Ringworm help!

[EDDIEisMINE]

Hi.
We took our cat to the vet about a week and a half ago. My husband let our cat go outside for a minute and he lost him and the cat ran off. He came back 2 weeks later. We thought we had lost him, and although we were deeply saddened, we bought another cat from petsmart. Our cat returned 2 weeks later with missing patches of hair over his eye. We thought he was in a fight. Then, a week later, his hair began to come out in other places with reddness etc. We took him to the vet and he said after test, the cat had ringworm. He neutered him and treated him and sent him home with us.
Now, a week and a half later, there are new spots and reddness and the ringworm isn't better. We have had to keep him in our garage to keep him away from the kitten and our dog, for fear of spreading it to them, but, its breaking my heart to hear him cry. He wants to come up and lay down on my lap. Does anyone know how long it will take for this to clear up? and any more advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Traci]

WHAT test did the vet use to confirm? If only a wood's lamp, this is NOT confirmative for ringworm, it HAS to be cultured!

WHAT treatment did he prescribe?

Is the garage comfortable, have a warm, comfortable bed for him, kept away from drafts and hazardous materials? (paints, fuels, away from cars, solvents, dust, etc) How many times a day do you check on him, give him attention?

Have you called the vet back or sought a second opinion? IF this is ringworm, you need to expect at least 4 weeks for treatment to be effective, AND, you have to confirm it is eradicated by at least one or two negative culture results. Depending on accurate diagnosis and the treatment will depend on what the problem is and how soon it will be resolved. IF this is ringworm, you also have to be diligent in disinfecting the environment to prevent spread of spores, by vaccuming on a daily basis, washing kitty's beddding, cleaning pourous surfaces with a solution of bleach and water (one part bleach to 32 parts water), and keeping the litterbox clean on a daily basis.

[EDDIEisMINE]

Traci,

The vet used an ultraviolet light or something. My husband took him in on the weekend and the vet had to come in from home just for the cat. We couldn't find a vet open so we called one at home. The cat spent the night at the vets office. They did do a culture because my husband told me the vet said it looked like ringworm under the lamp but couldn't confirm until the results were in. When I picked him up they told me it was def ringworm.
I don't even know what the vet gave my husband. But my husand treats the cat with it once a day. I will ask him and let you know. I do check on the cat of course, in the morning, at lunch and the the evening. I bought latex gloves and pet him when I check on him. This is the type of cat that was always with me and by my side. If I move, he moves right along beside me. Hes a lap cat, and, he just can't understand why He is unable to come upstairs. It really breaks my heart. As far as disinfecting, there are a lot of things in the garage. No hazerdous material but all kinds of stuff. Are you telling me that the spores will live on that stuff until it is cleaned with bleach or can it be sprayed with lysol spray? There are a lot of things that cant be cleaned with bleach like my sons gokart where the cat likes to lay. And the lawn mower seat etc. We have a small garage with a truck parked in it so its pretty packed.
Although the cat has a bed and nice comfy place to sleep. Our stairs leading up to the house are unfiniished wood so it cant be cleaned with water either.

Thanks for your advice! I will keep you posted.

[Traci]

Call the vet and ask if a culture was indeed done. Also, he can't confirm with a wood's lamp, and he certainly CANNOT confirm with a culture overnight! (what ever he was thinking is beyond me). Cultures take anywhere from 5 to 7 days to confirm ringworm.

Do find out what the medication is. If it is griseofulvicin, I'd suggest getting another vet/second opinion immediately. Griseofulvicin is a medication that has serious risks, particularly immunosuppression, and it should only be reserved for extreme cases. The best way to treat ringworm is via topical treatment, such as Miconazole shampoo or cream prescribed by the vet, and diligent disninfection in the environment.

Can't you keep kitty inside, in one room with the door closed? This would truly be safer for him (as opposed to the garage and all the hazards), it would also be more comfortable and warm for him. And, this way, you could keep the one room designated so that cleaning/disinfecting is limited to only one room.

Absolutely NO Lysol, not only is it ineffective, but Lysol is dangerous and toxic to cats, it can cause severe mucous membrane problems, inhalation problems, etc.

As for contact surfaces in the garage, you will have to disinfect whatever kitty was in contact with. What you could do is use a spray bottle, use diluted bleach and water (only a one or two capfuls of bleach to a spray-bottle full of water) and gently "mist" whatever kitty was in contact with. BUT, do NOT use this anywhere near kitty's food/water, bedding, other areas where he sleeps, is active, etc. Best thing is to confine him to one room in the house, then mist whatever in the garage.

As for cleaning the room he would be in, vacuum everything, wash his bed daily in the washing machine, clean his food/water dishes daily, and clean the litterbox daily with a diluted solution of bleach and water, rinse well and dry completely. Dispose of the vaccum cleaner bag daily. Keep a large shirt or smock in the room, wear it when you're cleaning, and keep it in this room only, wash it in washing machine daily if possible.

Mind you, this is of course, IF ringworm is appropriately diagnosed.

Also, please, keep kitties Indoors ONLY!