RINGWORM! AAAACCCKKK!

[Susan and the girls]

NOT the news I was expecting to hear!!!

Anyway, I'm now just PRAYING with all my might that I don't get it and the others don't. I wash my hands a million times a day as it is, so I don't think I will. Traci - do you???

They gave me drops (Conofite lotion, specifically) and I bought some Frontline. (The vet saw more evidence of fleas than I'd seen.) They each got their Frontline soon after I walked in the door, and they're all pretty peeved at me right now. They're sulking. I had to "capture" Belle and corner her in the bathroom to get the Conofite on her! LOL She's *really* unhappy with me right now.

I'm SO glad I went to the vet. Didn't expect to come out of there with a $60-something bill, that's for sure ("three-cat supply of Frontline," Conofite lotion, and "Belle-check" = $62). It's worth every penny to me to ensure they don't all get it!

Oh - and I showed them how Belle acts when I scratch her back (oddly enough, VERY near where the ringworm was), and they said it wasn't anything to be worried about - just super-sensitive nerve endings.

BTW - the ringworm was at the very base of her tail, exactly where the tail joins the body. You can't even see the bald spot without moving the fur (that lays across the bald spot) out of the way.

[Traci]

Susan, could you just humor me for a moment? Just how did your vet diagnose this? Did he only use a wood's lamp? If so, that may not be confirmative, there are several different things that can flouresce under a wood's lamp that is not indicative of ringworm. Also, ringworm tends to have a slight "bullseye" appearance at the site of infection.

I'm not questioning your vet's expertise, just want to know if he was absolutely certain of this.

[Susan and the girls]

After looking at it and saying it "looked" a lot like ringworm, they turned out the lights and checked it with a black light. There was green glowing stuff all around it. The tech diagnosed it, and then caught the vet just before she left. (I think the vet was actually not "there" - she had taken the afternoon off for her birthday - but she was in the back.) The vet said it was definitely ringworm.

Belle's skin is very pale - almost white - since she's a dilute calico - and so the bare spot is white. The bare spot is circular, but there isn't any color to her skin.....at least that I can see.

What else could it be? I wish I had Rob's digital camera here and could post a Mona picture! (Wasn't it Mona who once posted scary pictures before? LOL)

Any further input would definitely be appreciated!

Oh - I went to a "Pampered Chef" party tonight after making the girls mad at me with the Frontline, and when I returned, they'd forgiven me for the insult of flea medication application.

[Traci]

Well, this is just an example, but did you know that lotions, or anything similar you've handled your cats with, can flouresce under a black light? It's little things like that that prompt us to rather do a culture for complete confirmation. I'd much rather opt for that than treat with conofite under the premises they maybe aren't certain about the ringworm. Ringworm also usually tends to be red in infected areas, or look like abrasions. What else could it be? Mites, flea allergy dermatitis, other allergy, sensitivity to something in the environment, or nothing at all (stress from licking or pulling her fur)....again, I'd want a culture.

But, if your vet said so, then I should shut up. Just speaking from experience

[kate & kobi]

Oh, yuck! My husband & I both got a couple of small spots when Kobi had ringworm a couple of months ago ... and not for lack of washing. I'm happy to say that we've all been symptom-free for about a month, so I'm still hoping it doesn't come back.

I hope the others (and you!) don't get it too...!

[Susan and the girls]

I don't think it could be any lotions or perfumes, so that couldn't have been it.... I saw the green spots they pointed out, and they were very slight - just around the edges where the bigger "flakes" were. And I just went to look at the spot and can see that it has a definite red ring on the edges..... I hadn't noticed that before, though.

But I trust your opinion.... What should I do? If only I had Rob's camera!!

[Traci]

And I just went to look at the spot and can see that it has a definite red ring on the edges..... I hadn't noticed that before, though.

Well, that's probably how your vet diagnosed it, he saw that and you didn't!

But I trust your opinion.... What should I do? If only I had Rob's camera!!

Well with this recent breaking news, disregard my rambling and continue with your vet's instructions with the conofite. Seriously, had you not mentioned the red ring (indicative of the bullseye appearance), I would have practically begged you to get a culture!

So, continue with treatment, restest her in about a week or so, wash your hands thoroughly after handling her, and between handling her and your other kids. If they come into close contact with one another, you may be faced with treating them all at some point. Vacumm daily to get rid of spores and flaky skin around carpet areas, bedding, etc. If you notice you or Rob get a rash, to your personal physician promptly, because if either of you get infected, you can infect those around you at work, etc.

[Susan and the girls]

And just one more question.... If I *did* get infected, how long would it take for the lovely rash and "bullseye" to appear on me? In other words, if I don't have a rash right now, does that mean I'm doing a good job of avoiding it? I do wash my hands a zillion times a day, and after each time I pet the kitties..... It doesn't matter how many years I've loved cats - I still wash my hands A LOT after petting them. (Some folks get over that, and think of their pets as perfectly clean, but I see them licking their butts way too often to believe that's possible.... LOL)

[Traci]

Probably within a day or so after excessive contact. The bullseye may not appear directly on you, on some people it simply appears as a red, abrasion-like rash. If this occurs, don't hesitate to get in to see your own doc.

Hopefully, you've caught this in time and it will all be minimal treatment for Belle. Keep an eye on her, the other kitties and yourself and Rob...

[Sara]

show ring worm or just mites? How do cats get ringworm? I have a case of the creeps now, lol!