Effective Treatment for Feline Ringworm: A Comprehensiv

Ringworm in cats is a skin disease caused by a fungal infection, commonly affecting kittens and adult cats with weakened immune systems. This condition not only affects the cat's health but can also be transmitted to humans, making timely treatment crucial! If you notice patches of hair loss, along with symptoms like itching and dandruff on your cat, it's essential not to delay. Here are some diagnostic and treatment methods you can consider!

Understanding Ringworm in Cats

Ringworm in cats is typically caused by the fungus Microsporum canis. Once infected, this fungus can easily spread throughout the body. Cats with weakened immunity, such as kittens, those recently moved to a new environment, or those experiencing stress, as well as those with underlying health issues, are more susceptible to ringworm. Additionally, cats living in damp environments are more likely to come into contact with fungi, mites, and bacteria, increasing their risk of infection.

When cats are infected with ringworm, they may exhibit the following symptoms:

Localized hair loss with a white, flaky edge around the area;

Formation of circular or elliptical ringlike lesions with clear boundaries after hair loss;

Redness or black crusts on the skin, accompanied by itching and frequent scratching by the cat;

In cases of secondary bacterial infection, the skin may ulcerate and exude fluid.

How to Diagnose Ringworm?

● Simple Method: Use a Wood's lamp to examine the lesions. If green fluorescence appears, it is likely ringworm. However, since some fungi do not exhibit fluorescence under Wood's lamp light, the accuracy rate is about 90%.

● Professional Method: If you are unable to confirm whether it is ringworm, it is advisable to visit a veterinary clinic for skin scraping, hair plucking, microscopic examination, or skin fungal culture to further diagnose the cause.

How to Treat Ringworm on a Cat?

Shaving: Trim the fur around the ringworm lesions to expose the affected area, preventing the spread of fungi through hair and making it easier to apply medication.

Disinfection: Wear disposable gloves, use physiological saline to clean the flaky skin and loose scabs from the ringworm, and then use a cotton ball dipped in iodine to disinfect the affected area and the surrounding area.

Medication: Apply a small amount of Dasatinib (Ketoconazole Cream) with a cotton swab to the affected area and surrounding skin, twice or three times a day. Continue treatment for 5 to 7 days, and the affected area should start to regrow fur. For larger areas of infection, you can also use a Terbinafine Hydrochloride Spray and oral Itraconazole for faster recovery.

Shower: For cats with extensive ringworm, it is recommended to use antifungal medicated baths in conjunction with treatment. For mild infections, one bath per week is sufficient, while for severe infections, two baths per week are recommended. Always ensure the cat does not lick the medication to prevent poisoning.

Supplement with Vitamin B: Most cats with ringworm have weakened immunity, so it is advisable to supplement with Vitamin B and fish oil during treatment. Vitamin B promotes cell metabolism, and fish oil has antiinflammatory and hairenhancing effects, aiding in skin repair and healing.

Important Notes

For households with multiple cats, it is essential to isolate the sick cat for treatment to prevent transmission to others;

Ensure the cat wears an Elizabethan collar to prevent it from licking the affected area;

Regularly clean the cat's bed and thoroughly disinfect items the cat has come into contact with;

Practice personal protection by wearing gloves when handling the sick cat and washing hands immediately afterward.

Recommendation by Oxygen Pet Doctor:

For catowning families, it's wise to keep a stock of pet skin medications, such as Pipute (Terbinafine Hydrochloride Spray), Dasatinib (Ketoconazole Cream), and Fu'ant (Zinc Oxide Ointment). Currently, the Oxygen Pet Doctor app offers promotions on these skin medications! The Antiseptic Spray is priced at 43.9 yuan per bottle, the Terbinafine Hydrochloride Spray at 62.9 yuan per bottle, the Ketoconazole Cream at 62.9 yuan per bottle, and the Zinc Oxide Ointment at 62.9 yuan per bottle! Package deals are even more costeffective!