Ringworm and Treatment
What is Ringworm?
Ringworm is NOT a worm, it is a fungus. Ringworm spores can travel great distances on air currents and can be brought into your home on your clothing and shoes and by your dogs and other pets. Basically, ringworm spores are everywhere in the environment; outside and inside our homes. At some time or another, anyone who owns (or has owned) a Persian cat knows they will have to deal with ringworm. In our opinion, any cattery that says they have never had a case of ringworm may have failed to recognize the signs of infection in their cats or are lying.
In our experience, ringworm and Persian cats (and other long-haired breeds) go hand in hand. Especially when bringing in a new cat from another cattery. The stress of the move and the cat's age can all play a part in that new cat or kitten developing ringworm within a few weeks of coming to a new home. The very young, old, and immunosuppressed cats or kittens are at a higher risk of getting ringworm. Ringworm exposure is why it is imperative to isolate or quarantine a new Persian kitten or cat for at least four weeks to make sure it does not develop ringworm and could potentially infect other household pets, yourself, or your children. Sometimes, a cat can be an asymptomatic carrier, meaning it can have ringworm but not show any signs of having it. However, a carrier sheds the spores and infects other cat(s) in the household. Ringworm is a zoonotic disease (can be transmitted from animals to humans).
If left untreated, ringworm can be difficult to eradicate from a household because the fungal spores can contaminate a cat's environment. Ringworm is a systemic disease that requires treatment with oral medication and an anti-fungal dip (Lime Sulphur Dip or Anti-Fungal Shampoo) for the spores. Failure to use this two-pronged approach means the Ringworm will not be eradicated!
Here at Pelaqita Persians, I freely admit that I have had to deal with ringworm a few times since owning Persian cats, which is why I take such extraordinary precautions when I bring in a new Persian kitten or cat, including:
- Routinely wash and disinfect our cat room;
- I fog the cat room several times a year with Virkon S (an anti-fungal solution) and our entire home at least twice a year.
Despite these precautions, there are times when a new Persian cat brings ringworm in, and I have to treat that new cat. This article aims to educate people about ringworm and how to treat it effectively.
TREATMENT
Sporanox® (brand name) Oral Solutioin
Itrafungol® (brand name) Oral Solution (we use this brand)
Itraconazole (generic name) Oral Solutioin
Iraconazole should be administered under the care and guidance of a licensed veterinarian, as it can damage the liver. Itraconazole should be given with a high-fat meal (a tab of real butter mixed with a bit of canned food works best). The liquid medication seems easier to dose as it is more accurate for dosing than the pills. You can purchase this medication (Itraconazole) through Chewy.com with a prescription from your veterinarian. The dosage of this medication should be what your veterinarian recommends.
Dosing and Administration
When using the brand Itrafungol -- use ONLY the graduated dosing syringe enclosed in the Intrafungol box.
The daily dosage is 5 mg/kg (0.5 ml/kg) body weight administered once daily on alternating weeks for 3 treatment cycles. Cats are treated during weeks 1, 3, and 5 and left UNTREATED during weeks 2 and 4.
WARNING: ONLY DOSE YOUR CAT AS YOUR VETERINARIAN PRESCRIBES
Dosing:
I dose as follows:
Itrafungol (itraconazole oral solution 10mg/ml)
It is also essential to use either anti-fungal shampoo every 3-5 days or a fungal dip every seven days while administering oral medication.
Do not skip a day! Again, I must reiterate that this medication is hard on the liver, and the cat should always have free access to water! If you notice anorexia, dehydration, or other symptoms, discontinue the use of Itraconazole immediately and contact your veterinarian.
Anti-Fungal Shampoo
I use PinkPawPal Skincare Shampoo on a cat with ringworm. I also will bathe a brand new cat (to my home) with this shampoo and quarantine it for at least four weeks before letting it into the central part of my home. This is a precaution on my part because there have been too many times when I have brought in a new kitten or cat from someone I trusted only to have it already have ringworm or to get it within a few weeks after getting here due to the stress of re-homing.
Lime Sulfur Dip
Lime Sulfur Dip treats ringworms on the cat's skin and hair. "Dip" the cat at least once weekly and continue for 30 days. Mix the lime sulfur dip according to the bottle directions, usually 4 ounces of Lime Sulfur Dip to a gallon of water. Put the cat in a small tub and apply the Lime Sulfur Dip solution by pouring it over the cat, coating its back, neck, and chest areas.
Note: Soaking the cat in water until wet to the skin before applying the Lime Dip helps the Lime Sulfur Dip penetrate the skin better.
Ensure the Lime Sulfur Dip gets into the nooks and crannies of the cat's claws; use a soft toothbrush to gently "scrub" the Lime Sulfur Dip into the toes, nail beds, and between the toes. Do NOT rinse off the Lime Sulfur Dip. (Do NOT get the Lime Sulfur Dip in the cat's eyes or mouth as it is very caustic. Follow label directions if this happens.) Gently pat the cat with a towel and then completely dry the cat using a dryer. Do not let the cat lick the wet/damp Lime Sulfur Dip solution off its fur. Once the cat's coat is completely dry, it may safely bathe itself without adverse effects.
Links for purchasing Lime Sulfur Dip:
Lime Sulfur Dip stinks like rotten eggs—the house, the cat, everything will stink. However, it kills the spores on the cat. If you want to ensure the ringworm is gone, you can ask your vet to follow up by doing skin scraping and getting three negative results (the veterinarian will recommend when these skin cultures should be done).
The Lime Sulfur Dip and the Itraconazole oral medication will eradicate the ringworm, and your Persian cat(s) will be ringworm-free. This is the only surefire way to treat ringworm successfully in the Persian cat breed!
Additionally, part of treating ringworm is either getting rid of (or disinfecting with bleach) all bedding, scratching posts, cat trees, litter box(es), and anything else the cat may have come into contact with. After dipping the cat every week, clean and disinfect all cat-related items (bedding, litter box, scratching post, etc.). If the infected cat has been in contact with other cats in the household, it is best to treat every cat to avoid cross-contamination and possibly passing the ringworm back and forth for months.
Again, a word of caution: do NOT get the Lyme Dip solution into the cat's eyes or mouth as it is highly caustic. It is also a good idea to wear gloves to protect your hands and wear eye protection.
Please note: Itraconazole is a prescription medication and should ONLY be administered under the care and guidance of a licensed veterinarian.