Questions about Ringworm

glitch

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Hey, any of you guys fighting the ringworm with your cats???

They are Prescribed Paragaurd Shampoo 4 times a week, and Conofite Lotion twice a day! Is that what the rest of you are using??? Any other medications that are easier??

Im just curious to know since its really hard bathing them 4 times a week, and when I got out the black light just now they lit up like christmas trees so I had to bath them again today even though I did it yesterday too! What a nightmare!! HoBoJax wasn't so bad today, he sat in there kind of standing on the edge of the bathtub with his back feet in the water and his front paws on the side of the wall, Eek on the other hand decided he was going to jump around like a crazy man and try to climb up my body! (I got in there with them so I could shut the shower door so they couldn't get out!)

So Im just curious!!
 

saya

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no clue about the ringworm, not something I've ever had to deal with (thank god)

but I just wanted to say I think you're doing a great job. even 1 bath a week for 1 cat would be a bit of a pain for me so I can't imagine having to do all that.

*sigh*

my thoughts are with you and your babies
 
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glitch

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Does anyone read my threads???


But seriously though! I would like to know a little bit about ringworm!!
Ive never had it before, and I dont really want to have it either!
I would also like to know if there is a better way to treat it than what Im doing already! I mean, come on folks, giving 3 cats a bath 4 times a week??
Thats 12 cat baths I have to give in one week! I dont know if my arms can handle that! They already look like shredded newspaper! The meds I guess I can handle pretty well, although I am still wishing for a "magic pill" to cure all the problems!

HoBoJax's ringworm is gone, I dont think he had a very big break out or something because the one little mark he had has disappeared and doesn't even show up under the black light! Eek on the other hand, although he is growing some fur back there, it is obviously still red and glows like a christmas tree under the blacklight! Then there is poor BooBoo who doesn't have the ringworm at all and he has to be treated anyway! (yeah, he's gonna hate me forever!)

So, Any advice from my fellow ringwormers would be helpful.
 

chrissyr

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I used to use Lamisil. I used it like the directions said for the spray but found the drops to be easier for the body but the spray works great for the head. Now a days, I just let it run its course. The newbies get it, I get, (my hubby had it once then never again!) then it just goes away.
 
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glitch

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Is it safe to let it run its course with 3 kids in the house though?? I have a 5 y/o Daughter, Angel, a 2 y/o son, Jacob, & a 1 y/o son Joseph! So I would prefer if they didn't get it!

Also, is it really a worm?? Or is it a fungus?? The idea of a worm in my skin really creeps me out and I think I could handle it better if it were a fungus!
I dont have it yet and neither do the kids or my DH, but the kids are always a concern since Joseph had septacymia and is really suseptable in getting sick!

Isn't lamasil for athletes foot?? Just curious because I dont really know much about this!!
 

saya

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you're right, it's not really a worm, they just call it that because of the way it looks. It is a fungus, that's why athlete foot remedies will work on it.

they can prescribe oral treatments but from what I understand they have to be treated for longer periods of time and the treatments are potentially toxic so they're only supposed to be used under close vet supervision. I imagine they'll only go this route in extreme cases...
 

2furbabies

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Hi - Sorry for what you are going thru.... I have been there, however, I only have 2 cats. I battled ringworm for years, and still deal with it every now and again. I can tell you what worked for me. Is it just your cats that have the ringworm or humans as well? It is highly contagious and humans can pick it up from the cats. I'm not certain about the shampoo you are using, but the only thing that got rid of it on my cats was LymSulphur Dip. This is not a picnic either, but it did work and I don't recall doing it as often as you are. It's a solution you pour over them and then it has to dry on them; it doesn't get rinsed off. As far as any humans that should get ringworm.... I had it covering my legs; it took 4 dermatologists and several skin biopsies to finally figure out it was ringwom. Bottom line... nothing they gave me worked as far as creams; Lamisil didn't even touch it. The only thing that took my ringworm away was Tea Tree Oil. It is an anti-fungal that can be purchased at vitamin shoppes, GNC, etc... This is not for cats! Just humans... it works great.

Good luck... it's going to be difficult with that many cats. Also, as you mentioned, even the ones that don't have it still need to be treated with the others. I've been rid of it for several years now, but continue to bath my cats in the dip every few months as a preventative.
 
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glitch

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Thanks for the info peeps! keep it up! I need to know the easiest way, so how Im going to do it is get as many ideas as I can and look them all up, then discuss with the vet!
 

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I have three cats that all had ringworm. One has a very weak immune system because she is a diabetic and has CRF...it was really difficult to get rid of the ringworm on her. Good news is that it's much quicker to get rid of it on young healthy cats. I used Malaseb shampoo and pledgets. I have also used Resizole leave-in lotion and Keto-Chlor shampoo which worked pretty well. But I think you need a prescription for Keto-Chlor. You don't need a prescription for Malaseb. I gave them baths 2-3 times a week and used the lotions in between baths. I'm afraid there is no quick way to get rid of ringworm.

You also have to be constantly cleaning and vacuuming and throw out any cat beds that they might be using, otherwise they might get it again.
 
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glitch

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Thanks for the info and welcome to the site!! Ill see what I can look up on that!!
 
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glitch

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Alright Folks, Im going in! (to give kitties baths)
Wish me luck, Im going to need it! They're getting smarter every time and know its coming!

And when I said I had a one year old that had septacymia I forgot to add he was a skin head! (human baby)!! Thats why Im so cautious on it! (not only that but if my DH gets it he's not going to be happy with me!!)
 
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glitch

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Well that sucked. I dont know why they know when Im getting ready to give baths out but they do and it sucked! They totally kicked my butt! Just a screaming, fighting up a storm, climbing up my legs, scratching my arms trying to get out of the tub while Im scrubbing them!! Oh it so blows... I can't even believe I have to do it for 3 more weeks yet!! (almost four technically, but Im TRYING to look on the bright side) so I figured Id tell ya how they did. HoboJax went first, he did well at first, he was in the bathroom so I figured Id wash him up, but BooBoo was in there too and I didn't realize it. So heres BooBoo, screaming like Im killing him even though Im giving Jax a bath and not him! That freaked Jax out so he started trying to climb the walls! Then theres Eek who was scratching at the door so I decided it was his turn. Even though he started out pretty small he's getting big, weighing in at 3lbs 15oz, Im pretty sure he's all muscle because he can totally whoop up on me. So after getting them all washed the two times you have to do it to each one, I was soaked, injured and almost defeated. I guess we're going to have to see how it goes. I swear to godd I would pay someone to do this for me!!
 

saya

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you may be able to (pay someone to do this for you)

maybe give the local pet grooming place a call and see if they do house calls or the like?
 
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glitch

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Originally Posted by saya

you may be able to (pay someone to do this for you)

maybe give the local pet grooming place a call and see if they do house calls or the like?
I was thinking about that, then I thought about how scared they are when I do it, so Im going to have to suck it up and not let them defeat me! They would be so scared if someone else tried to wash them, they wouldn't know what was happening and I think that would be easier for ME~BUT~ harder for the cats!! I want whats best for them so Ill keep doing it myself.... I can't imagine how scared they would be with someone else trying to do it!!!
 

emrldsky

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Nuh uh...might give me away!
Do you have them in the bathroom at the same time to bathe them? If so, that might be part of the problem. When my two had it (shortly after I brought Oscar home), I tried with both in the bathroom at the same time. Boy oh boy was that a nightmare! It was so much better when I did it one-on-one with each cat.

Also, if you're really having a hard time, call and speak with your vet again. Explain that giving that many cats a bath (that often) just won't cut it, and see what he (or she) says.

Good luck!!!
 

jen

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I use tea tree oil on everything (for me) and when I got ringworm it worked great. I got it from the cats at the adoption center. It was going around. We just treat them with anti-fungal cream from the drug store.
 
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glitch

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The first two times I gave them baths I did it one on one, and then last night BooBoo was in there and I didn't realize it so yeah, it was a nightmare!

The worst part of it is I have to get in the tub with them to give them baths! Its the only way to keep them in there, otherwise they would sneak through and get out and it would be even worse! So I put on a pair of shorts and hop in, and I stand while Im cleaning them, I use the shower head to rinse them off and then I do it again, and then the hand off to someone to dry them (if anyone else is here, which was only once)

Today I noticed that they all smell like a lit match! I read the ingredients in the Paragaurd and one of them is Sulfur, so thats why they smell like that!


Poor little Eek ha a bald spot on the top of his head, and he has 3 fat rolls right in that spot, so it looks really funny! Almost cute funny! Its a sight to see I guess!
 

emrldsky

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Nuh uh...might give me away!
You're brave to go in there in shorts.
When I had to give baths to my two, I had on a long-sleeved tshirt, and didn't care if it got wet. heehee Then again, all I had to do was keep a hand on mine to keep them from jumping out of the tub.

Guess each kitty is different, lol.
 

saya

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when I had to give Bea baths (of course she was little then) I would do it in the sink, it was a more comfortable position for me and gave me a little more control.
I find that if I'm confident and in control my kitties feel that and relax a little.
 
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glitch

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Yup I think you guys are right! First off, I havnt even THOUGHT about giving them baths in the sink which would be so much more convenient!!

Second off, I just talked to the vet and he said he would neuter them on thursday regaurdless!


Im nervous to leave them there though! I know they have to be left there, but they're going to be so scared! Not gonna know if they're going to wake up or not! Ill reaasure them of course!

Eek now has a spot on the side of his mouth, so he now has 3 spots! All on the head! I feel bad putting that crap on his face! I know it tastes icky!!

They still stink like matches, but what do ya do!

So Ill give the sink a try! And Im getting oral medication for them on thursday!! I think everyone has it pegged right, that this crap dont go away without oral medication!

So far no signs of it on the kids!!

But I know its still early in the game!
 
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