6 Things I Learned from Our Ringworm Plague (book length....)

Update on where to find Dr. Karen Moriello's ringworm treatment plan:  http://www.giveshelter.org/images/stories/Programs/Ringworm_Treatment/About_Us.pdf

This was a great article and finding to be very helpful. My oldest kitty was just diagnosed with ringworm and was doing a bit of research and come across this entry. I was trying to find the pdf that is mentioned in the entry with a link. The link no longer takes you to the pdf and was hoping someone may have saved it and could forward me a copy. If anyone has it or know where it find it, that would be great.

Thanks, Sam

Hi Scottsam, 

Aha! I have finally found the new link to "Dermatophyte Treatment in a Nutshell": 

http://www.giveshelter.org/dermatophyte-treatment-in-a-nutshell.html

Hmm. one update I know of, since this article is old (but still considered the Ringworm Bible): generic oral Terbinafine (Lamasil)
has been available for four years now and it is not expensive at all — and said to be effective. I used it.
It can also be easier to obtain than Sporanox, the only brand of itraconazole that IS effective. 

You might also be interested in this: http://www.sheltermedicine.com/node/56

It seems quite comprehensive.

Here's another up-to-date source you can try, too:

http://www.wvc.org/images/session_notes_2013/2013_SA62.pdf

It's written for vets, but when you're dealing with ringworm, you become an honorary vet because you have to learn so much... about things you never wanted to know....

That's probably all anyone needs to deal with this invisible beast. Best of luck to you! You will survive, I promise. If I managed, anyone can.

Bunnelina, Hi.

I was not sure if you might know the answer to question for us.

I was reading in your articles, that we love about vacuums.

We too have a Miele filter but it does not have a hepa filter, just Mieles air filter.

It retains 99.95% of particles down to 0.5 of a micron and 94% of particles down to 0.3 of a micron. 

Do you know what size the m. canis  spores are.

I was hoping our vacuum would be ok.

Thanks, Sam

Hi there,

Four years ago, I called Miele and talked to a fellow who assured me that the HEPA filter would catch particles the size of m. canis.  I think you would have to call them and see if their regular filters are as good, but I replaced mine with one of their pricey HEPAs and that's what I used. Somewhere I found the size of the m. canis spore online before I called them, and I imagine it's still out there somewhere on Google. Both filters fit into the same place on the vacuum so no worries there if they tell you the regular filter isn't right for this job.

Good luck!

Bunnelina

Bunnelina, Hi.

Thanks so much for the info. I will give them a call.

Unfortunately, our miele vacuum can't accommodate the hepa filter. 

I called them yesterday on that question hoping it would.

Thanks so much again and your articles has been most helpful (:

Take Care, Sam

I'm posting so that all people who have older kitties have this information.  I found 2 kittens that I brought home who had ringworm.  They were very young and didn't show signs.  My other cats got it from them, one was 2 and the other 15.  They were on terbinafine (Lamisil) the same thing my own doctor would not prescribe to me because of danger to the liver,  I questioned the vet and she assured me that it was safe and cats tolerated it well..  They took it for a total of 5 days and my older cat died.  I had the younger ones blood work done the same day and her liver functions were off the charts.  Just think everyone should know that terbinafine has not been extensively tested on felines and I think after my research,

not tested on older cats.  The vet I used has reported it to the FDA and the drug manufacturer, but wanted others to know as well.

Amyk,

I am so sorry for your loss. That is a terrible story, everyone's worst nightmare as we try to do our best for our cats. I think it is really kind of you to report this here, to potentially save other cats —  while you are still coping with your own loss. Thank you from all of us. 

My two teenaged Persians took terbinafine for the usual course, without problems, and one was actually extremely ill with calici virus at the same time. So I have recommended it from personal experience, but I always try to do so in terms of "Ask your vet about this because it worked for us...." Now I don't know if we were lucky, or if our vet was using a much lower dosage, or perhaps even a different generic version. I'd like to tell my vet about your situation, because I know she prescribes terbinafine after having treated my cats (we were the first to use it in her practice so you can imagine how I feel upon reading your story).

Can you please tell us what the dosage was for your cats, and their weights? I'm sure it would be useful for those of us who want to talk to our vets about these issues.

I wish I could amend my original post to describe your unfortunate situation and post a warning, but the site doesn't let me update it. I can only hope that everyone who comes here will read your post and take it to heart. 

Many thanks again, and my deepest sympathy....

bunnelina

The terbinafine dosage I was told to give was 30-40mg/kg, once a day. Since I last posted, the cats have had 2.5 weeks of medication and that's all I had (a bottle of 100 tablets). So far I've done 7 weekly dips and in the last week, started spot treating their ears with lime sulfur dip every other day. Bought a true HEPA air cleaner and run it 24/7. I wipe most of the hard surfaces down with 1:10 bleach solution daily.

There are now 7 out of 8 cats with various stages of ringworm on their ears. I haven't seen it on their feet, tails, or faces (yet). Unfortunately, another cat in an adjoining room with 5 other cats has started showing hair loss on her ears. I've started the lime sulfur dip spot treatment on their ears also; one of the cats is semi feral and I'll never be able to catch her to do any kind of treatment.

Am feeling like I'm waging a losing battle here. I've been reading about some stuff called chlorine dioxide that supposedly kills ringworm in like a minute. Non-toxic and not toxic like bleach. Can be used in a fogger and also directly on the cats. Has anyone tried this stuff? It looks like chlorine dioxide is used for water treatment. For veterinary use, I mainly only found it here: http://www.jkatinc.com/

 

When you suspect your cat has ringworm, you should immediately seek veterinary attention. The vet will perform tests to determine if it is actually ringworm. Follow the vet's treatment protocol. Treatment usually lasts about two weeks. The cat with ringworm should be isolated from all other pets in the household. You should vacuum the entire house daily. Remember to disinfect hard surfaces, too. Dispose of anything your cat has come into contact with.

thanks for all the information.  unfortunately we have ringworm in our household of 3 cats.  I also have minor spots.  i am doing the best I can with cleaning, but it seems like a battle you can't win.  the first sign was actually on myself - I found a small patch on the side of my hip which I started to treat with lotrimin.  at that moment, I cleaned and washed everything, but it was probably too late. after a week cat #1 got a huge spot on the back of the head by the ears.  He was given drops to apply on the spot while we wait for the culture results. I wish I had done something during that time instead of wishful thinking hoping it's not RW. the results were positive and he was given terbinafine. we had to lower the dosage since he was vomiting. I guess it didn't work too well because now he has a huge area in the arm pit and inner arms.  All 3 cats are now on itraconozole compounded in liquid form.  Cat #2 doesn't have any spots but is scratching a lot.  cat #3 has a very small spot on his upper mouth.  

my questions are:

1- I am worried about the liver damage that itraconozole may have on them.  anyone had any side effects?

2 - my doctor prescibed  me Griseofulvin a long with blood test to monitor my liver function. there is a small area on my scalp.  should I avoid seeing other people  and their pets. I am invited to a thanksgiving dinner tomorrow.  I am debating whether i should go or  not.  

3 - there is no way I can do a lime dip or give shampoo to my cats.  is oral meds going to be enough for a cure?

4 - after reading your post, I am thinking about purchasing the Miele S194 Quickstep 3-in-1 stick vacuum. will that work just as well as the full blown upright?

thanks

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(sleepy kitties in this pic)  I have a million things running thru my head right now from reading all of this ringworm information.

These are my babies Jack and Jill, inseparable brother and sister, who my husband surprised me with a couple months ago. ~some how, shortly after we got them, Jack wound up with a couple of fractured toes, and was put in a splint/cast for about 6-8 weeks.  We took him to an emergency vet since it was on a weekend, and he adapted extremely well for a kitten who wants nothing but to play, and used his splint to run and jump as usual, (thus, became Captain Jack Pirate Kitty due to his peg leg)    

When the splint came off, he had a spot with no fur, they said "he's just got a little yeast infection there, from the splint rubbing his leg, he'll be fine", and sent us on our way.

Meanwhile, Jan. 8th, both kittens went to the usual vet I use for spay/neuter, shots, front de-claw, etc., and I already had a dime size ring on my wrist. and 1 nickel size in middle of my back (which I have been treating religiously with anti-fungal creme, and almost invisible) We've been treating them, giving them oral medication daily, cleaning, disinfecting, vacuuming, ever since.  Last week my husband got a small one, so we became even MORE diligent in our efforts, and were forced to 'quarantine' them.

I could not stand to shut them away in bedroom, so we bought a roll of chicken wire and made a big 4' x 4' pen to keep them isolated on a ceramic tile floor, but allow them to be able to be around us as much as possible.  They are very outgoing touchy feely kitties.

We should own stock in disinfectant hand sanitizers, bleach, and lysol, for the amounts of money we are spending, not to mention the $400+ for his x-rays, etc., and the $530 for spay and neutering,etc. and....Yesterday I found a NEW one on my back.  I can't afford to do anything else.

I'm about at the end of my rope.  I haven't even gotten to really snuggle them or love on them at all since their surgery. 

The hair is growing back on their paws, but it is still very active and contagious.....sigh.  Relentless!

Hi there. I'm very sorry you are going through this! I also hope your cats recover well from their declawing, which strikes me as a far worse fate than ringworm. But I digress.

Read about ringworm in the links I posted in my update to my long original post, and you will find out that ringworm spores are airborne, so quarantining cats who have already been in the house for awhile is fairly pointless, and chicken wire is doing absolutely nothing but confining them for no reason. The oral medication you're giving will probably do the trick of curing them in a few weeks — if it's an effective medication (some are, some are not). Dipping the cats in lime-sulfur solution will make them far less contagious to you and each other in the meantime. Their infections are systemic and the spots you see are just hot spots... there's more than meets the eye within the fur and skin of the whole cat. Spores travel in the air, cling, and multiply. Think of them as dustmites. Vacuuming is great.... but only if your vacuum has a HEPA filter and a well-sealed bag. Otherwise, your vacuum could be re-releasing spores into the air via its exhaust. It definitely helps to vacuum walls, ceilings, upholstery and everything else in the house as well as floors. Carpets might need to be steam-cleaned, I think. I only had ratty old oriental rugs, so I sent them out for the most heavy-duty cleaning they could survive. And I vacuumed my bare floors all the time.

Hand sanitizers and Lysol might not do much to actually kill spores, but they do not harm, either. But bleach needs to be at a strength that is toxic for cats and for you, unless you're just using it in your washer Bleach solutions work for scrubbing down kennels, crates, and all the hard, tough surfaces found in shelters, but it can't do much in a house with wood floors, carpets, nice upholstery or plaster walls. So don't even try to kill the spores on surfaces that can't take bleach solutions and don't use bleach or other toxic chemicals near the cats.... just gather up and remove the spores with damp microfiber rags, laundering whatever you can (dry everything at very high temperatures), and a good, filtering vacuum. 

You can find updated links to Dr. Karen Moriello's articles online in my follow-up posts. She offers full of common sense advice and a successful protocol for treatment. Although her work was aimed at shelters, the rest of us can learn a lot and apply the same techniques and treatments... and eventually look back on this period with disbelief and amazement that we survived, maybe even laugh, and then think about something else more pleasant. I hope you'll be in that position very soon! This will pass, I promise! Good luck and hang in there in the meantime!

Hi - we also had ringworm this past September - a nightmare but absolutely curable. They say that ringworm can live in the environment for up to two years - maybe, maybe not but it's when it's in consentrated amount that outbreaks will occur - clean and vacumne - ask your vet what they use to clean with, but I used this windex like solution to kill norovirus called shockwave - google it of you're interested! It's also used to clean bacteria and fungus from crime scenes! Smells nice - just don't use on windows or mirrors as it leaves a bit of a film. But it can be sprayed or misted on fabrics. Doing laundry is important and changing sheets and towels often! If you have active lesions, you wouldn't want to spread or come in contact with contaminated fabrics. If you are dilligent, in 2 -3 weeks if you haven't had another lesion appear on you or your husband ....you can slow down on laundry. Until those babies are negative, vacuuming is a good thing for piece of mind! Dust with a swifter and prayers to you! This will pass -

I know, I know about the declaws, and do very much appreciate where you stand on the subject~even struggled with it myself~there were/are several factors to consider here.  These babies will be strictly indoor only due to the fact that in the last 3 years, I've had 3 cats just disappear, after 8 yrs. for one, 5 years for the other, and a few months for my last, who were all indoor/outdoor cats.  That's why my Jack and Jill will only be allowed outside attached to a collar and leash and me!!!!    Also they.....play.  I mean really play.  They are frick n frack, very close, have to know where and what the other is doing at all times, and constant play that usually ends up with some sort of gymnastics and wrestling involved.

I also appreciate the information regarding the chicken wire.  I had no idea they stuck to walls?  and multiply?  ????????  YIKES!

I sprayed Tinactin on my new one and I swear it shrunk to half the size.  I have only used topical creams up to this point, but will continue my ongoing regimen.  Uhm.....let's see, my vacuum does use hepa filters,  and I did read your 'article' which helps a lot, but I am really worried about the medicine I've been giving them, or lack thereof....starts with a K.....slipped my mind   Dr. only gave us enough for 2 weeks because it's time for their re-check.  Dr. won't prescribe without recheck which I completely understand, but I seriously cannot afford one more thing right now, so I am kind of panicky.  I lost my job of 8 years unexpectedly last Oct. due to the closing of my store, which was due to circumstances beyond my control.  I got their spay/neuter/shots, etc., because I knew I had to take care of it while I had the money, and temporarily, things have gone from bad to worse and I can't do booster shots, re-check, and more medicine x2, but I can't stop their medicine half way through either.....sorry.  I didn't mean to give a big sob story, like I said I am just panicking.

We got the sulpher dip we will do tomorrow.  One more thing, what are your thoughts on protective collars to get them from ingesting the sulpher?  I think most definitely yes.  But I've never done this before so what do I know!!!?  

Thank you again for your kind words and support.  Very much appreciated.  I need all the help I can get!

Tamera

Hi Bunnelina, I am experiencing right now a ringworm plague. My cat and I, are sick. I would like to get in touch with you to discuss and exchange information if possible. Thanks!

Hello ladies.  I too am dealing with RW.  We fostered a 6 mt old male kitty who was not doing well at the rescue.  Very thin, lethargic and depressed.  He did so well at our house, that my DD adopted him ahead of moving out (time will tell).   Koby loves our 5 yr old cat Eli and they are great buds.  Our 16 yr old Lacey will have nothing to do with the boys.  She is above all THAT.

So 2.5 wks after adopting Koby, he gets a bare spot on his lip.  DD took him to vet who 'thought' it might be ringworm so did a culture.  We wait 2 wks and the whole time he is all over our house (med. hair).  Eli the 5 yr old kitty got spots above his one eye. 

We put them in DD's bedroom (moved everything out) wood floors, and I have cleaned and cleaned many times over.  Kitten room is cleaned daily, rest of house ever 3 days.  Lacey older cat DID NOT GET IT!  My daughter got a spot and is on an oral med and cream.

This all went down at the end of January.

My question and I cannot find anything anywhere on what others have done.  Both cats have been on terbinifine, once daily since Jan. 28th. and have been having baths twice a week also with malesab shampoo.  Can they come out of the bedroom now and my daughter have her room back?

Meds and shampoo faithfully, but super cleaning the whole house!

Koby culture came back 'good' as of today.  Vet says another culture in 2 weeks, and then another 2 weeks for results.  I can't take another month of them being confined. 

If they are on meds and baths, showing no more spots, wouldn't they be okay?  Ringworm is bad when it is in high numbers.  Trust me I am a clean freak, so there cannot possibly be any of the buggers floating around! 

Gee, Eliandkoby, no good deed goes unpunished, does it? But it seems you are already heading out of the woods with a first negative culture. Congratulations!

Why not ask your vet if he/she thinks it's okay to let the cats out? I'll bet that the answer is "Yes," because you've been giving them a long course of terbinafine, and that should have knocked the ringworm out of their systems by now. (I did pulse therapy with mine, two weeks on and two weeks off. It's strong stuff.) 

Since we used lime-sulfur dips, I never learned about how effective Malaseb shampoo is, but your vet must know. So ask. If you have negative cultures, you're doing things right.

I never quarantined my four, and I'm not convinced it's ever worth the trouble, since it can be stressful for cats who do not need additional stress on top of meds and baths and fungal infection. It's obviously stressful for their already-freaked-out people, too. Besides, by the time we discover ringworm, our cat has been all over the place for weeks or months, with little clouds of spores floating off into the atmosphere. It is an airborne fungus. To really quarantine, we'd need one of those bubble rooms they used for people with no immune systems.

I hope you more good news about your upcoming cultures, and I hope you can get your place back to normal right away! Best of luck to you!

Thanks for the reply so quickly!   I am just wondering what others have done, I guess.  Our vet is new and at times I wonder just how much they know about this stuff.  I'm sure she has never had it in her home, and can only go on what the 'books' tell them.   I once had a dog with diabetes and I learned more on a message board from knowledgeable owners than i did from my vet.   Alot of the things on the net are more geared for shelters and rescues.   This is just our house, four people, three cats!  (hubby not too happy btw)

I am worried about the daily meds but am trying to follow what the vet says to do.  You only did every two weeks on this med?  Ok, officially worried now.   Eli the 5 yr old 12 lb kitty is getting 1/2 tab.  Koby the 8 mt old kitten, 1/4 tab daily.  

I just feel now that the house is super clean, the cats have meds well into their systems for the last 6 darn weeks, they are getting baths twice a week, I mean where is the ringworm?  

It's gotta be dead right?  It's just so hard since they are microscopic.  You don't know if what you are doing is right.  The vacuum for instance.  I have a dyson, an older one mind you.  I've cleaned it as good as I could but now I look at it and wonder if I am just spewing it back out into the air.  Filter is lifetime. 

What a mess!  Today I cleaned again.  I am exhausted!

Of course you are exhausted!  It's so hard to fight an invisible demon. Hang in there.

If I were you, I'd call around and talk to some more experienced vets, even if they aren't right in your area. I'm not sure where you live, but I am in Boston, where vets were not seeing a whole lot of ringworm when our kitten got it 4 years ago (she came from coastal Rhode Island). I probably asked 6 or 8 vets in different practices what their protocols were, mostly because I was trying to find someone who would do lime-sulfur dips — but also out of curiosity. A lot of vets were using meds that more experienced doctors found ineffective, dangerous, or both. Their thoughts about shaving, bathing, dips, and topical creams were all over the map, too. (The ringworm expert is Dr. Karen Moriello. I hope you followed the links to her articles; you can find the updated links down in this thread, and there's some info here: https://www.giveshelter.org/dermatophyte-treatment-in-a-nutshell.html

I was lucky that my vet stays up to date and was using Dr. Moriello's protocol already, tailored a bit to preserve our sanity. 

I am NOT a vet, obviously, but I'd be wary of giving terbinafine for that length of time rather than pulsing on two weeks and then off for two weeks. Please read up on that if you can, and try to get some thoughts from other, more experienced vets. If you go through this whole thread, you'll read that someone here had a cat die from terbinafine. That's why I'm scared of it now. Your might request liver function tests for your cats if you are concerned. We also didn't give the stuff to our kittens (4-5 months) because our vet thought it was too powerful. We used Sporanox liquid for them instead.

They say that ringworm can live in your environment for up to 2 years, but pay zero attention to that. You can only take so much bad news, right? I think it's just a scare tactic. Mine never came back. Neither will yours! Hold that thought. I wish I could tell you that you can trust that Dyson, but I can only suggest that you call the company and talk to them. I called Miele and they were able to assure me that my HEPA filter would trap microbes smaller than microsporum canis. 

As you can tell, I believe in getting  my information from as many good sources as it takes. I spent a lot of time on the phone when I wasn't cleaning or reading vet articles back in those horrible days. I also spent a lot of time here, and I am still grateful to all the nice people who helped me get through our bout of plague. 

I hope you can stop the meds and cleaning soon, and that all this becomes a distant memory. Take care!