Conference misery::feline_v1

    I haven't heard of this but I wouldn't be entirely
    comfortable with an over-the-phone diagnosis.
    The first noticeable sign of ringworm in my kitten was hair
    loss around one eye.  
    
    Donna

    I don't think I'd be too comfortable with over-the-jphone diagnosis
    either.   My cat Beeps started losing hair around his neck lately.
    I attributed it to the flea collar he was wearing.  We had to put
    a flea collar on him for a month on advice of our vet.  When Beeps
    "found" us last November-he was full of fleas and worms.  After
    spending 3 days at the Vets to be dipped and tubed, we were told
    to just put the collar on him for a short time to make sure there
    was no re-infestation...(Beeps is an inside cat only now)  He is
    also a beautiful long haired cat also, and within a week of removing
    the collar, I started noticing hair around the house in clumps.
    Then I started noticing bare spots on his neck...until finally a
    full circle - about an inch wide all around his neck is missing
    the hair.  Hopefully it will grow back.  Right now he looks like
    someone strangled him!!!
    
    Maybe you should bring your kitty to be checked before administering
    medication that you're not sure about.  I certainly took the wrong
    advice from my vet!!
    
    Good luck
    
    Wendy 
    

    After reading this note and having my mind jogged that flea active
    season is about here, I called my vet about the fact that my pure
    white cat, Cotton, seems to get ill every time we try to use a flea
    medication on her.  The vet gave me some interesting information.
    
    The medications for fleas that you can buy over the counter, are
    NOT vet tested or approved and many cats have difficulties with
    them.  Sprays are much stronger than powders and collars are only
    effective when used to repel new fleas arriving on the host.  They
    do nothing for the fleas already on the cat.  A vet administered
    dip should only be used for severe infestation problems and with
    cats who have not shown any problems with over the counter treatments.
    Otherwise you run the risk of poisoning the cat's system. 
    
    Since Cotton is so sensitive, the vet suggested that I put her in
    the Animal Hospital for 24 hours and have her shampooed with a mild
    soap and flea deterant, have my house de-fleaed during her absence.
    then leave her for a day to be observed to make sure she does not
    react.
          
    We have one other problem with Cotton. She becomes uncontrollable
    when she is near a vet.  It took 4 adults and a pair of fire place
    gloves to contain her to give her her  leukemia shot the first time.
    We got smarter for the next shots but for a 6 pound kitty she can
    be a 200 pound tiger when it comes to vet visits. I also discussed
    this with the vet (new one) and she said she would try very hard
    not to have to give Cotton any anithesia but it might be necessary.
    I bet she will have to do it.
    
    I felt very comfortable with this vet as she spent a lot of time
    with me over the phone so we are going to try her method.
    
    So the message here is BEWARE of over the counter flea medications
    and dipping your cat for fleas.
    
    Mary Ann

    Thanks for your replys...I called a couple of vets and Alex probably
    has ringworm.  Ringworm is not actually a worm but a virus and it
    is transmittable to humans...(yea)
    
    I also received confirmation that fleas can host the tapeworm (this
    is from two vets) and is one of the major causes of tapeworm among
    cats and dogs.  
    
    p.s.  Mary Ann - Rich said hello!!
    
    Regards - Laura

    If it's ringworm be sure the vet puts the cat under the
    special Wood's light for an accurate diagnosis.  The light
    provides ultraviolet rays that cause infected hairs to give
    off a greenish yellow fluorescence.  The entire body of the
    cat must be examined throroughly.  A definite diagnosis often
    depends on microscopic examination and culturing of hairs 
    and skin scales.
    
    If it is ringworm, get going on the treatment now.  It spreads
    fairly quickly, and if you have any other cats, it has most
    likely already spread to them, though hair loss may not be
    evident yet.  Infection of the claws (uncommon) may require
    treatment for 5 or 6 months.  Lesser infections typically can
    take several weeks of vigilant treatment.  This is the key.
    You must be consistent and vigilant with the treatment.
    
    Hygienic measures are important.  Hairs shed by an infected
    animal may remain infective and contaminate the environment
    for over a year.  Vacuuming all areas and objects with which
    a cat has been in contact is the most effective method of
    getting rid of infected hairs.
    
    As you mentioned it is contagious to humans as well.  I didn't
    get it from my two kittens when they had it, but I believe there
    is medication you can get from your doctor that will prevent
    you from getting it.
    
    Donna

    Well I know of someone that DID get ringworm from her 
    infected kitty and what a mess.  She is STILL on medication
    for it and had to return the kitten for it's original buyer.
    
    Not only did she contract ringworm, but so did 3 out of 4
    other people that also came in contact with the kitten.
    She suffered not only from the loss of her new friend, but
    also had dark rings from the tip of her head to her toes and
    was not even able to leave the house for over a week.
    
    So if this is ringworm, get treatment asap.
    
    Wendy
    

    Re: .6
    
    Why did she return the kitten?  A new kitten that a friend of mine
    got came  with ringworm.  Soon all the other denizens of the house
    had it too, but they all got better with (a few weeks? of) treatment.
    

She may have returned the kitten because of the severity of her
    reaction to ringworm itself.  I saw her and I couldn't believe
    how BAD she had it.  She was showing mild symptom's of other
    allergies brought on by the kitten anyway, and this may have
    just topped it off.  Besides, she has been treated for the
    ringworm for over 2 months and still shows faint circles on
    her face and neck.  Again, probably the severity of the reaction.
    
    
     
    
    
    

    Just in case the faint circles are residual skin damage and not
    residual ringworm, you might try one of those vitamin e skin
    lotions/gels that go for a dollar or two a bottle in the drugstore.
    They're very good for clearing up random skin damage when applied
    once or twice a day for several days to a week.  A doctor recommended
    them to me.  Some people are allergic to vitamin e however, so beware
    of that.  P.S. >>> note that this is a recommendation aimed at humans.
     For all I know, vit e is toxic to cats. <<<
    

    Well...I took Alex to the vets last night.  He DOES NOT have ringworm
    thank GOD...  Right away, he asked me if the cat is an outdoor cat
    and as soon as I said yes, he told me he must have gotten tangled
    up with another animal.  Well, we did have my friends "very active
    and playful" 6 month old kitten for two days, and they did play rather
    roughly.  My vet said that the hair around the eyes is very delicate
    and with all of the rough-housing, it just rubbed off.  The kitten
    also scratched the inside of Alex's ears and with the itching of the
    scabs, Alex was scratching his ears and that also contributed to
    the hair loss because of the dew-claw (sp?) rubbing along-side of
    his face. 
    
    Boy, the things I am learning about "my son"!!!  
    
    Laura 
                      

    How did he rule out ringworm, or something else?
    
    Donna

    Just by looking at the cat....Now you got me thinking...
    
    I'm wondering if it could be because of his new flea collar...although
    he has worn them before with no effects...The hair seems to be growing
    back - I'll keep an eye on him though  
    
    Why do you ask?  Do you think it could still be ringworm?  
    
    Laura

    Re .11 (Donna):
    
    I don't know what he did, but I understand that ringworm will flouresce
    under ultraviolet light.  Maybe he used that ....
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr.

    Sometimes ringworm will glow under ultraviolet, sometimes not. 
    The only way to be absolutely sure is by growth culture. 
    
    The treatment for ringworm in humans is usually clotrimazole and
    betamethasone dipropionate in a lotion base.  For very mild caes
    in cats, they use the same, in worse cases they usually prescribe
    an internal treatment of horrible tasting stuff that will have your
    cats ABSOLUTELY hating you, as you usually need to mix it with a
    light oil (like corn oil) for aid in absorbtion and usually for
    adult cats is like 16cc a week (fortunately given only once a week,
    generally).
    
    Try dosing 8 adult cats and 5 feral kittens for 4 weeks.  Try counting
    the number of bites and scratches without a calculator.  Decide
    to take up heavy alcoholic consumption.
    
    Dave