Kitten - Ringworm? Help!

evaripley

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Hey everyone, new here. Just created my account to ask this question.

I have two cats: Eva and Ripley. Eva will be 7 in May, and I just adopted Ripley a few weeks ago, she just turned 9 weeks old.

I noticed what felt like dry skin on Ripley around when I adopted her, but thought nothing of it. She's been scratching there with her back foot but I thought she was just getting used to her collar. Well now my dad was just holding her and he noticed it. It has progressed. He thinks it's ringworm. But after reading threads on here and googling like crazy, I'm starting to wonder. I saw a thread similar to this and someone posted photos of their little one and they had a little patch just like Rip's and they said it went away with hydrocortisone.

Here is a picture. Although she's a ragdoll she's in baby mode and tough to keep still so I didn't get a good shot. Did my best. Please let me know- I'm starting to worry.

ALSO: I did a once-over on Eva and found nothing. No dry patches of any kind. I also gave Ripley her Revolution kitten meds almost two weeks ago. And Eva has never had any problems of any kind.

 

haleyds

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It does look like ringworm, but that doesn't mean it is. I'd keep your other kitty away from her until you know for sure, and if I were you I wouldn't touch the spot directly because people can catch it. Take the kitty to the vet and find out, whether it's ringworm or not it's obviously bothering her a lot and causing her discomfort. Best wishes and keep us updated.
 
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evaripley

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Man. So far the ones who have seen those pictures agree that it's ringworm. I'm hoping it's just maybe dermatitis, or an irritated spot. There are no other spots on her and none on Eva.

Taking them both in today this afternoon. I also have not noticed any spots on me. So I'm hoping for the best.

Thank you for your response.
 

pushylady

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I hope the vet can give you a definitive answer and treatment.
 
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evaripley

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Well, bad news. They diagnosed her with ringworm. Eva was completely fine. Searched her thoroughly and not a single trace. Hopefully it stays that way.

Put Ripley in my bathroom for now. I live in a one bedroom condo so I'm limited on what I can do. But I'm keeping them apart. And the vet gave me some spray which I am giving her twice a day. In the meantime I'm cleaning my place like Joan Crawford. No corner left unclean.

If anyone has any advice please give it. She said I have to keep them apart for A MONTH...does it really have to be this long? I've read where the key is to wait until the area looks clear of any infection.
 

haleyds

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Poor babies, and poor you! I had a dog once who came to us as a stray, very badly infected with ringworm. It had been left untreated for a very long time and he had open sores from scratching. He had to be given a bath in this nasty purple goop, but we kept him in the garage for the entire month as our vet told us. It's tedious and it's no fun for the animal, but it was better than our other animals, our yard, and our house getting infected with ringworm. If you think she's all better in a few weeks (since hers was so small) then take a quick checkup with your vet and ask if it's okay to let her be free again. I hope things clear up quickly!
 
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evaripley

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Thank you! The vet wants to see her in a month. It's so tough, but I'm going to do my best to last the month.
 

kellimaui

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Thank you! The vet wants to see her in a month. It's so tough, but I'm going to do my best to last the month.
I'm curious about the spray? I just got done with a litter of foster kittens that had ringworm. My pet cats and myself all got it too. I used Lyme Sulphur dip and oral terbinifine and then Pure Oxygen baths after that. I'm a crazy ocd clean freak anyway, but I disenfected my house almost daily. 2 of the people who adopted my kittens got a spot but it went away quickly, the kittens look great? Not sure but getting more oral meds for them. Mine is finally almost gone but still not sure everyone is 100 percent. It's a nightmare.
 
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evaripley

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Man. I'm sorry to hear that.

I must've caught it way early, the vet seems to agree. I've been giving her her spray twice a day. What I do is...I spray her area once in the morning, and I then go to work. I leave her in her playpen to allow the area to breathe. When I come home from work, I wait until it's a solid 12 hours later, and I apply the spray again, only this time I put gauze over the area and wrap her in sports tape (the stretchy tape that sticks to itself), making what I call her 'little shirt.'

I have not had a single issue. I've since taken Eva to the vet, and she has not gotten it. My parents have handled her, they're fine too. Guess we got lucky.
 
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evaripley

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Oh...and as far as the baths go...when I took them both to the vet a few weeks after their initial visit, the vet performed the black light test again, and it took her a long time to find anything. She claims she still sees a few spores/follicles but I didn't see anything. However, I'm choosing to be safe rather than sorry and continue her regimen like I described in my last post.

She gave me some shampoo to use to start giving her baths but I'm not going to use it. The spray is working just fine. Eva is still getting used to her (although they play and get along fairly well with a few hisses from Eva every now and then), and I'm afraid the baths would alter her scent and cause Eva to shun her even more. I don't want to do that.

So I'm going to give it another week and either take her back or just discontinue her regimen. I still check myself and Eva daily, and haven't found a single trace of ringworm, neither did the vet. Parents are fine too. So like I said I guess we caught it just in time.
 
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evaripley

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Question everyone...

Coming up on a month. Her hair is almost fully grown back (it's all there, just not as long in that area), and it takes forever for me to find where to spray her meds.

Not only that, but one month later and neither Eva nor I have it. They play constantly and Ripley always lays on me. Still nothing.

Think we are in the clear?
 
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