cat skin sores ( WARNING GRAPHIC IMAGES)

msvadi

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Our cat has a sore on the back of his head. We took him to the vet today, but the vet could not say anything definite. Nothing respondent to UV light. The vet shaved the area, took some samples for analysis, cleaned the sore (it was covered with crust), and sent us home with some antibiotics and ointment (Clavaseptin and Surolan). It will take 10 days to get test results. In the meantime, I wonder if anyone here has seen something similar. A couple of pictures taken after the visit to the vet are posted below. I appreciate your input.


 

eb24

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It sounds to me like they are testing and treating ringworm. Ringworm more commonly presents on the top of the head first but that alone doesn't mean it's not it. I can't tell if it looks like RW since he has been shaved but your description of it being covered in "crust" certainly sounds accurate. 

If it is RW (or if you want to treat it like it is) here are some links to threads you might find helpful: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/253453/ringworm-warshttp://www.thecatsite.com/t/210789/6-things-i-learned-from-our-ringworm-plague-book-lengthhttp://www.thecatsite.com/newsearch?search=Ringworm

Remember that RW is not actually worms but a fungus. While not fatal it is a pain to get rid of, and you need to be diligent in cleaning both him and your living space to eradicate it. 

Good luck and let us know what the results come back as. Welcome to TCS! 
 
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msvadi

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Hi,

Thanks for your reply. I'll check the links you provided.

I have not heard anything yet from our vet, but hope the results of the tests will be ready soon. I don't think the medication is working because there is now another similar sore, which developed in the last few days at the top of his head. A picture is attached:


Initially it was barely noticeable, but now it's clearly visible. The previous sore had a similar appearance before the vet shaved the area.
 
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msvadi

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Thanks for your reply. I'll check the links
 
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msvadi

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Here's an update.

Unfortunately, we have not heard yet from our vet. We hope the results of the tests will be ready soon, because in the last few days, the cat developed another similar sore at the top of his head. A picture is attached:


I guess this means that the medication is not really working.

Initially the sore was covered with hair, but now is clearly visible. The old wound had a similar appearance before the vet shaved and cleaned the area.
 

mrsgreenjeens

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I'm still thinking Ringworm.  And I read that ointments do not work with ringworm, so the fact that he isn't responding to it kind of would make sense if that's what it is.  In the meantime, are you taking all the precautions you can to prevent you and your family (and maybe any other animals in the household?) from catching it, if that's what it is.  It's very contagious.  Here's another thread that discusses some things to do.  In this case, the humans in the house got it to, so it was worst case!  'course, you're almost ready to get your diagnosis (10 days), so at this point, it might be worth waiting before you start extensive clean up
  http://www.thecatsite.com/t/253453/ringworm-wars

 

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AW hun, your poor kitty and poor you :hugs: :hugs: That does appear to be ringworm to me as well. Did the vet do a skin scraping of the area and look under the microscope for any type of mite? I would suggest starting to use Colloidal Silver 500ppm right away, (Some of us use this one: ) It is very safe to use and kills the fungus but check with your vet first. CS is very effective against RW and any other skin problem it may be.

IF this is RW, then it would be best to completely closely shave the surrounding area of each lesion until you have at least 1/2 " of normal looking skin. Apply the anti-fungal topicals and surrounding skin. Ask you vet about Miconazole too http://www.vetinfo.com/how-to-treat-cats-with-ringworm-using-miconazole.html I also recommend asking your vet about Griseofulvin http://www.vetinfo.com/treating-ringworm-cats-griseofulvin.html Keep us updated and all the best for a quick return on the result from the lab. :cross: :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes:
 
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msvadi

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Mrsgreenjeans and Feralvr: thank you for your posts. I'm going to consult with vet, hopefully, today or tomorrow. When we saw him last week, he did a skin scrapping and looked under the microscope, but it did not show anything. 
 

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It surely looks like ringworm to me as well.

Go to the drugstore and pick up some monostat cream. Yes, for women's vaginal yeast infections.

This will control it and even start healing it until the vet gives you their cream.

New spots will continue to show up as it is highly contagious.

There are many types of ringworm, and only about half will glow under a woodslamp.
 

eb24

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It usually takes 2 weeks for a RW culture to come back so you are almost at the end of the waiting game!
Go to the drugstore and pick up some monostat cream. Yes, for women's vaginal yeast infections.

This will control it and even start healing it until the vet gives you their cream.
I agree that monostat works because the active ingredient in it is in the same family as the miconazole that has already been mentioned. However, I would wait and get the cream from the vet unless they say the monostat is a safe alternative. I would worry about the ingestion of the inactive (and other unnecessarily active) ingredients making him sick. And, there are sssoooo many types of monostat. I can just picture your conversation with the sales clerk, "which formula of monostat would be safest to use on my cat?" 

They may load you into the paddy wagon right then and there! 

Hopefully you will get the results soon and can start him on the right treatment for whatever he's got. I don't want to be a party pooper but I'm holding to my initial thought that it is RW. Start blasting Gloria Gaynor right now. I promise, whatever it is, you will survive! 
 

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I also think it looks like ringworm--my 2 had it a while back.  Topicals didn't help them very much, they had to go on oral meds. The meds worked great but because I guess the spores were still in my house it kept coming back. I also gave them baths with antifungal shampoo.  I got a total of 8 places of it on me, too! (not all at once)  For the places on me, the store-brand of monistat worked great.  I vacuumed and steam-mopped my house well.  I battled it for a couple months, finally beat it when I ordered a Pets Best Rx package--  I used their spray on furniture and everything, and used the cream and healing spray on one of my cats when he got a few more suspicious places. Knock on wood, no problems since, and it's been several months.  I have no idea if the stuff actually worked or if it was just coincidence, but ...  good luck to you, if that's what it is, it can be a pain!
 

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My cat has the same problem only larger & worse. We have tried quite a few remedies with no success. The entire back of her head is open, weeping, and crusted with these hard plaques that stick in the center & lift on the edges. I can't take a pic with my Kindle....if I can figure out how to do it with my phone & post it I will. I'm extremely worried about her....
 
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msvadi

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lindarn90,

Sorry to hear about your cat's problem. Actually, I've been meaning to post an update to my story.

In our case, as many people here predicted, it turn out to be ring worm. The vet first told us to use Micatin, which did not help at all. The cat was licking it off, and ring worm started to spread. After a week or so, the cat had several new sores on his head and face.

Then, the vet prescribed Itraconazole (Sporanox). It's internal medicine and also used to treat people (but at much higher dosage than with cats). We had to give it to the cat for two weeks with one-week break after the first week. By the end of the three-weeks period, the sores were almost completely gone.

My suggestion: take your cat to a vet for testing for ring worm. If it is ringworm ask for Itraconazole prescription. It worked like a miracle with our cat.
 

catwoman707

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Funny, as I was reading the latest posts I was going to write how Itraconazole works very well with tougher cases.

I am NOT fond of the other oral med griseofulvin, it makes them nausious as well as a very slooow acting med.
 

mrsgreenjeens

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My cat has the same problem only larger & worse. We have tried quite a few remedies with no success. The entire back of her head is open, weeping, and crusted with these hard plaques that stick in the center & lift on the edges. I can't take a pic with my Kindle....if I can figure out how to do it with my phone & post it I will. I'm extremely worried about her....
AS stated in the above posts (below yours), you should probably take your furbaby in to be tested to make absolutely certain you are dealing with ringworm, then get the correct antibiotic to radicate it.  Plus do the other necessary items to keep it from spreading to you and any other family member or friends that may come around.  It's so easily spread
.  You know you can bring it into the household on your shoe...double
 

lindarn90

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Thanks for all the advice, I appreciate it. We are going to take her again this Wednesday...she's been there twice already & he has said they were "eosinophilic plaques" which I just can't believe......it looks much worse than pics of those I have seen. I'm going to ask him to test for ringworm but truly I don't even think it's that because my husband & I have been rubbing all kinds of creams & ointments on it & we haven't gotten anything. Maybe we're just lucky,I don't know.....but I know it's very itchy for her, she is always at it with her hind claws......
Linda
 

feralvr

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Funny, as I was reading the latest posts I was going to write how Itraconazole works very well with tougher cases.
I am NOT fond of the other oral med griseofulvin, it makes them nausious as well as a very slooow acting med.
I agree on the Itraconazole. I had to use the griseofulvin but that was 25 years ago before the newer medications. IMO - RW should always be treated orally along with topical monistat or CS.

GOOD LUCK, Linda... and welcome. If you want, do feel free to begin your own thread on your cat so you can get direct responses that way. :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes:
 
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mrsgreenjeens

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Thanks for all the advice, I appreciate it. We are going to take her again this Wednesday...she's been there twice already & he has said they were "eosinophilic plaques" which I just can't believe......it looks much worse than pics of those I have seen. I'm going to ask him to test for ringworm but truly I don't even think it's that because my husband & I have been rubbing all kinds of creams & ointments on it & we haven't gotten anything. Maybe we're just lucky,I don't know.....but I know it's very itchy for her, she is always at it with her hind claws......
Linda
 Well, this is an entirely different ballgame, since you hadn't mentioned above that she had already been to the Vet and been diagnosed with something.  Why don't you think it's what she's already been diagnosed with?  Just because it doesn't look like pictures you've seen?  Did they do a skin scraping?  Did they discuss possible food allergies (normally cause of eosinophilic plaques)  Are they giving her any anti-inflammatories?  What about antihistamines for the itching?  Did they discuss possibly adding some Omega 3's to her diet, along with trying narrow down the type of food she may be allergic to.  What does she eat?
 

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I know this is an old post but when I see skin issues, I just want to make people aware of an autoimmune disease called pemphigus~~very nasty disease and intensely itchy for the cat.  If you/your vet are having trouble identifying a problem and there are dry scaly skin spots, please google and/or talk with your vet about pemphigus foliaceus.  It's uncommon in cats but my cat has this disease and it took MONTHS  to finally get her diagnosed correctly!!!  
 

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Did you ever find an answer to this problem?  My cat has this.  Initially he would get a shot of Salix which would clear it up for a while.  Now he's been diagnosed with a serious heart problem and I'm afraid of the injections.  Dermalone ointment only seems to slow down the spread.  He has 2 spots of this plaque on his forehead.  Negative for heartworm.  Please help if you can...
 
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