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

[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.