How can I prevent my cat from getting ringworm?
Preventing cat ringworm is challenging but not impossible. First and foremost, a healthy cat with a healthy coat and skin is less likely to develop ringworm from contamination with the fungal spores. Nutrition plays a vital role in maintaining the integrity of a cat’s skin and hair follicles, where the fungal spores will fight to inhabit.
What are the symptoms of ringworm in cats?
Cats may begin to lose hair or develop a dull or stubby coat. Signs may progress to patchy hair loss, scaling or itchy skin and infected nails. How Common Is Cat Ringworm? While some diseases are rare, ringworm makes its rounds; it is perhaps the most frequently encountered infectious skin disease of cats worldwide.
How are topical treatments used to treat ringworm?
Occasionally, topical therapy is used alone for treatment of ringworm, but more commonly it is used in combination with oral medication. Various creams and ointments are available to apply to localized areas of the skin affected by ringworm.
What kind of ringworm is on the face?
Facial ringworm, otherwise known as tinea faciei, is a variant of ringworm that commonly affects facial areas such as the forehead, around the eyes, the nose, cheeks and chin. It is considered to be rare, although it is often misdiagnosed or initially confused with other skin conditions such as eczema or rosacea.
What should I do if my cat has ringworm?
If ringworm is diagnosed, treatment will typically involve the application of topical antifungal medications to all infected areas and, in most cases, a systemic medication as well. If the lesions are present in many areas of a cat’s skin, a full-body rinse or dip may be used.
How to treat ringworm in cats-the spruce pets?
By using both oral and topical treatment regimens, you’ll kill both the spores on the skin and suppress the infection in the cat systemically. Finally, if you have a cat with ringworm, you’ll need to treat your home environment in order to kill any remaining spores.
What causes ringworm on top of cats skin?
In cats, about 98 percent of ringworm cases are caused by the fungus Microsporum canis. 1 Cats are often infected with this fungus since it’s easily transmitted. Ringworm affects the top layer of the skin and occurs when the fungi or its spores make contact with a cat’s skin.
Occasionally, topical therapy is used alone for treatment of ringworm, but more commonly it is used in combination with oral medication. Various creams and ointments are available to apply to localized areas of the skin affected by ringworm.