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

[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?

[critters]

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.

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?

With the megadoses of Program we had a bit of diarrhea, but, on the bright side, we had NO fleas.

Yeah, it IS a lot of work.

Was the RW this past summer, or a year ago? We seem to have gotten rid of it; we last had it almost 3 years ago. Buddy didn't catch it when he came home almost 1 1/2 years ago, and he was immunosupressed from pred (spinal cord injury). If you had it this last summer, I'd agree; if it was the one before, I'd suspect it somehow got brought in again.

[Lizzie]

It was the summer of 2006. The vet I saw is the gloomy-gus one who likes to harp on about all the problems that face multi-cat households, and by that he means over two.

I found another with it last night, Wild Thang's brother, Boy Blue has it on his side. He is only two but has bad stomatitis from the same poor upbringing, so another challenged immune system.

On the plus side, the shelter I volunteer with has said they might be able to get me systemic treatment wholesale, and may help with the cost because they are sure a foster brought it into my home. Since Wild Thang won't let me cream her after the first time, it's either systemic or live with it for many, many months.

For something that doesn't make cats sick, it sure is a major problem.

[sirrahved]

My problem is that our cat gave it to a DOG. We can't separate the dog, because she sometimes gets destructive when left alone for long periods. *sighs* We'll just see what happens. No more spots yet!

[Lizzie]

From my experience last year, I'd say hope for the best but expect the worst. Several times, I thought I was seeing the end of it only for another lesion to appear on one that looked almost ready to leave isolation. But, it does go away in its own good time.

The shelter is recommending lime sulphur dips. That's fine in a location where they have deep sinks and help, but I dread doing it myself.