RINGWORM IS A COMMON ANIMAL SKIN DISEASE Ringworm is a very common form of skin disease that is found in both dogs and cats. Although its name makes you think otherwise, this skin disease isn't caused by any type of worm. It's actually caused by fungi known as Dermatophytes that feed on dead tissues found in the surface of the skin, spreading them around the skin of the animal. Note that this infection is contagious and may be spread to you or your children, If You have cats and you or your children develop a rash even though your cats do not show any symptoms yet, it may be wise to get them checked by a vet. And if they do have ringworm get yourself check also. Cat's ringworm cannot go any farther than under your skin, but if you develop a rash after eating uncooked fishes or meet, those are not fungi but real worms which can multiply and will go much deeper than under your skin and in fact reached internal organs, especially if the rashes keeps moving from one part of your body to the other. This is a serious infection and the faster the treatment the better. You didn't catch that one from your pet, but I mention it here because it looks the same as a ringworm infection. I saw a special case of a person infected by that type of worms, Its scary. I will never eat uncooked fishes or meet from now on! CATS RINGWORM With cats, there is a certain type of fungi known as M Canis that is found with nearly 95 percent of all ringworm cases. Normally, cats will get the ringworm disease from contaminated objects like bedding, clippers, or another animal that already has the disease. If there are animals in your home or around your house that have the ringworm disease, your cat could very easily contract it this way. KITTEN ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO RINGWORM If you have kittens or cats that are under a year old in your home, you should always use precaution, as they are more susceptible to ringworm. Kittens can easily contract the disease, especially if you allow them to go outside. They can easily come in contact with a contaminated object or another cat that has the disease. Kittens take a long time to build their immune system up, and in the meantime they are more apt to get common disease such as ringworm. A FEW COMMON SYMPTOMS The most common symptoms of ringworm in cats are rough or broken hairs, or hair loss around the head or the paws. Ringworm can easily be identified by a patch of scaly skin on the body that appears itchy and inflamed. There will also be broken hairs around the patch of scaly skin. This area is very sensitive, and you should never try to touch it, as it will hurt your cat. If you notice any of the above symptoms with your pet, you should immediately schedule an appointment with your vet. PRESCRIPTIONS TO CURE RING WORM If the vet diagnosis your cat with ringworm, he may prescribe ointment or tablets. What he describes however, will determine on how serious the ringworm is. If he prescribes tablets to your cat, you should give them with meals. Ointment on the other hand, is normally spread into the coat, topically. You should always use what your vet prescribes on a daily basis, to ensure that your cat heals. The healing process will take time, normally around six weeks or more. RINGWORM IS CONSIDERED AN INFECTION Cats that have ringworm should be labeled as infectious. If you have children in the house, you should keep them away from your pet. Whenever you handle your cat, you should always use gloves. Ring worms are contagious, and you should always use caution. Even though it's a mild disease, ringworm can result in serious problems due to the slow recovery time and fact that it's contagious. TYPE OF MEDICATION Feline ringworm is treatable with topical and oral medications, shampoos and dips. The choice of treatments depends om the seriousness of a cat's infection. MILD RINGWORM Small ringworm lesions on otherwise healthy short-haired breeds can be treated directly with antifungal-based cream. Common choices are miconazole and thiabendazole creams. MODERATE INFECTIONS Micozanole shampoos and rinses and lime dips treat more serious ringworm infections. Many vets recommend clipping long-haired cats before treatment to fully expose their lesions. SEVERE INFECTIONS Heavy ringworm infestations require both both topical and oral medication Itraconazole capsules are oral medication of choice, but Gresofulvin is also effective. CONSIDERATIONS Continue ringworm medication treatment until your cat's skin cultures test negative for ringworm spores for two consecutive weeks. Don't stop his medication simply because his lesions heal. If you like my article, you are invited to visit my website. Cat Training Solutionas
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