RINGWORM! AAAACCCKKK!

[Traci]

Only after those first 1000 incidents? LOL Davet!!

[Kaazan]

Hi Traci

Yes, I am fully aware of the downside of Griseofulvin. I also contacted another vet that used to treat my cats and they too use Griseofulvin. I have come this far and regardless of the consequences (I have made plenty of wrong decisions and regretted them), I know that I have made an effort to rid my 5 Persians of RW and educated myself on this drug plus contacting my former vet about another treatment for RW but no other alternative right now for me or my cats.

[Traci]

I am glad you understand the risks, but in my opinion, two months is 2 months too long on this med.

If your vet has not asked for you to bring them in for a blood profile to monitor liver, kidney and platelet function, I would do that right away, or, see a new vet altogether.

It's not that I don't understand your approach, it's that I don't understand why your vet continues the use of the drug knowing full well the long term consequences it can leave on a cat.

[Susan and the girls]

Traci and Davet - do you think the Conofite lotion will work?

I've been watching the other girls and monitoring their fur for spots, and don't see anything so far. They walk over to Belle and sniff the oily spot on her back where the medicine is, and turn their noses up quickly. Maybe they'll leave her completely alone til this is over.

I saw that someone's post led me to believe that they didn't understand what ringworm was. (At least that's the impression I got.) I know Traci could do a better job of explaining it than I could, but it's NOT a worm. It's a fungus. I'd originally thought it was a bacteria - don't know why, but I knew it wasn't a "worm" despite the name.

So far, no outbreaks on me, either. I'm watching, that's for sure. Kinda freaks me out to think that I might get it. Yikes! We send kids home from school with that! Hey....maybe they'd give me the last two weeks off if I came down with it? I don't think it would be worth it!

Belle isn't thrilled with the medicine I put on her, and I'm hoping it doesn't burn or hurt in any way. I closed the bedroom door last night and didn't let them sleep with me. I have always covered the bed with a top sheet to keep the cat hairs from getting all over the quilt, and depending on how much they sleep on the bed sometimes the top sheet doesn't need to be changed daily. I've been changing it daily lately, though, and I'm glad I have been! Otherwise, I might have unknowingly gotten some of the fungus on me during the night! eeek! Outbreak!!! LOL

Hopefully this will pass quickly. Traci - will it really take that long?

[davet]

nm

[Traci]

Davet, you are just awful, LOL!

Susan, ringworm is usually transmitted through a carrier pet. A pet may be a carrier, yet may never develop clinical signs, but may be able to infect another pet around them. Mice and rats are also transmitters of ringworm, spores can be left from any animal who is infected.

The conofite should be effective, it would be the first thing I would recommend. It may take a little longer with Belle because she has long fur, but again, I do not recommend shaving at all. (this is usually ONLY reserved for severely compromised pets, or dogs who are severely infected). It could even be that she self-eliminates it on her own with current treatment, or, that you caught this just as it was manifesting, giving it a better chance to heal in faster time. Do examine the other cats thoroughly during this time for any signs. I would recommend retesting Belle in two-three weeks from now, and not by wood's lamp alone. Only a culture can produce a positive or negative result and the culture is what you need to rely on before considering cessation of treatment.

Besides Belle's treatment, the most important thing you can do is treat the environment. Bleach (1:32 solution with water) anything that can be bleached (floors, litterbox, etc), and wash your clothes and bedding daily. Vacuum too to remove spores you can't see, (from flaky skin, etc).

[Susan and the girls]

You would know that I'd be itching all over each time I read or re-read the posts here about Ringworm! LOL But, so far, no specific itchy spots - and no transmission to the others! Hallelujah! I'm just so glad I went to the vet instead of waiting! Whew!

Oh Traci - Belle doesn't have long fur. It's kinda medium. The fur on her back is roughly 1 inch long, and it lays back over the nickel-quarter sized spot where the fur is missing. I just have to barely lift that section of fur to see the spot. I guess the location makes it easy to hide, too - right there at the base of her tail. You can see the greasy spot from the conofite!

Belle sees me coming with that little bottle, and she gets a wild look in her eyes....I have to chase her down to get the medicine on her. I've been putting two or three drops and smearing it around with my finger. Is that too much/too little/ whatever?

[Traci]

No, what you're doing is fine, use less only if she seems really irritated by it...

I would run too, poor baby!

[Auntie Debbie]

Susan, and everyone else dealing with Ringworm...hope you can all clear up this condition soon! I started getting all itchy just reading all the posts!