Ringworm – what is it?
First of all is ringworm NOT a worm, it’s a fungus. Tinea spores can travel great distances by air currents and be carried into your home via your clothing/shoes and/or by your dogs and other pets; basically tinea spores are everywhere in the environment; both outside and inside our homes. Anyone who owns (or has owned) a Persian cat knows that at some point they will have to deal with ringworm. In our opinion, any cattery that says they have never had a case of ringworm may not have recognized the signs of infection in their cats. Ringworm and Persian cats (and other long-haired breeds) go hand-in-hand. Especially if you are bringing in a new cat or kitten. The stress of moving and the cat’s age can all contribute to the new cat or kitten developing ringworm within 3-4 weeks of arriving in a new home. Very young, very old, and immunocompromised cats or kittens are at highest risk of developing ringworm. For this reason, it is imperative to isolate or quarantine a new Persian kitten or cat for at least 4 weeks to ensure they have not developed ringworm and could potentially infect other pets. Sometimes a cat can be an asymptomatic carrier, meaning they may have ringworm but show no signs of it. However, a carrier sheds the spores and infects other cats in the household. Ringworm is a zoonotic disease (can be transmitted from animals to humans).
If left untreated, it can be very difficult to eradicate ringworm from a household as the fungal spores can contaminate the environment in which a cat is housed. Ringworm is a systemic disease that requires treatment with an oral medication as well as an antifungal (lime sulfur dip) for the spores. If you don’t use this two-pronged approach, it means ringworm won’t be completely eradicated!
treatment
Sporanox (Brand name) – oral medication (generic name: itraconazole). This medication should be administered under the care and guidance of a licensed veterinarian as it can damage the liver. Sporanox is normally supplied in a 150ml bottle with a strength of 10mg/ml. The dosage for treating tinea in cats is 10mg/kg once daily (or 0.50ml per 1lb) and should be given with a high fat food (a tablet of real butter or canned food is best). The liquid drug seems easier to dose as it is more accurate in dosing than the pills. The cat must also be on full oral medication for at least 21 days and mushroom bath every 5-7 days for at least a month beyond the 21 days of oral medication. Don’t miss a day! Again, This drug puts a strain on the liver and the cat should have free access to water at all times! If the cat shows signs of anorexia, dehydration, or other symptoms, stop using Sporanox immediately and contact your veterinarian.
Lime sulfur dip is an antiseptic, keratolytic dip in lime-sulphur concentrate for the treatment of sarcoptic mange (ringworm). Lime Sulfur Dip treats ringworm on the cat’s skin and hair. Soak the cat at least once a week and continue for at least 30 days after stopping the oral medication. Mix the Lime Sulfur Dip according to the bottle directions, which is typically 4 ounces of Lime Sulfur Dip to a gallon of water, place the cat in a small tub with the Lime Sulfur Dip solution, and then pour the solution over the cat, to coat them back, neck and chest areas. Soaking the cat in water beforehand until it’s wet to the skin will help the Lime Sulfur Dip penetrate the skin better. Make sure the Lime Sulfur Dip gets into the nooks and crannies of the cat’s claws, a soft toothbrush can be used to gently ‘scrub’ the Lime Sulfur Dip onto the toes, nail beds and between the toes. Do NOT Rinse off the lime-sulphur dip. (Do NOT Get the Lime Sulfur Dip in the cat’s eyes or mouth as it is very caustic. In this case, follow the label instructions.) Gently pat the cat dry with a towel, and then dry the cat completely with a dryer. Don’t let the cat lick the wet/damp lime-sulphur dip solution off her fur. Once the cat’s fur is completely dry, the cat can safely bathe without any side effects.
Lime and sulfur dip stinks of rotten eggs – the house stinks, the cat stinks – everything stinks. However, it will kill the spores on the cat. If the recommended protocol is followed, along with three negative results from your vet (the vet will recommend when these skin cultures should be done), the lime sulfur dip coupled with the oral medication Sporanox will definitely eradicate ringworm and your Persian Cat(s) will be ringworm free. This is the only surefire way to successfully treat ringworm in the Persian cat breed!!!
Additionally, part of treating tinea is to either remove (or disinfect with bleach) all litter, scratching posts, scratching posts, litter boxes, and anything else the cat has come into contact with. If the infected cat has been in contact with other cats in the household, it is best to treat every cat in the household to avoid cross-contamination and possible back-and-forth transmission of ringworm for months.
Again, a word of caution, do NOT Get this solution in the cat’s eyes or mouth as it is extremely corrosive – and avoid contact with your eyes. It’s also a good idea to wear gloves to protect your hands and wear eye protection.
Please Note: Sporanox is a prescription drug and should ONLY be administered under the supervision and guidance of a licensed veterinarian.
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