Effective Remedies for Cat Ringworm Treatment
When your cat develops ringworm, what medication is most effective? How do the treatments differ in the early, middle, and late stages? If your feline friend is infected with ringworm and shows symptoms like hair loss, skin itching, and dandruff, don't panic! Below, we'll introduce several ringwormfighting remedies to help you quickly, safely, and effectively treat the condition right from home!
What is Ringworm?
Before diving into the medications for ringworm, it's crucial to understand what it is. This knowledge will help you grasp why these medications are necessary and what precautions you should take during treatment for a smoother process.
Firstly, ringworm is a skin disease caused by fungal infection, with the most common culprit being Microsporum canis. Only a small percentage is caused by other fungi, such as Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Trichophyton verrucosum.
Secondly, our environment is filled with bacteria and fungi. However, cats' immune systems can usually resist these pathogens, preventing any issues. But when the environment is unclean, with an overabundance of pathogens, or when a cat's immunity is weakened, diseases like ringworm, eczema, and respiratory infections can occur.
Lastly, ringworm is contagious and can be transmitted through direct contact or by touching contaminated items (such as litter boxes, furniture, carpets, or brushes) to other animals or humans.
What Medication Should You Use for Ringworm in Cats?
As mentioned, treating ringworm requires antifungal medications and boosting the cat's immunity. Here are some options:
1. Piput (Tebuconazole Hydrochloride Spray): This is the goto medication for ringworm. Tebuconazole is an acrylamide broadspectrum antifungal drug that selectively inhibits the enzyme needed for fungal synthesis and reproduction, thereby killing and inhibiting the growth of fungi.
2. Dasuning (Ketoconazole Compound Ointment): This is a composite preparation containing antifungal drugs, corticosteroid hormones, and antibiotics, providing triple effects of antibacterial, antipruritic, and fungicidal action!
3. Itraconazole: This is an oral systemic antifungal drug that can treat sporotrichosis of the skin and subcutaneous tissues. It can treat fungal infections in both superficial and deep skin areas, as well as potential fungal infections. However, it can have a significant impact on the liver, so it's important to control the dosage. The recommended dosage is 5mg/kg, once daily, and should not be taken for more than one week. It is not recommended for kittens under 3 months of age, pregnant females, or cats with liver disease.
4. Shivibi (Vitamin B Complex Solution): Vitamin B promotes cell metabolism, aids in wound healing, and enhances the cat's mucosal immunity, reducing the risk of skin infections.
How to Combine Medications?
Due to the impact of oral antifungal drugs on the liver, they are not recommended unless necessary. Additionally, some ringworm cases may involve bacterial infections, so it's advisable to combine disinfectants, antibacterial sprays, and antibiotics for treatment. Here's a suggested combination:
1. Early Stage of Ringworm: Iodine tincture + Tebuconazole Hydrochloride Spray
2. Middle Stage of Ringworm: Iodine tincture + Piput Skin Spray + Ketoconazole Compound Ointment
3. Late Stage of Ringworm (Largescale ringworm): Iodine tincture + Tebuconazole Hydrochloride Spray + Oral Itraconazole + Eslada (Cefahexime Tablets) + Antiseptic bath (12 times per week)
Fungi are quite stubborn, so the treatment period may be long. Be patient with the medication and don't give up halfway. Moreover, ringworm is highly contagious, so in multicat households, it's important to isolate the affected cat. During treatment, be sure to use an Elizabethan collar on your cat, disinfect the environment, and wash your hands after applying medication to prevent infection.
