Ringworm – What is it?

First of all, ringworm is NO a worm is a fungus. Ringworm spores can travel great distances in air currents and can be carried into your home on your clothes / shoes, and / or by your dogs and other pets; basically, ringworm spores are found everywhere in the environment; both outside and inside our houses. Anyone who has (or has ever had) a Persian cat knows that at one point or another they will have to deal with ringworm. In our opinion, any cattery that claims they have never had a case of ringworm may not have recognized the signs of infection in their cats. Ringworm and Persian cats (and other long-haired breeds) go hand in hand. Especially when bringing in a new cat or kitten. The stress of moving and the age of the cat can influence the development of ringworm in that new cat or kitten within 3-4 weeks of their arrival in a new home. Very young, very old, and immunosuppressed cats or kittens are at highest risk for ringworm. Exposure to ringworm is the reason why it is imperative to isolate or quarantine a new kitten or Persian cat for at least 4 weeks to ensure that it has not developed ringworm and can potentially infect other household pets. Sometimes a cat can be an asymptomatic carrier, meaning it may have ringworm, but show no signs of having it. However, a carrier sheds the spores and infects other cats in the house. Ringworm is a zoonotic disease (it can be transmitted from animals to humans).

If left untreated, ringworm can be very difficult to eradicate from a home, fungal spores can contaminate the environment in which a cat is housed. Ringworm is a systemic disease that requires treatment with oral medication and an antifungal dip (Lime Sulfur Dip) for the spores. Not using this two-pronged approach means that ringworm will not be completely eradicated!

Treatment

Sporanox (brand name) – oral medicine (generic name: itraconazole). This medication should be administered under the care and guidance of a licensed veterinarian as it may damage the liver. Sporanox is generally dispensed in a 150 ml bottle, at a concentration of 10 mg / ml. The dose to treat ringworm in cats is 10 mg / kg once a day (or 0.50 ml per pound) and should be given with a high-fat food (a real butter tablet or canned food is best ). Liquid medicine appears to be easier to dose as it is more accurate for dosing than pills. The cat should also be fully treated for at least 21 days with the oral medication and the mushroom bath every 5-7 days for at least one month after the 21 days of oral medication treatment. DO NOT skip a day! Again, This medicine is hard on the liver and the cat must have free access to water at all times! If the cat shows signs of anorexia, dehydration, or other symptoms, discontinue use of Sporanox immediately and contact your veterinarian.

Lime sulfur dip is an antiseptic keratolytic bath in perfumed lime sulfur concentrate for the treatment of sarcoptic mange (ringworm). Lime Sulfur Dip treats ringworm on the cat’s skin and hair. “Soak” the cat at least once a week and continue for at least 30 days after cessation of oral medication. Mix the Lime Sulfur Dip according to the directions on the bottle, which is usually 4 ounces of Lime Sulfur Dip in one gallon of water, place the cat in a small tub with the Lime Sulfur Dip solution and then pour the solution over the cat to cover its back, neck and chest areas. Soaking the cat in water until the skin is wet beforehand helps the sulfur and lime bath to penetrate the skin better. Make sure the Lime Sulfur Dip gets into the nooks and crannies of the cat’s claws, a soft toothbrush can be used to gently “rub” the Lime Sulfur Dip into the toes, nails and between the fingers. Do NO rinse the sulfur sauce with lime. (Do NO Get the lime sulfur bath into the cat’s eyes or mouth as it is very caustic. Follow label directions if this happens.) Gently pat the cat with a towel and then dry the cat thoroughly with a blow dryer. Do not allow the cat to lick the damp / damp lime and sulfur solution from its fur. Once the cat’s coat is completely dry, the cat can be safely bathed without adverse effects.

Lime Sulfur Dip smells like rotten eggs – the house will stink, the cat will stink, everything will stink. However, it will kill the cat’s spores. If the recommended protocol is followed, in addition to getting three negative results from your vet (the vet will recommend when these skin cultures should be done), the Lime Sulfur Dip, along with the oral medication Sporanox, will definitely eradicate ringworm and its persian. cats will be free of ringworm. This is the only sure way to successfully treat ringworm in the Persian cat breed!

Also, part of treating ringworm is getting rid of (or disinfecting with bleach) all bedding, scratching posts, cat trees, litter boxes, and anything else the cat may have come in contact with. If the infected cat has been in contact with other cats in the household, it is best to treat all cats in the household to avoid cross contamination and possibly transmit ringworm for months.

Once again a warning, no NO Get this solution into the cat’s eyes or mouth, as it is extremely caustic, and avoid contact with her eyes. It’s also a good idea to wear gloves to protect your hands and wear eye protection.

Please note: Sporanox is a prescription drug and should ONLY be administered under the care and guidance of a licensed veterinarian.