Feline RingwormIt's important to be able to recognize feline ringworm or ringworm in dogs - the same organism causes disease in both species. Ringworm is actually caused by a skin fungus, causing a fungal skin infection called dermatophytosis. The fungus is not picky about its host, and will gladly go to pretty much any mammal it can. It gets started in areas of damaged skin - scrapes and cuts and such. While your odds of getting it go up if your pet has ringworm (because of most peoples close contact with their pets), it is also possible to get it from the environment. The fungus can be found pretty much everywhere.
 The photo to the left shows how a ringworm lesion can look under black light examination. Notice that the areas of hair loss pointed out earlier are not glowing; they are already healing, and are no longer active lesions. BUT, right next to the hair loss on the left ear is a bright green line. This is an area of active ringworm infection on this cats ear.
Look to the right for the tools you need to help your pet! Treating feline ringworm is not a simple thing. Especially in multi-pet households, treatment can be drawn out and time consuming. Generally the recommendation is to disinfect all bedding and materials that the pet is in frequent contact with. This usually means washing all of the pets bedding, and human bedding if the pet sleeps in or on the bed, in bleach. This will likely need to be done weekly, until the ringworm is gone. There are very safe topical medications and dips that can be used on pets, either just on the visible lesion or on the entire pet. A lime-sulfer dip can be used as a safe treatment on pets, once to twice weekly until the hair is back, and is available without a prescription. It should be diluted as directed if you get it in a concentrate form. If you are using it on a cat, then it should say on the product that that specific product is safe for use on cats. Remember, cats are very sensitive to chemicals and medications. For very advanced cases, or cases where the pets immune system is not functioning properly, then oral medications can be used. These are by prescription only, and should be used with great care, most especially in cats. You should absolutely visit your vet if you think your pet has ringworm - they can help! The information presented here is not meant to replace the advice of your own veterinarian! A valid veterinary-client-patient relationship (created when you take your pet to see your vet) is essential to providing excellent individual pet care. If your pet is ill, call or go to your vet or an emergency veterinary hospital!
Go Back to Cat Health Problems from Feline Ringworm.
|
Feline ringworm causes an area of hair loss, called alopecia, and often has a dry and scaly look. It is not usually itchy in pets. The photo at left shows what these skin lesions can look like. Do you see the circles of lost hair on the backs of this cats ears? 
The photo to the right has an "X" in the middle of each of these areas. There are three ways to diagnose a case of felineringworm. A black light held near an area of active ringworm infection will usually glow a bright apple green. About 70% or so will do this - the remainder will not glow. If this is the case, and for a definitive diagnosis, hairs can be pulled from the area and placed in a fungal culture media. This media will change color in the presence of the ringworm fungus, but not in the presence of other kinds of fungus. Finally, sometimes your vet has a solution that will digest the hair away from the fungus, leaving the fungus visible through a microscope.
Finally, to the right is a photo, kindly provided by the Center for Disease Control, of ringworm as it can appear on a person. Ringworm is often itchy in people. If you know that your pet has ringworm and you have developed a round, red, dry, itchy skin lesion, you should go to your doctor and be checked for ringworm yourself.
Buy DermaPet brand Lime Sulfer Dip
