Reoccuring Cat Ringworm Treatment

by Meg
(Mobile, AL)

My kitten Malayna has now had ringworm for about a month and they are mostly on her face. She has been now been on 2 rounds of oral medications as well as a triple antibiotic topical twice a day and then a bath in dial antibacterial soap every other day.

Now a month into the treatments, she now has a NEW site on her nose. I am at my whits end! Please help!!

Vet Suggestion Reoccurring Cat Ringworm Treatment

Hi Meg,

As you have unfortunately found out, ringworm can be very difficult to get rid of. I do not know what medications Malayna has been on, but I can give you some advice on treating ringworm in general, and if it differs significantly from what you have been using, talk to your veterinarian.

• If you have more than one cat in your house, you should have them all evaluated for ringworm. Someone else might be carrying the fungus (even if she doesn’t have any skin lesions) and reinfecting Malayna.

• Decontaminate your house using a vacuum cleaner, a hot washer and dryer, and a 10% bleach solution wherever appropriate.

• Long haired cats sometimes benefit from being shaved.

• Bathe Malayna weekly with a medicated shampoo containing miconazole and chlorhexidine or dip her using a lime sulfur dip (e.g; Naturasil Ringworm).

• Oral treatment with the drugs griseofulvin or itraconazole may be needed in severe cases. Treatment may need to be continued for months.

• Remember that ringworm can be contagious to people so wear rubber gloves when handling Malayna and wash your skin and clothing well. If you notice any skin lesions on yourself, talk to your doctor.

Good luck,

Jennifer Coates, DVM