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Ringworm in cats : Definition , Diagnosis, Signs and Treatment

Ringworm in cats



What is ringworm and what are the causes ?
It is  a disease caused by a fungus on the skin of cats .. It can be called the ring as it is in the form of circular rings .. The cause of the disease is fungi and it is not a parasite


These fungus live in hair and hair follicles. It is the first stage that causes hair loss in the area of ​​growth. It usually becomes round, hollow circles of hair, but with the increase of the injury, it changes from the circular shape and becomes inconsistent.


 The disease is not immediate .. That is, the cat may be exposed to fungus for a week to 14 days before the injury .. this means that the symptoms may appear two weeks later than the time of infection.

Diagnosis of the disease
From all types of the fungus that causes the disease .. Only two can be detected using ultraviolet light and the result is immediate and the disease is identified.

In other cases the veterinarian may be forced to hold a (clone) in the laboratory and wait for two weeks until the real diagnosis shows correctly ,  it is delayed but the best way to detect.

How the disease is transmitted ?
In fact, the most frightening thing about this disease is the speed of its transmission. The cat can infect the surrounding cats, dogs or humans, just by contact.

There are also cases of transmission of the disease from human to other person .. The disease is more susceptible to infection in children, and adults the proportion of resistance to this disease is greater in the case of no open wounds during contact with carriers of the disease.


It is always recommended that in the event of any signs of the disease, check with your doctor immediately as the disease is easy to treat as long as it is in its infancy.


It is also strongly recommended in the case of the observation of this disease or symptoms on cats  ti immediately isolate it 
 until the result of examination with the veterinarian revealed.

The treatment of this disease?
There is definitely a cure .. no need to worry .. In fact there is more than one treatment and all depend on the age of the cat and the severity of the injury also depends on the surrounding environment in the case there were other animals or children.


1- Grisofulvin compound

It is a pill against these fungi and given to the cat for a month or two and is presented to the doctor on a weekly basis.


2- Topical antifungal agents

Ointment to paint the cat on a daily basis .. Be careful not to afflict the cat's eye, it is also recommended to wear gloves during treatment.

3- Anti-fungal shampoo

One solution is to shower three times a week using this shampoo .. The treatment lasts for a month or two and helps to kill the fungus that grows in the vesicles and thus protects the rest of the cats from the spread of infection during the fall of hair infected cat .. Also recommended the bathing of cats not infected once every two weeks as a precaution  so if there is a home injury, transmission of the infection will not be easy.

4- Calcium Sulphate Solution

The animal can be washed with calcium sulfate twice every two weeks .. It is also harmless to the rest of the cats or dogs in the case of washing, it also prevents the spread of infection ..

Please note that the solution has a unpleasant smell and it affects the mail of precious metals such as gold or shiny watches.


5- Ringworm vaccine

This vaccine is given to the cat in the first year and they contribute significantly to protect them from this disease .. We advise the owners of cats to start vaccinating cats to avoid many diseases and fatigue in the future.


Is treatment is  effective?

Do not expect my dear to find infected patches have sprouted hair since the first week or the second .. Natural in such cases that the expansion of patches before starting to shrink in the third week or fourth .. It should also be noted that it must be committed to the period explained by the doctor during Diagnosis Since some animals are cured of the disease, but are carriers of the infection permanently unless you receive treatment long enough ..


Usually after treatment, the cat remains a carrier of the disease between one month and a month and a half according to the strength of the disease before .. Therefore, it must remain on the same preventive measures already mentioned.

It is assumed that the cat has recovered completely at the end of the disease for two months but sometimes the disease remains in the case of the immune system of the cat is not strong.
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