

[Catsnclay]

I almost forgot.......


Ringworm is just the name of this, there are NO worms in this at all!!! Who ever named this should be shot!! The mere mention of the the word makes you want to itch all over!!

This is a fungus, and fungus' are mostly topical - meaning on top of your skin - NOT IN there!!!

I know how you are feeling, and for the next few weeks any time something brushes up against you, you will - in a panic - look there and look for that dreaded red patch!! Every time you have a simple itch.......you will look !

Don't worry, that feeling eventually will go away too!

Hang in there, help is on the way. Don't itch, and wash your hands!!!!

[sirrahved]

I knew it was a fungus... and fungus weirds me out just as much as internal parasites! lol I'm such a wuss.

[sirrahbed]

http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthre...light=ringworm

all of my best links are here Devon. Try not to freak (hard I know!) You probably would have it already if you were going to get it. Mild bleach solution in a bottle is great for everything - no need to even rinse or wipe it down. Clorox Anywhere product is good also - but your own bleach solution is just as good and cheap. Handwash like a fanatic and go on with your days. It is not the end of the world - just feels like it at some moments. It will go away eventually - the "ringworm" gameplan in the above link had some really thorough and no-nonsenes advice.

I don't have any idea if using special shampoo on yourself would prevent the spread though what could it hurt? I doubt that you need to worry though - your hair will be fine.

(((hugs)))

[Lizzie]

I have it again in my household, one cat I've had in isolation for several days on suspicion and now confirmed by my vet. I also have a house full of foster kittens. Fortunately, the possibly immune suppressed ones (tested weak positive to FeLV), a litter of nine, are in isolation on a different floor of the house. But I'm still in deep despair. Reading that battle plan did help because it was very focused.

One question, I am about to use Program for the first time. I didn't last year because my vet pooh-poohed the idea. Would the 409.8 mg. tablet, advertised for a 45-90 pound dog, be the right one for Taranis, she's about 15#. I know it's "safe" but it worries me to give her these without my vet's approval.

I have to skip the other systemic treatment because I simply can't afford it. I'm paying for the high-quality food I'm feeding my many fosters and it's costing me a fortune. A friend suggested topical treatment of clortrimazole over the counter (lotrimin cream). Have others found this effective? I can't remember what my vet gave me last year but I have to focus on low cost this year.

Guess I have to get used to the smell of Clorox again, something that makes me feel sick.

Sorry to take over your thread, Sirrahved, hope you don't mind. Despair shared, if not halved, might at least make it easier to bear.

[catmandu]

No Technical Knowledge But Lots Of Prayers From All Of Us Here At The Found Cat Paradise Hotel.

[Catsnclay]

One question, I am about to use Program for the first time. I didn't last year because my vet pooh-poohed the idea.


A friend suggested topical treatment of clortrimazole over the counter (lotrimin cream). Have others found this effective? I can't remember what my vet gave me last year but I have to focus on low cost this year.

#1 - my vet also didn't agree with the Program pill, so she gave us pills that had the right amount for each cat - it wasn't that expensive either. But it was something that had to be done each day for 3-4 weeks. It worked, too!


#2 The topical treatment, is this for you?? If so that should work - any OTC product for fungas should work, if not it is time to visit your doctor for the stronger stuff.

I do not recommend you use OTC anything for the cats. Their dosages must be to their weight and anything OTC would most likely be too strong for them and then there is the possibility you can poision them too!


Ringworm is not something you can get rid of quickly, but if you keep things clean and wash your hands a lot you will eventually get it under control and it will go away. Be patient.

[critters]

One question, I am about to use Program for the first time. I didn't last year because my vet pooh-poohed the idea. Would the 409.8 mg. tablet, advertised for a 45-90 pound dog, be the right one for Taranis, she's about 15#.

A friend suggested topical treatment of clortrimazole over the counter (lotrimin cream). Have others found this effective? I can't remember what my vet gave me last year but I have to focus on low cost this year.

Guess I have to get used to the smell of Clorox again, something that makes me feel sick.

That's the size Program we used, also OTC antifungal cream. And yes, bleach is your friend!!!

[Lizzie]

Thanks, critters, I'll order some. I bought OTC Lamisil which was recommended by the pharmacist who also said it was fine to use on cats as long as it wasn't an area that they could lick easily.

Now I have another in isolation. I notice that Wild Thang, a one-time feral foster with lung damage from lungworm, had the tell-tale signs on her head last night. Trouble is, she needs to free-feed high protein food because she is very young and thin. Taranis is on SO and overweight. It's a bad mix.

I just moved three foster kittens upstairs to another bedroom and caged them. They were about to go out for adoption this week and now I have to keep them under observation for two or three more weeks. In total I have 12 kittens that were due to go back to the shelter for adoption by the end of next week. The amount of work this is causing is appalling and it's miserable for the cats also.

The vet said I have cats with ringworm because I had three with it last summer, even though I tossed furniture, stripped out all the carpet and washed every wall and other surface with bleach repeatedly. Does that really mean that you can never, ever get rid of it?