Ringworm at the initial stage in cats: what it looks like and how to treat it at home so as not to infect humans

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If a cat has hairless areas on its body, peeling, redness, itching of the skin, there is a high probability that the pet has contracted lichen .

Ringworm is a highly contagious mycotic disease that affects both animals and humans. The causative agent of the disease is a microscopic fungus of a certain type. Depending on the type of fungus, the disease looks and is treated differently. The same ringworm in a cat can be caused by different fungi.

First, the skin is damaged, then the disease spreads to the fur and claws. First of all, weak or injured animals catch the disease, but good health does not guarantee that the disease will pass by.

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The problem is very serious, and the disease is easily transmitted from cat to person, so when the first symptoms are detected, treatment begins.

What is lichen

The paw of a cat infected with lichen.
Lichen in cats is a general name for skin diseases in which small itchy rash nodules form and the hair and nails suffer. The nature of the formation of the disease can be different: a virus, infection, allergy, or simply a decrease in immunity. Other animals are also susceptible to the disease: dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets.

Infection occurs both through direct contact and through household items. Cats that their owners let outside usually become infected with shingles from stray animals or rodents. There are cases when a cat is a carrier of infection, but does not get sick itself.

Ringworm in cats and kittens is quite easy to cure, especially if it is detected in time. Usually recovery occurs within 3 weeks, but if the deeper layers of the skin are affected, recovery can take up to six months. The incubation period ranges from several days to 3-4 months. At this time, the cat is already infected, but there are no signs of lichen.

Pink (lichen Zhibera)

In the early stages of development, pityriasis rosea appears as a slight pink spot with clear outlines and peeling. Without effective treatment, the disease is accompanied by itching and causes discomfort to the pet, and after a couple of days a dry crust appears at the site of the lesion. Unlike other forms of lichen, pink lichen is not dangerous to people.

Treatment

The main reason for the development of fungal disease is a decrease in the functions of the immune system. Therefore, in order to overcome it, it is necessary to take a number of measures to strengthen and maintain the immune system without the use of special drugs or ointments. A sick cat needs a balanced diet and rest. The diet should be based on a complex of vitamins and beneficial microelements. The animal must not be bathed or allowed outside. If you follow these recommendations, the disease will go away on its own within two months.

Causes

The most common cause of lichen in cats is a fungal infection of such species as Trichophyton Microsporum canis, Microsporum gypseum. Once on the animal's fur, microbes begin to multiply, since a warm and humid environment creates favorable conditions for this. If a cat has a strong immune system, then its body will independently cope with the infection and suppress it without allowing any visible manifestations.

But if the animal is weakened, sick, or has just recovered from some illness, then with a high degree of probability the lichen will spread throughout the skin. In addition, kittens and young cats that have not yet fully developed immunity are at risk. Some artificially bred breeds, for example, Persian and Scottish, do not have innate protection against shingles, so they are also at risk.

Risk factors for developing lichen in domestic cats:

• free walking on the street;
• treatment with immunosuppressants;
• nutritional errors, poor diet;
• parasite infection;
• malignant neoplasms.

Cats that roam freely on the street are at risk

Sources of infection, risk factors and pathogenesis

Feline ringworm is an infectious disease that is caused by fungi of the genus Trichophyton and is transmitted through close contact with a sick animal or shared objects. Characterized by hair loss, the appearance of scales and crusts. Also, spores living in the ground can enter the house through the air or can be carried on shoes and clothing. Mice and rats are an additional source of infection.

Ringworm in cats

Important! Fungal spores are viable for up to 12 years and can withstand boiling for up to 15 minutes.

The risk group includes kittens, cats under one year old, and old individuals. The most common type of lichen is in kittens due to unformed immunity. And for other individuals of the cat family, the determining factor is considered to be a weakened or fragile immune system. Pets walking outside unattended are at high risk of getting sick—they may come into contact with an animal infected with the fungus.

The course of the disease begins with one lesion with fallen hairs, at this stage it is already possible to recognize the disease. Subsequent stages vary depending on the type of lichen, forming new spots or growing.

The incubation period for lichen (the time between infection and the first signs) lasts from 7 days to a month in a cat.

Varieties of lichen

The general name “lichen” hides various diseases with similar manifestations.

Ringworm is fungal in nature, contagious to humans and especially dangerous for children. It is also called “trichopytosis”, “microsporia”, “cat lichen”. Fungal spores are very stable in the external environment. For example, in flakes of exfoliated skin they remain viable for 6-10 years. In the soil, spores die in 2-3 months, and at home they can be active from 2 months to a year and a half. They settle on surfaces, feeling especially good on textiles. Interestingly, ringworm can be transmitted not only from cats to humans, but also vice versa.

Symptoms of ringworm in cats Treatment of ringworm in cats

Pityriasis versicolor , or pityriasis versicolor , is also a dangerous fungal disease to which humans are also susceptible. It is also called “sun fungus” and “beach lichen” due to the fact that it reaches its greatest distribution in the summer. The causative agent is the yeast-like fungus Pityrosporum. About 90% of people in the world are its carriers, and it is also present on the skin of almost any animal. Under certain conditions, the fungus turns into a pathogenic form, causing the development of lichen in cats. The provoking factor is disruption of the sebaceous glands, which results in excessive oily skin. You are especially likely to get sick in hot, humid weather.

Symptoms of pityriasis versicolor in cats Treatment of pityriasis versicolor in cats

Pink , or herpes zoster , is of an allergic nature and manifests itself when the immune system is reduced. It is considered non-infectious and harmless to humans, however, scientists do not have a consensus on this matter. There is reason to believe that pityriasis rosea may be caused by some virus that has not been clearly studied at the moment. The disease is inherited, and after recovery it sometimes returns with renewed vigor, so it is better to limit the contact of a sick cat with people, especially children and the elderly.

Symptoms of pityriasis rosea in cats Treatment of pityriasis rosea in cats

Ringworm , or eczema , is a non-contagious type of lichen that manifests itself in cats as an allergic reaction to some irritant. This can be an external influence, for example, household chemicals, detergents, or internal factors, such as hormonal imbalance, stress. For humans, this type of lichen is not dangerous.

Symptoms of ringworm in cats Treatment of ringworm in cats

Ringworm (weeping eczema)

Weeping eczema is a skin disease that occurs against a background of weakened immunity. It is not caused by fungal microorganisms, but by provoking factors, including exposure to chemicals, parasites, fleas and ticks, disruptions in the nervous system, stressful situations and poor hygiene.

First symptoms

The first signs of tinea versicolor are reddish formations on the skin, causing an increase in body temperature in the affected area. As the infection progresses, the spots become dense and fill with fluid.

If you do not take the necessary treatment measures, the affected areas open up, and the infection spreads through healthy skin, resulting in the formation of pustules. After they open, the skin becomes moisturized and begins to itch very much.

Treatment

Treatment of weeping lichen requires a lot of effort, and complete elimination of traces of lesions may be impossible. Any deviations from the treatment regimen will aggravate the animal’s condition, so before taking any measures, you should consult a veterinarian. A specialist must examine the pet and determine the factor that caused the infection.

He then prescribes antiseptic and astringent drugs, which have a positive effect on the cat's condition, improving the appearance of the affected skin. Among such remedies: salicylic, sulfuric, ichthyol and tar ointments.

If the disease becomes severe, the pet is transferred to a hospital for cats with lichen.

Symptoms

One of the main signs of lichen is spots without fur.

There are a number of common symptoms for all types of lichen in cats:

• hair loss;
• peeling and inflammation of the skin;
• change in pigmentation;
• inflammation;
• severe itching.

Symptoms of ringworm

With ringworm, a cat loses certain areas of its fur. But the disease begins with a barely noticeable small rash under the fur. Signs that should alert the owner are increased anxiety of the animal and frequent scratching. The development of ringworm in cats is characterized by the following:

• round flaky spots appear on the skin, crusts form;
• the fur in the areas where the rash appears thins, the hairs become brittle;
• smooth, reddened skin is visible under the fallen scales;
• the spots expand and take an oval shape;
• the spread of serous-purulent crusts leads to the formation of scabs;
• the areas of skin underneath are completely missing hair; after recovery, it will not be restored;
• If the cat is not treated, the spots will grow, forming extensive areas of baldness.

The spots are painful, itchy, and cats often chew and scratch them. There is also a form of ringworm in which all the described signs are either absent or clearly not expressed. This clinical picture is called atypical. Only individual hairs of the fur are affected. Ringworm is invisible, therefore, a person does not take any measures until the disease is already advanced.

Ringworm symptoms vary depending on the specific pathogen. In some cases, only the cat's head and face are affected, in others the spots spread to the entire body.

Ringworm in cats

Symptoms of versicolor (pityriasis versicolor)

Tinea versicolor initially looks like a small pale oval spot on the skin of a cat or cat. But after a few days the number of spots increases, they grow together, forming lesions of irregular shape. If the fungus gets into the claw, it becomes deformed.

Interestingly, there is practically no itching with this form of lichen. And when it gets colder, the spots may disappear on their own. The affected surface can be either smooth or scaly. Otherwise, pityriasis versicolor is practically no different from its other types.

Pityriasis versicolor in cats

Symptoms of pink (shingles)

Pityriasis rosea can appear as many small spots like an allergic rash, or it can appear as large pinkish spots up to 2 cm in diameter. Most often, lesions appear on the stomach, inner thighs, and groin of the animal. The itching may be slight or sometimes absent altogether.

In the center the spots are flaky, and at the edges the skin is smooth. In severe cases and without treatment, sepsis may occur if pathogenic microorganisms enter and take root in the lesions. Sometimes pityriasis rosea in a cat is accompanied by fever, joint pain, swollen lymph nodes, and general malaise.

Pityriasis rosea in cats

Symptoms of weeping lichen (wetting eczema)

Ringworm in cats and kittens also begins with red spots. The skin in these areas is hotter than the surrounding area and is also very painful. The rash consists of blisters filled with fluid. When these blisters rupture, their contents are released, causing skin infection and the formation of ulcers and crusts. Sometimes shingles is accompanied by a fever. This type of disease is not dangerous for people.

Lichen planus

Ringworm (microsporia, trichophytosis)

One of the most dangerous types of lichen is microsporia (ringworm). The disease develops against the background of the activity of Microsporum and Trichophyton fungi, which penetrate deeply into the skin and begin to destroy the upper epithelium of the skin. Long-haired cat breeds are more susceptible to infection than Sphynx cats or other hairless animals. The incubation period for ringworm ranges from one week to 1.5 months.

First symptoms

The first signs of ringworm appear as round spots with baldness and scales with a whitish coating that resembles ash. They form near the ears and on the skin of the extremities. There is no clear classification of typical symptoms, so to make an accurate diagnosis you need to conduct an examination at a veterinary clinic.

Treatment

Both topical and internal medications are used to combat ringworm. Their action is aimed at destroying mycotic fungal organisms.

In the early stages of treatment, the skin in the affected area is shaved, after which an antiseptic is applied there. Next, the cat is thoroughly washed with shampoo with an antifungal composition. These are the drugs Nizoral and Sebozol.

Antifungal ointments, such as Clotrimazole, Miconazole, Sanoderm or Funging, also fight ringworm well. Clotrimazole ointment is applied to the affected skin three times a day, and treatment takes from 1 to 3 months, depending on the form of the disease.

Other equally effective remedies for microsporia include Fungin spray. It is a good veterinary drug based on clotrimazole. The spray is applied to the affected skin for two weeks.

What to do if you suspect lichen in cats

The first thing to do if you suspect lichen in a domestic cat is to isolate the sick animal. There is no need to lock him in a cage or any other tight confined space. A separate room or loggia is suitable if it is warm.

Next, you need to urgently contact a veterinarian for an accurate diagnosis. Its goal is to obtain information about the cause and causative agent of lichen. Based on the research, the doctor will be able to choose the right therapy.

Important: it is strictly forbidden to bathe your pet if you notice signs of lichen. Together with the water, the lichen spores will spread to the entire body, thus increasing the affected area many times over.

During the entire period of diagnosis and treatment of lichen in cats, the following recommendations must be followed:

• use separate dishes for a sick pet;
• if there are other animals in the house, then they need to be isolated, or better yet, removed from the premises for a while to prevent an epidemic;
• Carry out disinfectant cleaning more often, paying special attention to those places where your cat most likes to be;
• wash all bedding and rugs in a disinfectant solution;
• Treat upholstered furniture with a solution of water and vinegar.

The following means are used for disinfection:

• quartz lamp - you need to turn it on in an infected room for 20-25 minutes;
• hot water with the addition of bleach or any other chlorine-containing bleach for washing linen and towels;
• hot steam for processing upholstered furniture;
• water with the addition of bleach, alcohol, iodine, vinegar, soap-soda mixture or 3-4% chlorhexidine for washing surfaces.

Remember that you need to wash not only the floor, but also, if possible, walls, doors, tables, baseboards, paying special attention to corners, crevices and other hard-to-reach places.

Pityriasis versicolor (lichen versicolor)

This form of lichen is considered dangerous not only for animals, but also for people. Initially, it causes the appearance of a small oval spot with a pinkish or pale yellow tint. Further, the lesions quickly spread throughout the body, merging into one large spot.

Treatment

Enilconazole-based medications are used to fight infection. Among them are Imaverol or Lime Sulfur.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of lichen in cats and kittens begins with a visual examination by a veterinarian. The doctor interviews the owner and reviews the medical record, if available, to get an idea of ​​the animal's general condition, risk factors and predispositions to the disease.

After a clinical examination, one or more examination methods are applied.

• Fluorescent Wood Lamp. Under the influence of rays, the affected areas are highlighted in green. But this method of determining lichen in cats is only partially effective and is not 100% reliable. Some types of fungus do not emit a glow, and on the contrary, harmless spores can give a false positive signal.
• Examination under a microscope of scrapings from the skin or affected hairs. This is a more accurate method than the Wood's lamp, and the result will also be known immediately. The disadvantage of the examination is that it is not always possible to see the pathogenic organism, so a negative result does not mean that the cat does not have lichen.
• Isolation of the pathogen in a nutrient medium is the most accurate way to determine lichen. Animal skin samples are placed in a special composition that is favorable for the spread of infection. Observation is carried out for some time, then the grown microflora is studied under a microscope. The disadvantage of this method is that it takes a long time – it will take up to 3 weeks to get the result.

Additionally, a blood test is taken from a cat suspected of having lichen, and the presence of parasites and chronic diseases is checked.

Examining a cat using a Wood's lamp

Diagnosis of the disease

Detecting lichen on a cat’s skin and diagnosing its type can be extremely difficult, because the fur, especially in long-haired pets, hides the affected areas. And regular licking masks itching and burning. In order to detect redness, peeling and other signs of illness in time, it is necessary to regularly examine your pet. A thorough study of the issue, carried out in advance, will help you not to panic, but to take timely steps for treatment.

Mycoplasmosis in cats: treatment, danger to humans

It is mandatory to contact a veterinary clinic. To identify lichen, doctors use fluorescent diagnostics. If a spot on the skin gives a bright green or emerald glow from an ultraviolet lamp, it means that the cat is infected with a fungus and needs treatment.

Diagnostics

Note! Luminescent diagnostics are 60-70% reliable. Only based on the test results can an accurate diagnosis be made.

Treatment of deprivation

Treatment for lichen in a cat depends on its type. In some cases, you can get by with ointments, in others you will need complex therapy with tablets and injections. In the initial stages, it is much easier to defeat the disease. The choice of how to treat lichen depends on the following factors:

• severity of the disease;
• immunity status and cat breed;
• the size of the affected areas.

Wound healing occurs within approximately 1-2 weeks. In the absence of purulent processes, complete fur renewal will be completed in 4-5 weeks. Otherwise, pigment spots or scars may remain. The disappearance of symptoms does not guarantee a cure for lichen. Laboratory tests can reliably confirm this.

Treatment of ringworm

Ringworm in an advanced form can cause serious complications in cats, therefore, after confirming the diagnosis, complex therapy is immediately prescribed, including the following:

Anti-lick collar

• antifungal ointments, shampoos and creams;
• pills;
• injections.

Before local treatment, the edges of the affected areas are shaved. In cropped areas, there is better contact of the medicine with the skin, therefore the effectiveness of the effect increases. The following drugs are commonly used:

• shampoos with antifungal action, for example “Veterinary Formula ANTISEPTIC & ANTIFUNGAL”, “Doctor”, “Nizoral”, “Sebozol”. The products are applied to the areas affected by lichen, foamed and left for several minutes, after which they are thoroughly washed off. The cost of shampoos is approximately 200-500 rubles per bottle;
• products for topical use: “Epacid-F”, “Fungin”, “Yam” ointment, “Sanoderm”, “Clotrimazole”, “Miconazole”. “Epacid-F” is applied to the skin after removing the crusts, “Fungin” is used once a day, the rest of the products are used from 2 to 5 times a day. It is very important to prevent the cat from licking the drugs after application, so it is advisable to put a special collar on her neck. The cost of funds varies from 30 to 400 rubles.

Since ringworm in cats often develops into a protracted form, local treatment cannot be limited to. The doctor will most likely prescribe medications in the form of tablets or injections. The tablets that can be prescribed are Griseofulvin, Itraconazole, Terbinafine or their analogues. These drugs are intended for humans, but have also been successfully used to treat animals. For cats, they are added to food in crushed form. If it is a capsule, then you need to pour the powder from it into the food. The cost of medicines starts from 200 rubles and depends on the brand and manufacturer.

Important: tablets can only be used as prescribed by a veterinarian. All medications used are intended for humans, so only a doctor can calculate the exact dosage for a cat.

The optimal and most effective way to treat ringworm in cats is the use of vaccines. They can also be used for prevention, but if the animal is already infected, injections are given for treatment, just in a different dosage. Such drugs as “Vakderm-F”, “Polivak” are used. They are inexpensive, 150-200 rubles. But vaccines have a number of contraindications: they cannot be given to sick and severely weakened animals, at elevated temperatures and febrile conditions, or in the presence of infectious diseases. Some drugs are contraindicated in the second half of pregnancy.

A special antifungal agent for animals is “Dermikotsid”. It is injected into the thigh muscle 2-3 times with a break of 5 days. It is used when it is impossible to use vaccines. At the same time, it is contraindicated in kittens and pregnant cats, as well as in the presence of liver and kidney pathologies. Dermikotsid costs about 400 rubles.

Treatment of versicolor

The principles of treatment for multicolored lichen in cats are approximately the same as for the previous type. Antifungal therapy is carried out, hygiene is maintained, and the immune system is strengthened. Both topical drugs and those taken orally in the form of tablets or injections are used.

Most often, enilconazole-based drugs are prescribed, for example Imaverol. An emulsion is prepared on its basis: one part of the drug is diluted in 50 parts of distilled water. The solution is applied to the affected areas every three days. If the lichen is widespread, you can completely immerse the cat in the medicinal mixture. The total number of treatments should not exceed four.

In severe cases, the drug "Lime Sulfur" is used. It is a highly concentrated solution of hydrogen sulfide of lime. A mixture is also prepared from it: 1 ml of the drug is diluted in 33 ml of water. Treatment is carried out no more than once a week as prescribed by a doctor.

Due to the high toxicity of the substance, precautions must be taken:

• when processing, use a mask and protective gloves;
• do not allow the medicine to get into the eyes and mucous membranes of the cat;
• the room in which processing is carried out must be well ventilated;
• use a special collar to prevent the cat from licking the drug.

Treatment of pityriasis rosea

A mild form of pityriasis rosea on a cat's nose

A mild form of pityriasis rosea in cats can go away without special treatment. Sometimes it is enough to take measures to improve the general health of the animal’s body: adjusting the diet, limiting visits to the street, eliminating water procedures and exposure to sunlight.

Therapy is primarily aimed at combating symptoms, namely reducing itching. Antihistamines may be prescribed, and in more serious situations, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They should be used exclusively as prescribed by a veterinarian, since uncontrolled use and excess dosage can lead to a decrease in immunity, which will cause the opposite effect and the development of lichen.

You can use topical remedies, including various oils, such as sea buckthorn or apricot. They reduce itching, moisturize the skin, and reduce flaking. The most important thing when treating pityriasis rosea is to follow a set of measures to increase the cat’s immunity and eliminate the impact of negative factors.

Treatment of weeping lichen

In the treatment of weeping lichen in cats, it is important to accurately diagnose, since its causes may include hormonal disorders or infection with parasites. To local therapy it is necessary to add treatment of the identified cause of lichen. With this type of disease, it is unacceptable to treat your pet on your own.

Drying agents are used for topical use:

• Salicylic ointment is an antiseptic with an astringent effect. Twice a day, the ointment is applied around the affected areas. Relief of inflammation and restoration of the skin occurs within 10-14 days.
• Sulfur ointment effectively fights inflammation, has antimicrobial and antifungal effects, and copes with parasites such as skin mites. Treatment is carried out twice a day for 1-3 weeks. To prevent the cat from licking the ointment, you can make gauze applications and secure them with a band-aid.
• Ichthyol ointment is an effective product, but has an unpleasant odor. Improves regeneration, relieves inflammation, has an antimicrobial effect. Also applied twice a day.
• Tar ointment is a natural remedy that helps restore the skin. Full recovery usually occurs within 7-10 days.

Treatment at home

When figuring out how to treat lichen in a cat, and how long the infection is treated, you need to take into account the type and form of the disease.

After the diagnosis is made, restorative therapy begins, during which the affected skin is treated with antifungal ointments. The pet is prescribed the correct diet for the duration of treatment and is isolated from other animals or people. The animal is also regularly checked for symptoms of other diseases.

If lichen develops into a complex form, it is necessary to use not only local treatment methods, but also oral medications. If the pet has thick and long fur, it is cut off. But when performing this procedure, it is important to exercise extreme caution to prevent the infection from spreading throughout the body. Before this, the instrument is thoroughly sterilized.

At home, treatment with iodine and sulfuric lime baths is practiced. After treatment, the fur may become yellowish, but this indicates a beneficial effect of the therapy.

Veterinary pharmacies sell effective lotions and shampoos based on miconazole or enilconazole. They remove traces of lesions well and eliminate itching on the ears, stomach or neck. They are also applied to the chin or area near the nose of cats.

In the chronic form of lichen, oral medications are used. Among them:

• Griseofulvin;
• Terbinafine;
• Itraconazole

Long-term use of these drugs is often accompanied by some complications. But, if you follow the treatment regimen and follow the recommendations of specialists, the therapy will be effective and painless.

What danger does lichen pose to humans and other animals?

Unlike other feline diseases, ringworm can pose a health risk to pets and people. This concerns the ringworm form of the infection, which affects people with weak immune systems, especially children and the elderly.

The symptoms of such an infection will be determined by two factors:

1. How deep has the pathogen penetrated into human skin? Sometimes it affects only the top layer of the epithelium.
2. Smooth skin or hairy areas were affected.

Patients with fungal disease develop distinct spots on the skin that increase in size and begin to peel off. To effectively combat pathology, you need to visit a dermatologist, conduct a comprehensive diagnosis and begin treatment.

An infected person should be provided with individual personal hygiene items and take into account health care rules.

Traditional methods of treatment

In some cases, for example, when a cat is pregnant, treatment of deprivation with aggressive drugs cannot be carried out so as not to harm future kittens. In such situations, medicinal plants, alcohol, iodine and various oils are used. Treatment with traditional recipes is possible only in the initial stages of the disease.

Oregano, valerian, tricolor violet, burdock, chamomile, plantain, yarrow and many other plants are used in herbal medicine for lichen. The recipes involve the preparation of decoctions for oral administration or solutions for topical use.

There are several useful recipes for treating lichen in cats.

• Mix equal parts of nettle, string, oregano and violet leaves. Pour 2 tablespoons of the mixture into 200 ml of boiling water, let stand for 20 minutes, then strain. Give your cat this drink warm 3-4 times a day before meals.
• Mix chamomile flowers, horsetail herb, valerian root, creeping thyme herb and licorice root in equal proportions. Pour 1 tablespoon of the collection into 200 ml of boiling water and boil in a water bath for 25-30 minutes, then strain. Give the cat a decoction similar to the previous recipe until complete recovery.
• Dilute a crushed aspirin tablet in 30 ml of alcohol. Treat the affected areas with the resulting solution once every 5-7 days.
• Iodine is good for topical use. It can be applied in its pure form, or it can be pre-mixed with valerian and vegetable oil.
• Tea tree essential oil has antifungal properties and helps improve the overall condition of the skin in cats with shingles. It is used in diluted form: 3-4 drops must be diluted in a tablespoon of olive oil.

Ringworm: symptoms and treatment at home

Ringworm does not manifest itself immediately; the incubation period can last up to three months. The first signs of the disease are the appearance of round spots without hair. At first the spots are small in size, but gradually they increase in size and occupy more and more surface area on the cat’s body.

Initially, lichen appears on the ears, face, tail and paws of the animal. With ringworm, the affected areas of the skin are covered with gray, oily scales.

The disease occurs in different forms. The easiest of them is superficial, the more complex and dangerous is the deep form of ringworm. It most often affects kittens, older cats and animals with weak immunity.

The third form of the disease is atypical. With this form of ringworm, isolated areas without hair form on the cat's body. What makes recognizing the disease difficult is that ringworm of this form can be confused with ordinary abrasions or abrasions.

The superficial form of lichen is also difficult to recognize, since upon external examination, especially if the cat is fluffy, the spots are not always easy to notice. Is there a cure for lichen in cats? Yes, and below we will look at how to do this.

Treatment

If your pet is at home almost all the time, this does not mean that the fungus is not scary for him.

Rather, on the contrary, in such cats the disease develops faster and is more difficult. How to cure cat ringworm? It is recommended to isolate a sick cat or limit its presence on a bed, sofa, or chair as much as possible. This must be done because lichen can spread to humans.

The first thing you need to do to treat a sick pet is to cut the hair near the affected area and treat the spots with brilliant green or iodine.

Prevention

Prevention is the key to health!

The best way to prevent lichen in cats is vaccination. It is also supported by the fact that many varieties of fungus are resistant to antimicrobial drugs, and the veterinarian is not always able to choose the right effective remedy. Timely vaccinations can protect your pet from disease for a long time.

To prevent lichen, the Polivac vaccines are used. The drug is administered twice with an interval of 10-14 days. Immunity appears 20-30 days after repeated administration and lasts about a year.

In addition to vaccinations, there are a number of common preventive recommendations to prevent lichen infection:

• minimizing the cat’s contact with suspicious animals;
• mandatory treatment of wounds, scratches and any other damage to the animal’s skin with an antiseptic;
• regular veterinary examinations;
• maintaining hygiene, cleaning the premises, washing cat supplies;
• timely prevention against parasites;
• a complete diet.

Prevention of feline lichen

Deprivation in a cat can be avoided thanks to preventive measures:

• the house must be clean, and the cat’s sleeping area must be disinfected regularly;
• furniture surfaces are wiped with a bleach solution once a week;
• It is not advisable for the pet to have contact with stray cats and dogs;
• The cat's diet must be balanced and contain all important vitamins, micro- and macroelements.
• Preventive measures also include regular examination by a veterinarian, who can immediately detect the first symptoms of an incipient disease and prescribe adequate treatment.

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As already mentioned, the disease is more often contracted by animals with weakened immune systems, as well as kittens and older cats. This is a risk group that requires more attentive care and quality nutrition.

How to detect dermatophytosis?

It is impossible to do this at home. The doctor prescribes several procedures:

• Microscopy of hair and skin scales

Allows you to see the spores located around the hair shaft. However, this option is one of the least informative. It is impossible to completely exclude the presence of an infectious disease, because the chances of detecting traces of the fungus are low.

• Wood's lamp

Another way. It helps identify lichen caused by Microsporum canis. But even here the probability is not 100% - only 50. The glow, indicating the presence of spores on the skin, can be caused not only by pathogens of dermatophytosis, but also by certain types of bacteria, medications, and soap particles.

• Sowing on special media

The most informative method used. Accurately identifies the fungus and allows for a correct diagnosis.

What to do if a cat has ringworm, and how to treat dermatophytosis? Ask yourself the following question: are you sure that this is it? Take the animal to the nearest veterinary clinic and get tested as prescribed by the doctor. This is the only way to confirm your fears and understand in which direction to move.

Symptoms of lichen

The symptoms of a cat disease such as lichen directly depend on the damaging factor:

• cat tinea is accompanied by the appearance of painful and hot red spots of varying sizes on the skin. Spots covered with blisters are filled with a clear or slightly yellowish liquid, the leakage of which is accompanied by the appearance of a pustular infection. Under conditions of proper therapy, the affected areas of the skin quickly become covered with a crust, after which cell renewal occurs and a new coat grows;
• pityriasis rosea, a completely harmless form from the point of view of contact for humans, represented by the appearance of pink, itchy and flaky spots that have characteristic, very clear boundaries. The cause of this pathology is most often the pet’s weakened immunity;

• lichen versicolor does not differ significantly in symptoms from most other types of skin pathology. Numerous spots appearing on the skin are characterized by an elongated oval shape. In this case, the spots on the affected skin may merge, and also have inflammation, pink, yellow or brown;
• Lichen planus is characterized by the appearance on the skin of small red-pink and brownish-bluish plaques with a shiny surface. The color of such lesions has noticeable, sharp differences from the surrounding healthy skin. In the central part of the emerging nodules there may be depressions, as well as a kind of transverse striation. As the disease develops, several lichen spots merge into a single and fairly large lesion.

Important! Remember that detecting a disease such as lichen and diagnosing the pathology in cats is largely difficult, since the pet’s coat partially hides all areas affected by the fungus, and constant licking masks the itching well.

When a pet is infected with ringworm, quite active hair loss is noted, as well as the appearance of a noticeable whitish coating on the skin. The treatment of such skin lesions in cats has some characteristic features, and diagnosis requires laboratory confirmation.

Signs of infection

The first signs of this infectious disease may appear in the form of red spots that the cat scratches intensely and often. After some time, the red spots become covered with blisters containing exudative fluid.

If treatment is not started on time, the blisters burst when scratched, become infected and form ulcers.

The fur in these places begins to fall out partially or completely. If your pet has long hair, then the bald patches are difficult to notice. But attentive owners will notice the cat’s restless behavior: she refuses to eat, gets angry and constantly itches.

In animals with strong immunity, bald patches are almost invisible, the hairs only partially break off.

How to identify ringworm in a cat?

How to determine ringworm in a cat with maximum accuracy? There's a slight catch here. Of course, externally you can assume the presence of the disease. However, this is not enough - to officially confirm the diagnosis, you need to take the cat to the veterinarian. High-quality diagnosis is the key to proper treatment. After all, there are enough types of lichen, and each of them requires a special approach to therapy.

Symptoms of lichen in cats:

• the animal has spots on its skin with smooth, clearly defined boundaries (as a rule, they have a regular outline);
• the cat’s immunity decreases, which can manifest itself in decreased appetite and activity, apathy, drowsiness, etc.;
• bald patches are not overgrown (or overgrown too slowly) with hair;
• severe hair loss that does not coincide with the animal’s molting period;
• dandruff;
• the cat itches (maybe even until it bleeds).

The appearance of lichen can easily be confused with an allergy. To prevent this from happening, remember that with an allergic reaction in the affected areas of the skin, cats also experience serious swelling and rashes.

Diagnosis of lichen

Just a few years ago, one of the most universal ways to diagnose lichen in kittens was a special ultraviolet lamp, or, as it was called differently, a Wood’s lamp. However, today it is used less and less. The fact is that the Wood's lamp does not always show the correct result:

• only 50% of fungal diseases can be seen with ultraviolet radiation;
• often the UV radiation of the lamp shows other infections that can be confused with lichen;
• Sometimes a weak lamp can illuminate not only the fungus, but also the remains of dirt on the skin and fur of the animal, which calls the diagnosis into question.

Today, veterinarians offer a more modern way to identify signs of lichen in cats. The most accurate research method is tissue sampling. The veterinarian carefully removes the tissue for damaged areas of the pet's skin or fur. Afterwards, an analysis is carried out to not only determine the presence of lichen, but also to identify its specific type.

How can you evaluate the effectiveness of treatment?

The doctor cannot say how long it will take for recovery; the difficulty is that due to the fur, the spores can remain on the body for a long time. The recovery process depends on the condition of the pet, the area of ​​infection, the quality of maintenance and hygiene, and timely treatment.

The first sign of recovery can be considered the disappearance of inflammation, redness and swelling. The crusts dry out and gradually fall off. New coat may appear in 1.5 months. The animal behaves calmly and looks healthy.

To prevent fungal infection from recurring, you should protect your pet from communicating with sick animals. Animal habitats in the apartment should be kept clean.

It is necessary to increase a cat’s immunity with the help of a balanced diet and vitamins. For prevention, it is necessary to vaccinate once a year; veterinarians use Vakderm or Microderm for this purpose.

Diet for the duration of treatment

In the treatment of skin diseases of cats, dietary nutrition is of great importance, which can provide access to a sufficient amount of food into the animal’s body, taking into account the general metabolic state. A properly selected diet contributes to the most effective treatment and rapid recovery of your pet.

When choosing a completely balanced diet, you will need to take into account a number of the most important and interrelated factors:

• amount of essential nutrients;
• general indicators of energy value;
• indicators of completeness of digestibility;
• taste characteristics of food;
• hypoallergenic diet.

Balanced diets can be defined as feeds that do not allow loss of nutritional components and are capable of maintaining metabolic balance in the animal's body during the treatment phase. Such diets must necessarily be a source of the most important nutrients that satisfy the daily nutritional needs of a sick animal.

It should be remembered that dietary foods are complete only for a certain category of cats, and are capable of providing an influx of nutrients only at the treatment stage, therefore they are prescribed strictly by veterinary specialists and, as a rule, for a fairly short period of time. For any healthy pet, dietary food is absolutely incomplete.

Important! Additional diet for an animal undergoing treatment for lichen, with special vitamin and mineral complexes that enhance the weakened immunity of the pet.

The organization of dietary nutrition for pets suffering from tinea versicolor due to allergic manifestations will require increased attention. A significant part of the food products used in the diet of domestic cats are not capable of causing any allergic reactions in pets.

However, in some cases, the activation of immunological mechanisms is due to strictly defined antigens, which are most often represented by proteins or proteins. For example, possible allergens for cats typically include milk and soy protein, wheat and yeast, beef and horse meat, chicken and pork, and chicken eggs.

Clinically, an allergic reaction can appear very suddenly, even after several years of exposure to the allergen. In this case, the allergic reaction is not seasonal, nor does it depend on the age or gender of the animal.

During this period, your pet can be given ready-made medicinal diets that are designed to get rid of food allergies. Once the condition has been stabilized, the animal can be gradually transferred to a daily diet designed for feeding pets prone to allergic reactions.

How does pityriasis versicolor go away?

It is easy to visually distinguish pityriasis versicolor or tinea versicolor from other types of skin diseases. The surface of the affected areas is very uneven and loose, and their shape is usually irregular, merging and forming bizarre patterns.

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You can determine whether pityriasis versicolor has passed or not using the Balzer test.

There is a fairly simple way to diagnose pityriasis versicolor. This is the Balzer test using iodine tincture.

How to understand that tinea versicolor has passed, or, conversely, continues to develop, using regular iodine? The affected areas are lubricated with iodine solution. At the same time, the stratum corneum of the skin, which is greatly loosened by the action of fungi, actively absorbs iodine, and the lichen spots acquire an intense brown color. And places where there is no lichen become pale yellow. If the dark areas become smaller over time, it means the disease is receding.

Another way to check the degree of recovery from this disease is by scraping the skin from the affected areas. If overgrown fungal threads with living cells are detected under a microscope, then treatment must be continued.

If you look in the dark at the foci of tinea versicolor in the spectrum of UV rays of a quartz lamp (Wood's fluorescent lamp), the foci will glow brown, blue-green or yellowish-red.

Determining when recovery is underway can be easy. But, given the possible consequences and complications arising from untreated lichen, it is better to insure yourself. An experienced doctor and the necessary laboratory tests can confirm your guesses that the lichen has gone away, or show that for a complete recovery you need to extend the treatment a little.

No traces remain in place of the former stains. This indicates that recovery has occurred. How is pityriasis rosea transmitted? You can find detailed information here.

Vectors of the disease and the main causes of its occurrence

The name we know is household. Experts use another term – dermatophytoses. Such lesions are caused by fungi of different species - Microsporum, Trichophiton or Epidermophiton.

Clinical manifestations of lichen are most often observed in animals under 12 months of age. There are many reasons for this predisposition to the disease. This:

• decreased immunity;
• lack of nutrients (poor and monotonous food), deficiency of vitamins and amino acids;
• weakening of the body by viruses.

Dermatophytoses also occur in adults. For them, they occur during periods of severe stress or when the immune system is suppressed for some reason (infection, lack of a balanced diet, etc.).

The fungi that cause ringworm can be found on the skin and hair of cats even in the absence of obvious signs of disease. Dermatophytosis pathogens are especially often carried by animals kept in nurseries or participating in exhibitions - as a rule, these are Persians with thick and lush hair.

In areas where large numbers of animals live, one of the most serious problems is the risk of widespread spread of fungal spores. They can withstand environmental influences for up to 18 months.

Establishing diagnosis

If lichen is suspected, the owner should immediately seek help from a veterinary clinic to ensure the diagnosis is correct. The veterinarian will make a scraping from the affected areas and send it for analysis to a veterinary laboratory, where, based on cultures and microscopy, they will confirm or deny the presence of a fungal infection.

It is important that the scraping is made on the border between the healthy and affected area of ​​the epidermis, since it is in this place that the bulk of the fungus accumulates.

Often, the veterinarian does not need to resort to the help of laboratory workers to make a diagnosis. Thus, the fur of a cat with microsporia has an amazingly beautiful emerald glow in the rays of a special lamp, which is clearly visible in a dark room.

How to properly treat an animal and give various medications

In order for a pet to be treated effectively and recovery to occur quickly, owners must learn how to use medications correctly. Before use, you must study the instructions that come with the medications and strictly follow them.

Tablets, capsules

To give a cat a tablet or capsule, you will need to wrap the animal in a diaper or towel (the head should be outside) so that it does not scratch the owner.

Having limited the cat's movement, with one hand they gently press on the mouth so that it opens.

A good example of how to give a pill to a cat.

With the other hand, they throw the tablet into the mouth, trying to get it to the back of the tongue. Then you need to make sure that the cat swallows the tablet. After this, you need to give the animal something to drink and eat so that the medicine passes more easily through the esophagus to the stomach.

A method of feeding a cat a tablet using a syringe.

You can hide a small tablet in your cat's favorite wet food. To do this, the cat must be very hungry. The tablet is hidden in ¼ of the portion and given to the animal. When the plate is empty, leftover food is added there.

Vaccines and any injections

Antifungal vaccines can only be used 10 days after deworming the animal. Vaccination is prohibited for pregnant and lactating cats, as well as kittens under 2 months of age. The vaccine is administered according to a special schedule; re-vaccination is allowed after a two-week break.

If the owner will inject himself, then some rules must be followed. Before the procedure, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap. The syringe needle must not be touched after the cap has been removed. The injection is given only in the place indicated by the veterinarian. The medicine is drawn into a syringe and air is released from it until the first drops appear on the needle.

The animal's skin is pulled back into a fold, the syringe is positioned at an angle of 45˚, the skin is pierced and the medicine is released. After removing the needle, the injection site should be lightly stroked, and then the cat is released. If a lump appears at the injection site or your pet behaves restlessly, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Shampoos

Shampoos are used in the complex treatment of ringworm. It is recommended to bathe the cat 2 times a week; the course of treatment can last up to 1.5 months. If the infection is minor, bathing may have the opposite effect; the spores will spread to healthy areas of the body. Shampoos with an antifungal effect are prescribed for the generalized form of the disease.

You should bathe your cat carefully to avoid side effects. The shampoo is applied to the animal and left for up to 15 minutes (the time is indicated in the instructions for the product). The resulting foam is thoroughly washed off with plenty of warm water. After the procedure, the bath should be washed with a disinfectant.

Ointments, gels, sprays

Therapeutic ointments, sprays and gels have antifungal properties and promote rapid restoration of the epidermis. The ointment or gel should be applied to the affected area in a thin layer, covering about 3 cm of healthy skin.

If the lichen is on the head, then you need to make sure that the cream does not get into your eyes. Ointments are used up to 2 times a day, the course of treatment can last up to 10 days.

Another effective remedy, especially at the early stage of the disease, are sprays, for example Fungin or Biopirox. The aerosol is applied to the affected areas of the skin up to 4 times a day with a break of 3 days.

The bottle is pre-shaken, and the product is sprayed at a distance of at least 20 cm from the site of inflammation for 3 seconds. The veterinarian prescribes the course of treatment individually.

To prevent the cat from licking the medicine, a muzzle or a special collar is put on it.