Friday 13 May 2022Cats are one of the most adorable animals, no wonder these animals are kept by many people. Therefore, we must always maintain the health of our beloved animal, including protecting it from fungal diseases.
Ringworm is the general name given to fungal infections of the superficial layers of skin, hair, and nails. Ringworm infection can occur in humans and all species of pets.
The organisms that cause ringworm infections belong to a special group of fungi known as dermatophytes, hence the medical name for this disease is dermatophytosis.
Ringworm can sometimes be difficult to detect in cats, as ringworm lesions may be very mild or even undetectable. Ringworm fungus feeds on keratin which is found in the outer layers of skin, hair, and nails.
Crusting on the inside of the coat may be the only visible indicator of a yeast infection in cats. Some cats may have round, thickened skin with hair loss.
Hair loss (alopecia) occurs when spores infect the hair shaft, resulting in increased fragility of the infected hair. The most common cause of fungus in cats or ringworm is Microsporum canis.
How to transmit fungus to cats
Fungus in cats is a contagious condition. Transmission occurs through direct contact with fungi. The fungus can be transmitted by direct contact with infected animals or infected people, or by touching contaminated objects, or touching contaminated surfaces.
Mold spores may remain dormant on combs, brushes, food bowls, furniture, bedding, carpets, or other environmental surfaces for months. Contact with ringworm fungus does not always result in infection.
Several ways can be done, in order to overcome and eliminate fungal infections that grow on the cat's skin, including:
1. Topical Treatment
This treatment is done using medicinal mushrooms in combination with other drugs such as ointments and creams. The drug will later be applied to the skin of the cat that is infected with the fungus.
If the fungus only attacks some parts of the skin, then shaving the cat's fur on the infected area is necessary. Usually, vets will recommend shaving the entire coat for cats with thick, long hair.
After the ointment or cream and a combination of topical treatments have been applied, the cat will be bathed in an antifungal shampoo at least twice a week. However, it is important to ask your veterinarian about which shampoo is suitable for fungal treatment. This aims to avoid the risk of allergies to certain shampoo ingredients. Generally, topical treatments take a few weeks to months.
2. Use of Oral Drugs
If your cat has been diagnosed with a yeast infection, your vet will also prescribe antifungal medication to treat the infection. Launching from The Spruce Pets, one of the drugs commonly used is Itraconazole to treat fungal cats. This drug must be mixed into a liquid solution because the capsule size is quite large for cats. It aims to provide the right dose can be done.
3. Environmental Care
Reporting from The Manhattan Cat Specialist, microscopic mold spores can survive in the home environment for a long time, which is 18 to 24 months. As a result, these spores can spread easily through contaminated air and dust.
Well, in order to minimize transmission, infected cats should be kept in a small room that is easy to clean. For example, such as a bathroom that does not have a carpet. Cats must also be quarantined in this room until they receive an oral antifungal medication for two weeks.
In addition, treatment of the home environment to kill the remaining spores also needs to be done. To do this, you can use a dilute bleach solution that is splashed on the floor of the house. Be sure to keep the bleach solution in contact with the surface for 10 minutes. This is to ensure that the area has been properly disinfected.
That's how to keep our cats away from mold and how to handle them if they are exposed to mold.
Lead image from unsplash
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Thanks for this valuable information. I will take care of my cat more carefully.