RINGWORM!!! HELP

Shirlann

RINGWORM!!! HELP

Shirlann

Hi sisters, this is big time off topic, but my husband and I got a kitten from a Cat Rescue agency on Dec. 2nd. On the 4th, she had a bald spot on her ear. I took her to the vet and she has ringworm. YIKES!



I have a Whippet, and they have very tender, delicate skin. Does anyone have any experience or advice?



I am giving her sulphur baths and a $50 perscription and have put her in the garage, (she hates that). We have scrubbed and washed our floor, it is tile, and all our blankets, etc. How serious can this be? I am really worried about my Whippet, they have such delicate skin.



We washed off the counters with bleach and all the tops of everything. Of course, being a young cat, she was everywhere.



Any advice, encouragement, anything, please post.



Hugs, Shirlann

Sierra

Whoa... dont know what to tell you

but I got ringworm from my 2 cats

..

both had to go in

and I went to Emerg



guess others will post here



sending healing



))



have to be v. careful with it

I know that

OneBadBoob

Shirlann, I don't mean to cause alarm, but I would contact the rescue from whom you got the cat immediately and return the cat.  

Bless you for supporting rescue, but shame on them for adopting this cat out with ringworm.

Ringworm is so horribly contagous.  Having run a dog rescue myself, we always had any dogs we pulled from the shelters immediately vet checked and if they had ringworm, we had them kept at the vet in isolation for treatment until it was completely cured before we put them into our foster care system, much less adopted them out.

Indeed, whippets are supersensitive--as are people and especially children to ringworm.

Isabella4

Hi Shirlann.

I've not ever had a problem with ringworm in my dogs and cats, but have dealt with it many times over the years in sheep and cows.

We always have a lot of cattle, and they usually bring it in with them. I squawk at my DH NOT to buy anything with any sign of ringworm at all, but he doesn't always listen ! That was, until he caught it himself from them! He caught it about 3 years ago, it was all over the insides of his thighs, took weeks to clear up. He used some kind of anti fungal cream.

The cattle, in particular, some years have it in 2"-3" disc shaped patches all over their faces. We put Fulvacin in their feed, and when I can get them caught up I rub flowers of sulphur, a yellow powder, bought over the counter, onto all the 'discs'. Sheep don't seem to catch it as bad as cattle, but I treat them the same.

From what I get from my vet. it is a fungal disease, highly contagious, will run its course no matter what you do. By giving them anti fungals it seems to stop it moving to other parts of their bodies.

I am a great advocate of bleach, and when the cattle yards empty we use a pressure washer and gallons of bleach on anywhere and everywhere, as the fungus can lie dormant in old walls, and when the next batch of cattle come along and start poking around they will catch it. I am pretty sure if my DH didn't buy in cattle with ringworm already on their faces, they would not catch it from my squeaky clean sheds!

In a domestic situation I've not encountered it, but I would say bleach everywhere kitty has been, and try and keep her and your whippet apart. I know, easier said than done ! I know how fine a whippets skin is.

Since DH managed to catch it, and with all the resulting fuss and palaver he made, as men do !! he never buys anything with ringworm now, so I haven't seen it myself for a while !

I think it'll just run its course and fade away. (Cattle tend to have it about 3-4 months after treatment, before it goes)

Good Luck . Isabella.

roseg

Isabella - that sounds just like a man.

Better than he got it than you. 

mke

I did the same thing, got a cat from a rescue place and the cat had ringworm.  I discovered it on a Saturday night and took the cat to some emergency vet.  We also had a dog and 3 young kids, they felt so sorry for me that the just charged me the minimum - said I would likely have to treat all the kids and the dog too.

Well I didn't have to.  No other beings came down with it.  If you can bear to return the kitten that would be the easiest thing.  If you want to keep her, keep her isolated and after you deal with her wash yourself throughly.  As she is a kitten you will want to socialize her a bit so you can't totally isolate her, but do be careful.

I really don't remember how long it took to clear things up with that kitten of ours not more than a couple weeks I think.  The hardest part was riding herd on 3 little boys.

Good luck

Shirlann

Well, the Rescue place said they would take the kitten back, but she has already been ALL OVER the house, so what would I gain? I love her, too. SHe is living in the garage, we have scrubbed the entire house (thankfully, we have tile floors) with bleach, counter tops, all my throws and blankets. Window curtains, blah, blah, blah. My sweet husband has not said a word. What a guy. He didn't want another pet in the first place. He belongs in the Husband's Hall of Fame.



Anyway, I am a little less hysterical. So we will hope for the best. Hugs, Shirlann