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I'm leaning towards "no vet" but thought I'd get some other opinions, experiences.
18 months ago we had a NIGHTMARISH experience with ringworm with our then 4 month old newly adopted kitten, Leo. He lived in isolation and none of the other cats ever got it. 3 of the 4 humans in the house got it and that was the nightmarish part....I'll spare you the details but the fungus set off a secondary dermatitis that might have me itching for the rest of my life (according to the dermatologist) and my kids had to take dangerous meds to get it out of their scalp.
I'm not sure how much help our vet's advice was. She gave ketaconozole (orally) for Leo and told us to use over the counter human anti-fungal lotion...which we did. During the 6th and final week of the oral meds Leo was still developing new lesions. I think apple cider vinegar (diluted), time and betadine might have done as much good. Since all this I've been reading that anti-fungal shampoos are very effective. But with 4 adult cats who have never had a bath, I'm not sure I can do it. I'm surprised my vet never even mentioned that option, though.
Even the fungal culture was a waste of time. 3 days more and the fungal culture growing on our skin would have given us answers.
Yesterday my whole life flashed before my eyes when I saw a spot of what looks like ringworm on Emily's face. (It is in a very recessed spot, where the cheek narrows to the mouth, that almost surely couldn't have been scratched by another cat.) We have a foster cat in isolation that was here 5 days before the spot appeared. My guess is that Emily has been an asymptomatic carrier all these months and the stress of the new addition could have caused it to develop?? (She actually seems curious about the new cat, not stressed but who knows?) I don't think she could have gotten it from the new cat (who shows no symptoms) that quickly.
I just bought some colloidal silver (500 ppm) from the health store after reading about it here. I will apply it externally to the spot.
Here's where I'm not sure.....vet visit or no vet visit?? I'd hate to think I could have had this more under control if she had been on oral meds (if it spirals out of control like I fear.) Expense is a consideration (foster kitty is going to have major vet bills), but I'd spare no expense to get rid of this quickly if I thought the vet could do any good.
Any opinions....vet or no vet?
Also, I can't even imagine making Emily live in isolation after her knowing the whole house for so long. (With a new kitten it was a different story.) Do you think I'm doing the right thing by not isolating her? So many decisions to make.
Edited to add....Emily is an indoor cat with no fleas. She also has a very strong immune system...which makes me hopeful she will kick this quickly but also makes me wonder why a 2 yr old cat with a strong immune system would get it.
18 months ago we had a NIGHTMARISH experience with ringworm with our then 4 month old newly adopted kitten, Leo. He lived in isolation and none of the other cats ever got it. 3 of the 4 humans in the house got it and that was the nightmarish part....I'll spare you the details but the fungus set off a secondary dermatitis that might have me itching for the rest of my life (according to the dermatologist) and my kids had to take dangerous meds to get it out of their scalp.
I'm not sure how much help our vet's advice was. She gave ketaconozole (orally) for Leo and told us to use over the counter human anti-fungal lotion...which we did. During the 6th and final week of the oral meds Leo was still developing new lesions. I think apple cider vinegar (diluted), time and betadine might have done as much good. Since all this I've been reading that anti-fungal shampoos are very effective. But with 4 adult cats who have never had a bath, I'm not sure I can do it. I'm surprised my vet never even mentioned that option, though.
Even the fungal culture was a waste of time. 3 days more and the fungal culture growing on our skin would have given us answers.
Yesterday my whole life flashed before my eyes when I saw a spot of what looks like ringworm on Emily's face. (It is in a very recessed spot, where the cheek narrows to the mouth, that almost surely couldn't have been scratched by another cat.) We have a foster cat in isolation that was here 5 days before the spot appeared. My guess is that Emily has been an asymptomatic carrier all these months and the stress of the new addition could have caused it to develop?? (She actually seems curious about the new cat, not stressed but who knows?) I don't think she could have gotten it from the new cat (who shows no symptoms) that quickly.
I just bought some colloidal silver (500 ppm) from the health store after reading about it here. I will apply it externally to the spot.
Here's where I'm not sure.....vet visit or no vet visit?? I'd hate to think I could have had this more under control if she had been on oral meds (if it spirals out of control like I fear.) Expense is a consideration (foster kitty is going to have major vet bills), but I'd spare no expense to get rid of this quickly if I thought the vet could do any good.
Any opinions....vet or no vet?
Also, I can't even imagine making Emily live in isolation after her knowing the whole house for so long. (With a new kitten it was a different story.) Do you think I'm doing the right thing by not isolating her? So many decisions to make.
Edited to add....Emily is an indoor cat with no fleas. She also has a very strong immune system...which makes me hopeful she will kick this quickly but also makes me wonder why a 2 yr old cat with a strong immune system would get it.
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