Problems With Ringworm in a Cat's Skin
Ringworm is an infection caused by a fungus that grows in layers on the skin, hair or nails. The fungi feed on dead cells. There are around 40 different species of fungi that cause the disease, but the most common found in cats is Microsporum canis.
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Contagious
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Ringworm is transmitted by direct contact with fungal spores, which can survive for long periods of time. They can be found on infected animals, infected brushes, contaminated boarding facilities, and in areas where an infected animal has been.
Hair loss
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Cats suffering from ringworm can lose hair. Hair loss may be mild or severe. The first sign could be excessive shedding, and hairballs occur when large parts of the body are affected. It's the most common cause of baldness in many animals. Long-haired cats and very young kittens are more susceptible to it.
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Lesions
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Lesions often have scaly skin in the center and may or may not be itchy and irritated. They start small and continue to grow in size. Lesions are usually found on the head, ears and tail.
Treatments
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All affected animals should be treated by an oral medication and by a treatment applied directly to the hair coat and skin.
Preventions
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Isolate cats Newborn cats as well as new cats to your home, need to be checked for ringworm and should be isolated until the results are known. You should also never share grooming equipment with any other animal. Bathing in an anti-fungal agent after being in contact with other cats is another strong precaution.
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References
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- Photo Credit Cats Eyes image by Chris Davis from Fotolia.com cat brush image by Allyson Ricketts from Fotolia.com cats image by Hubert from Fotolia.com
