Is Black Crust on Cat Ringworm Sign of Healing? Not Nec

When you notice black scabs forming on your cat's skin affected by ringworm, it's not necessarily a sign that the condition is improving. In the later stages of ringworm, scabs can appear regardless of whether the infection is improving or not.

Part 1: Causes of Black Scabs in Ringworm

1. Solidification of Secretions: Ringworm is a fungal skin infection in cats. During its progression, the skin may produce dandruff, cellular tissue fluids, or other secretions. When these substances mix with dust and fur, they can harden into scabs.

2. SelfCleaning Behavior: Cats with ringworm often experience itching, prompting them to frequently lick the affected areas. This can leave saliva behind, which, when mixed with other substances in the air, can also contribute to the formation of scabs.

3. Poor Living Conditions: An unclean living environment can harbor a multitude of bacteria and fungi, which may exacerbate the symptoms of ringworm and lead to the formation of black scabs.

Black scabs are typically formed from dead skin tissue, which is part of the healing process. However, this does not indicate that your cat has fully recovered, so vigilance is still crucial.

Part 2: Recommendations When Black Scabs Appear in Ringworm

1. Cleaning the Scabs

Black scabs can hinder the penetration of medication, potentially halting the treatment process. Therefore, before applying any medication, it's advisable to first use physiological saline to moisten the scabs or to gently wipe them with iodine. Once softened, carefully remove the scabs.

Be gentle when removing scabs to avoid skin damage, which can impede the healing process.

2. Continue Medication

Continue treating your cat with medication until all fungal spores on the skin have been eliminated. For small areas of infection, topical antifungal medications like Daktarin (ketоконазол cream) or Pipette (terbinafine hydrochloride spray) can be used. For larger infections, oral itraconazole may be necessary in conjunction.

Caution: Itraconazole has liver toxicity, so it is only recommended for cats over 3 months old and should not be used in cats with poor liver function. Additionally, after a week of taking itraconazole, a oneweek break should be taken before deciding whether to continue based on the cat's recovery progress.

3. Nutritional Supplementation

Supplementing your cat's diet with a combination of vitamins and fish oil can help with antiinflammatory, skin health, coat beauty, and boosting your cat's immune system, promoting skin repair.

4. Maintain Hygiene

Use an Elizabethan collar on your cat to prevent it from licking the affected areas. Also, regularly clean the cat's bed and indoor environment to maintain a clean, dry, and wellventilated living space, reducing the proliferation of fungi and the risk of recurring infections.

If the ringworm areas frequently form scabs, opt for ointment treatment first. While sprays have a quick absorption and evaporation rate, they can make the skin overly dry, making it difficult to remove scabs. Ointments provide some moisturization, which can help reduce the formation of scabs and assist in softening and removing existing ones.