Please help me ID this skin condition -- Detailed Photos attached...

The back story: I previously posted about the fact that our new kitten, Luna, might have ringworm. I found sort of a crusty patch on her tail a few weeks ago. We've taken her to the vet (2 visits) and after the Wood's Lamp test, a microscopic analysis for bacterial infections and a fungal culture, she's been determined to be negative for ringworm. Or, at least a false negative. She just hasn't tested positive. She hasn't been scratching or biting that we've seen.

We've been treating her nose and tail daily with Conofite for two weeks and she's also had a chlorhexidine bath. Her previous owner gave her Program twice, but I know Program is rumored to be ineffective for ringworm. Her crate is kept very clean and is vacuumed/washed daily. The vet has suggested that we start her on Intraconzole regardless of the negatives on the chance that it's a false negative.

Our other two cats have started scratching themselves, but we anticipate that it's stress related to keeping everyone separated.

Anyway -- here are some photos taken with my close-up lens to illustrate her condition. Her nose seems to be spreading a bit -- the spot is darker than it was, but broader.

Any ideas?

Scott, it looks like scabies to me- but here is a helpful website

http://www.nzymes.com/Articles/cat_s...r_problems.htm

It could be domodex possibly...or Mange even.......

Either way it surprises me that your vet would not have looked into any other possibilities but ringworm......I think you may want to get a new vet truth be told......

But yeah....mange and domodex are both very good possibilities.....

I hope you can find out what ails luna soon and that it can be fixed easily....

Ill be sending prayers...good luck

Originally Posted by hissy

Scott, it looks like scabies to me-

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Also a definite possibility

Here's Tiki -- she developed this a few days back.

Having it around the eyes like that definitly backs my Domodex theory.....


Get them both to a "competent" vet as soon as possible

Originally Posted by Nebula11

Having it around the eyes like that definitly backs my Domodex theory.....


Get them both to a "competent" vet as soon as possible

Click to expand...

It does sound like Domodex mange , because apparantly that's not very itchy, whereas Notoedric mange(scabies) is extremely itchy. It does really look like a a type of mange. New vet time!

P.S. Your cat is gorgeous, and the detail and depth of field in those photos looks amazing!!!

I have nothing to add on that front, iother than I knew a doffie with mange, and that's what it looked like! however, your kittie is very beautiful, I'm a sucker for torties

Originally Posted by consumercity

I don't have expert advice but I'm certainly going to send tons of good vibes and prayers for Luna!

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Me too!!!

Thanks for all the kind words!

I'll let the girls know...

I can't help much. But I'm sending good wishes to both your girls, They're really lovely

OK, now Tiki is getting various spots and progressing...



We have Luna on Sporanox and Conofite, with Chlorhexiderm baths. I can't say that she looks better -- actually, I feel like the Conofite may be irritating her because the Q-tips I use are coming off more and more reddish brown when I use them.

As mentioned, Luna came back negative for ringworm with the Wood's Lamp and with a culture.

BUT NOW...

Tiki has started licking herself (we have a cone). We've got her on Clavamox for some sneezing and her spots (she has feline herpesvirus), but she's now coming up with new spots... The vet saw her and said that she wasn't convinced it is ringworm with Tiki, but Tiki seems to be getting more irritated.

We've got a vet appointment on Tuesday, but this is getting REALLY frustrating -- after five weeks, I feel like we're moving backwards...

???????????????

TIKI:

LUNA 8 days ago:



LUNA a week later:
(her nose is getting more and more bumpy, with larger crusts now)

Oh poor babies! Get better little sweethearts!

Good vibes coming from me too and I'll say what the others have said - get a new vet that looks like a type of mange to me too.

They're beautiful cats. I love Torties too. They've usually got a cheeky, mischievous personality - even when they got old like my precious girl is.

Can your vet refer you to a feline dermatologist? What did your vet say about mange?

Just a long shot, but could they have a flea allergy? I've seen similar in a cat that lives a few doors away from me. He has a flea allergy and he sometimes looks like that too - bald patches in his fur. It only needs ONE flea to start him off poor thing.

Not so sure about the pics of your cat's nose though. Almost looks like very dry skin. Eczema perhaps?

I hope you get their problems sorted out soon as it's so worrying for you.

Also, I'm not sure if anyone's mentioned it further back in the thread, but if it is mange, Sarcoptic (sp) Mange (scabies) is transferable to humans but relatively easily dealt with so for the time being until you find out exactly what this is, I would thoroughly wash your hands with an anti-bacterial soap such as Carex after handling your cats even when you handle one cat, wash your hands before handling the other. Helps cut down on cross-infection.