Cats And Ring Worm

Ringworm is a very common form of skin disease that is found in both dogs and cats. Although its name makes you think otherwise, this skin disease is not caused by any type of worm. It’s actually caused by fungi known as Dermatophytes that feed on dead tissues found in the surface of the skin, spreading them around the skin of the animal. With cats, there is a certain type of fungi known as M Canis that is found with nearly 95% of all ringworm cases. Normally, cats will get the ringworm disease from contaminated objects like bedding, clippers, or another animal that already has the disease. If there are animals in your home or around your house that have the ringworm disease, your cat could very easily contract it this way. If you have kittens or cats that are under a year old in your home, you should always use precaution, as they are more susceptible to ringworm. Kittens can easily contract the disease, especially if you allow them to go outside. They can easily come in contact with a contaminated object or another cat that has the disease. Kittens take a long time to build their immune system up, and in the meantime they are more apt to get common disease such as ringworm. The most common symptoms of ringworm in cats are rough or broken hairs, or hair loss around the head or the paws. Ringworm can easily be identified by a patch of scaly skin on the body that appears itchy and inflamed. There will also be broken hairs around the patch of scaly skin. This area is very sensitive, and you should never try to touch it, as it will hurt your cat. If you notice any of the above symptoms with your pet, you should immediately schedule an appointment with your vet. If the vet diagnosis your cat with ringworm, he may prescribe ointment or tablets. What he describes however, will determine on how serious the ringworm is. If he prescribes tablets to your cat, you should give them with meals. Ointment on the other hand, is normally spread into the coat, topically. You should always use what your vet prescribes on a daily basis, to ensure that your cat heals. The healing process will take time, normally around six weeks or more.

Cats that have ringworm should be labeled as infectious. If you have children in the house, you should keep them away from your pet. Whenever you handle your cat, you should always use gloves. Ringworms are contagious, and you should always use caution. Even though it’s a mild disease, ringworm can result in serious problems due to the slow recovery time and fact that it’s contagious.1. What is ringworm? Ringworm is not caused by a worm, but is the common name given to an infection of the surface of the skin, hair or nails with a type of fungus called a dermatophyte. There are many types of dermatophyte and the most common one that causes ringworm in cats is Microsporum canis (M canis); it is seen in over 90 per cent of cases. Other causes of ringworm in cats include Trichophyton species. Spores are the infectious stage of the dermatophyte and may be shed on the infected hairs of affected animals or people. These spores are very robust and can remain infectious in the environment, blown by the wind for up to two years.

Ringworm is contagious to people and other animals. Care must be taken when handling/dealing with infected cats as it is a zoonotic disease that can be passed from cats to people. 2. How is ringworm diagnosed? Four tests are available for diagnosing ringworm: 1. Examination of the hair coat and skin 2. Wood’s lamp examination 3. Direct examination of hairs under a microscope 4. Dermatophyte (fungal) culture When cats, and especially kittens, come in to CP care, carefully inspect their hair coat and skin for lesions. Look for any areas of hair loss, scabbing or crusting, especially focal areas affecting the face, ears, feet and tail. Perform a Wood’s lamp examination of all suspicious lesions, making sure the correct procedure is followed and bearing in mind the limitations of this examination (see section titled: What are the details of the diagnostic tests that are used?). Only 50 per cent of dermatophyte species fluoresce and some non-fungal materials will fluoresce. Warm up the lamp five to 10 minutes before use and do not shine directly into the cat’s eyes. Ensure the vet screens for ringworm on the initial vet check. Further diagnostic testing (for example, fungal culture and microscopic examination) may be warranted (see section titled: What are the details of the diagnostic tests that are used?). The only thing better than good advertising, is getting it for a great price! Enjoy a 25 percent discount when you sign up for dailyplanet.biz now!