Dermatomycosis in cats treatment at home

Dermatophytosis or lichen

is an infection caused by certain types of fungi that can live on a cat's skin and use the surface layer of the skin, fur, and claws as a food source. For the general name of such fungi, the term dermatophytes is used.

Although the term ringworm

, which literally means Ring Worm, fungi have nothing in common with any worms.
In Russian, such infections are called Ringworm
(often Ringworm).

There are about forty different species of dermatophyte fungi known that are capable of infecting certain species of animals. In cats, most cases of lichen are caused by a fungus called Microsporum canis. This microorganism can infect many other animal species, including dogs, as well as humans.

Where is it most often found?

According to various sources, up to 20 percent or more of adults are affected by various forms of dermatomycosis. The reasons leading to the appearance of this disease include a decrease in immunity in combination with difficult environmental conditions - lack of ventilation, airtight shoes, clothing.

Hence the main risk groups:

aged people;
HIV patients;
miners, metallurgists, athletes, military.

Public swimming pools and saunas, as well as gyms, are the main “supplier” of mycotic infections.

Symptoms and treatment depend on the specific species.

At-risk groups

Fungal diseases are very dangerous. They are easily transmitted from infected animals to healthy individuals and humans.

There are certain representatives of the cat family that are more susceptible to infection than others and are at risk:

kittens and young individuals up to 12 months due to an insufficiently mature immune system;
cats and cats over 10 years old, as their immunity is already weakened;
animals with chronic diseases and cancer;
long-haired breeds are more susceptible to fungal infections than their short-haired counterparts;
animals kept in shelters and living in the wild.

Cats that live in large groups are more susceptible to dermatomycosis.

If the pet is in normal health, mild illnesses may result in self-recovery and go unnoticed by the owners.

The disease is easily transmitted to people, children are especially susceptible to infection.

Treatment at home for dermatomycosis and microsporia is carried out with medications.

When caring for a sick animal, you need to take the following precautions:

perform all actions with gloves;
clothes and care items are boiled in a special solution after use;
after the course of treatment, it is necessary to dispose of the bedding and other objects that the cat came into contact with;
All animals living in the same household must be isolated and treated.

Advice. Long-haired cats and cats must be shaved or cut very short during treatment.

Types of dermatomycosis

There are a large number of different classifications of dermatomycosis. However, none can be considered ideal. Of greatest interest from a practical point of view is the division of dermatomycosis according to localization in the body:

on the head;
on the nails;
on the skin of the body;
dermatomycosis of the groin area.

Dermatomycosis and its pathogens

The main manifestation of dermatomycosis is the appearance on the animal’s skin of lesions with sparse hair or no hair at all. With this disease, the epidermis, hair shaft and the skin itself are affected.

The photo shows the causative agent of dermatomycosis, magnified under a microscope.

The most common is:

infection caused by 2 pathogens: trichophytosis and microsporia;
Cats of any age can become infected, young animals are especially susceptible;
transmission of the disease occurs at any time of the year;
the incubation period is 5-40 days, depending on the animal’s immune system.

The disease is caused by spores of imperfect dermatophyte fungi that feed on the horny derivatives of the epidermis of the skin.

Dermatophyte pathogens are divided into several groups:

The habitat of geophiles is the ground, infection occurs after contact with the soil;
carriers of zoophilic pathogens are animals, they are transmitted under the condition of similarity of keratin;
Anthropophilic diseases infect people from each other; the disease can be epidemic in nature.

Classification occurs depending on the type of tissue affected:

with epidermophytosis, the stratum corneum of the epidermis suffers;
disturbances in the stratum corneum of the epidermis and hairline are caused by trichophytosis;
onychomycosis affects the horny mass of the nails.

A cat becomes infected during contact with another animal or at the moment of contact with inseminated objects or soil.

Dermatomycosis of the groin area

Located in the inguinal folds. Most often, overweight men suffer from groin ringworm. Diabetes mellitus is an additional risk factor.

The infection is transmitted both through direct contact and through shared use of equipment, for example, in the gym. Naturally, against the background of a general decrease in immunity.

After the initial lesion of the inguinal folds itself, the infection spreads to neighboring areas of the body: the perineal area, anus, intergluteal folds.

Any bends (elbows, knees) are most vulnerable to infection, since in these places ventilation and the flow of fresh air are most often difficult, and sweating is most severe.

Pink spots of dermatomycosis are very itchy, and after scratching they form crusts, blisters, and peeling. It gradually goes away on its own if it is possible to reduce the moisture content of the skin at the site of the lesion.

Prevention of dermatophyte infections in cats.

Prevention of lichen is of particular importance for catteries and shelters. Although the risk of infection cannot be completely eliminated, certain precautions can be taken. If a new cat is to be adopted into the cattery, it is necessary to check its fur for the presence of fungal cultures (simply by collecting hair with a brush from different parts of the body). If the test result is negative, then you can be sure that she will not bring lichen to the nursery.

Dermatomycoses

– diseases of the skin and its derivatives (hair, claws) caused by dermatomycetes fungi.

Depending on the type of pathogenic fungi, microsporia and trichophytosis

and
saprophytic fungal infections
(candidiasis, malassezia). In common parlance, some types of dermatomycosis (trichopytosis, microsporia) are called ringworm.

Microsporia, trichophytosis.

Animals become infected through contact with a sick animal or contaminated care items, through soil containing geophilic dermatophytes, through rodents, and hedgehogs. Most often, the disease is recorded in young animals with a weakened immune system, in animals suffering from or having recovered from viral or oncological diseases, with poor nutrition or nutritional deficiencies, during pregnancy and lactation, when using immunosuppressive therapy (corticosteroids), in some dishormonal conditions accompanied by a decrease in protective properties of the skin (diabetes, hypercortisolism, hypothyroidism).

Abrasions, scratches, scratching, dermatitis create favorable conditions for the development of dermatophytes. Fungi can multiply on straw, hay, manure, vegetables, and tree bark. This is especially facilitated by damp, rainy weather in the hot season, and therefore the disease has a pronounced seasonal dependence. The causative agent of lichen can be carried by blood-sucking insects.

Mushrooms are sensitive to direct sunlight and ultraviolet radiation; in a humid environment, already at a temperature of 80-90 degrees (boiling), the mushrooms die in 7-10 minutes. Their chemical agents have a detrimental effect on fungi: formalin, sodium hypochlorite (bleach) and some modern antiseptics (clindesine). However, fungal spores are very stable in the external environment and remain virulent in pathological material (epithelial scales, hair) for up to 1.5 years, and when released into the soil - up to 2 months. Therefore, many animals that have recovered from dermatomycosis can remain carriers of the infection and serve as a source of infection for surrounding animals and people. The incubation period from infection to the onset of clinical symptoms ranges from 8 to 30 days.

Classic manifestation of microsporia

– asymmetrically located spots of a regular round shape, without itching, slightly flaky (“cigarette ash”), mainly in the area of the head, ears or limbs. The spots are usually without hair or with sparse broken hair. Dachshunds are prone to a generalized form of the disease with the formation of multiple small spots, sometimes of irregular shape. Female carriers of the disease can transmit the pathogen to their offspring during lactation; symptoms in young animals usually appear at the age of 3-4 weeks.

For trichophytosis

usually there is a more pronounced inflammatory process in the form of folliculitis or furunculosis, most often on the skin of one limb. After recovery, hairless areas or scars may remain due to deep skin damage.

In some cases, kerion formation is noted - a clearly limited, elevated nodular formation with exudation on the lower part of the limb. With trichophytosis, onychomycosis is also possible - damage to the claws and periungual bed.

In animals with severe systemic diseases, microsporic lesions of the finger pads are recorded. In animals that are carriers of dermatophytoses, more often with microsporia, the clinical form of the disease may not manifest itself, i.e., outwardly these animals look healthy. But subsequently sick animals and people, usually children, appear in the environment. When examining such animals with a Wood's lamp, a generalized glow is revealed over the entire surface of the body. Most often this happens with found kittens of unknown origin or with kittens “from the market”, so these animals should be examined for dermatophytoses.

Diagnostics is carried out using:

Wood's lamp examination (“only 50% of cases of microsporia glow, trichophytosis does not glow!; when treated with iodine and in black-colored animals, a false negative result may occur; a false positive result is possible with topical use of drugs);
microscopy of hair in a 10% alkali solution for the presence of arthrospores;
cultivation of mushrooms on nutrient media;
biopsies with special staining.

Treatment

The most effective treatment for dermatomycosis is systemic therapy using therapeutic and prophylactic vaccines against dermatomycosis (Polivak, Vakderm, Vakderm F, Microderm). The most convenient way to use the Microderm vaccine is twice with an interval of 10-14 days. Moreover, double administration of the vaccine is necessary both in the case of preventive treatment of the animal and for therapeutic purposes. Vakderm is administered for preventive purposes twice, and for therapeutic purposes - three times. Vakderm F is adapted for the treatment of dermatophytosis in cats. Polivac in predisposed dog breeds (dachshunds, French bulldogs, Rottweilers, Scotch terriers) often causes painful swelling and abscesses at the injection site, which limits its use. However, this possibility is provided for with the introduction of any antifungal vaccine and is explained by the body’s allergic reaction to the introduction of this type of protein, which is more often observed in dogs. Simultaneous administration of an antihistamine reduces the likelihood of abscess formation at the injection site.

After the first administration of the vaccine, existing lesions may increase and new ones may form, which is explained by the visualization of the latent form of the disease and is not a contraindication to further use of the vaccine. In unadvanced cases, already 10-14 days after the first administration of the vaccine, visible improvement, pigmentation and the appearance of hair in the primary areas of dermatomycosis are observed.

In animals with contraindications to the use of vaccines (old age, organic diseases of the liver and kidneys, allergies to the vaccine, insufficient effectiveness of vaccination), antifungal antibiotics are used - Dermikotsid. Treatment should be continued for another two weeks after clinical recovery and a negative fungal culture result.

It is advisable to supplement systemic therapy with local treatment. Local lesions can be treated with any fungicides in accordance with the instructions for use (fungin, zoomekol, epacid F, clotrimazole, fucorcin, etc.), preferably in the form of a solution rather than an ointment. Yam ointment, which was previously so widely used and so beloved by state veterinary services, can be toxic to animals, especially cats.

Before treatment, it is advisable to cut off the affected areas. The treatment is carried out by capturing healthy tissue from the periphery to the center, using the dermatological mousse Diclorex Foam. For generalized lesions, you can use antifungal shampoos (Nizoral, Doctor) twice a week.

In cases where dermatomycosis complicates the course of the primary disease (diabetes, hypercortisolism, hypothyroidism), treatment may be ineffective without correcting the primary disease.

Prevention

Most often, dermatomycosis occurs in places where animals gather in large numbers (kennels, markets, places for keeping animals) - these premises must be regularly disinfected.

Socially active animals (show animals, breeding animals, animals in nurseries) should be vaccinated against ringworm annually. All animals suspected of having the disease should be promptly examined and, if necessary, given appropriate treatment.

Dermatomycosis of smooth skin

This type of fungal disease is more common in warm countries, where the human body initially produces more sweat, which means the natural moisture of the smooth skin increases. Very often professional athletes who subject their bodies to grueling training suffer from this disease.

This type of dermatomycosis manifests itself in the formation of a lesion in the form of a ring with small bubbles inside, accompanied by severe itching.

Often a secondary infection of bacterial origin is also associated with the fungus. As a result, even scarring can be observed. After healing, areas of redness remain.

Dermatomycosis of the scalp

It manifests itself as increased hair fragility at the site of the lesion. It affects not only the hair on the head, but also the beard and mustache in men. Hair follicles are affected, bubbles with liquid form, severe itching is observed, swelling and crusts of dried blood form.

It creates discomfort for the wearer, both in the form of painful sensations in the affected area, as well as a negative, cosmetic negative effect and discomfort.

Fungus in dogs: Treatment in the best traditions

Treatment of fungus is quite complicated. To select an effective treatment regimen, a high-quality diagnosis and examination by a veterinary dermatologist is required.

If cats have drugs that are prohibited for use due to their toxicity (Yam ointment, drugs containing tar), then dogs have no such restrictions.

For extensive fungal infections, various forms are prescribed, such as external treatments, bathing and oral medications.

External treatments

The following drugs are most often prescribed for them: suspension for veterinary use Surolan , it can be used not only for the treatment of fungal otitis, as everyone is used to, but also applied locally to the affected areas of the skin.

Surolan contains several active ingredients of different directions: an antifungal drug, an antibiotic and a substance to reduce itching and inflammation.

Clotrimazole ointment is an inexpensive and very effective drug for various types of fungal infections; it can also be prescribed by a dermatologist after diagnosis.

Bathing

Shampoo "Nizoral". Since this drug is quite expensive (about 700 rubles for 60 ml), it can be replaced with an analogue - ketoconazole (about 400 rubles for 150 ml).

Treatments with such shampoos according to the instructions are carried out regularly throughout the treatment.

Oral medications

The drug of choice for fungal diseases is Itraconazole (about 300 rubles).

In addition to it, Irunin is often prescribed, which contains the active ingredient itraconazole, but the price is twice as high.

There are also veterinary antifungal drugs. But they can only be purchased at a veterinary pharmacy or veterinary clinic.

They are also extremely rarely imported into small towns and villages. This is an emulsion of Liverazol . And the Surolan suspension described above.

IMPORTANT! Before visiting a veterinarian, you should not carry out any external treatments for a week. Otherwise, the clinical picture will be blurred, and making an accurate diagnosis will become impossible.

Treatment of ringworm

Treatment of dermatomycosis requires time and diligence on the part of the patient. Without the use of special drugs, it is almost impossible to achieve a complete cure.

It is necessary to consult a dermatovenerologist as soon as possible, since in the early stages, with a minimal size of the affected area, treatment will be easier and the result will be achieved faster.

The doctor will determine the appropriate drug needed. Their modern pharmaceuticals number more than two hundred. This once again proves that it will be quite difficult to figure it out on your own. Lamisil is prescribed quite often, but it is better to consult a doctor.

When treating inguinal dermatomycosis, special creams and ointments are prescribed, and some drugs are also prescribed orally. The combination of ketonazole with terbinafine with the addition of fluconazole orally has proven to work well.

The course of such treatment is two weeks, accompanied by the use of antihistamines that reduce swelling and allergic manifestations. These medications also help reduce itching.

If antihistamines are used in the form of powders, you need to make sure that they do not contain starch.

Vaccination of cats and dogs

Vaccination means the introduction of an animal antigen into the body in order to form immunity to a given infectious disease. Vaccinations for dogs and cats will help significantly reduce the risk of infection and make it easier to transfer the disease if infection does occur.

Note! For subsequent participation in exhibitions and traveling abroad with a pet, it is very important to have a properly issued and completed veterinary passport

All information about the vaccinations received by the animal is entered into a veterinary passport issued by a veterinarian. In this case, the following data is indicated: date of vaccination, type of vaccine, registration number in the registration register.

General rules for vaccinating pets

The vaccination rules for both dogs and cats are the same:

The animal must be healthy at the time of vaccination.
10 days before vaccination, it is necessary to carry out treatment against skin parasites - ticks, fleas, lice, as well as deworming.
Although your pet will be examined by a veterinarian before vaccination and will make sure he is in excellent health, it is advisable to monitor the animal, its appetite, general condition for 3 days before vaccination, and also measure its temperature at the same time.

Normally, in healthy dogs it is 37-39C, in puppies – no higher than 39.5C, in kittens – from 38.5 to 39.5C, and in adult cats and cats – 38-39.5C.

Contraindications for vaccination are:

Exacerbation of chronic diseases or acute viral and bacterial diseases,

Change of teeth in puppies at 4-7 months,
Contact of your pet with a sick animal (therefore, the best solution is to vaccinate cats at home, just like dogs),
Pregnancy, estrus, mating in females.

Dog vaccination

It is dog vaccination (at home or in a veterinary clinic) that allows you to protect your pet from rabies, hepatitis, canine distemper, leptospirosis and parvovirosis (parvovirus).

The vaccination schedule for cats includes vaccination against rabies, calcivirus infection, viral rhinotracheitis and feline panleukopenia.

The vaccination schedule for dogs is drawn up depending on the vaccines used: Nobivak (Netherlands), Eurikan or Hexadog (France), Multikan-8 (Russia), against ringworm - Vakderm or Polivak-TM (Russia).

Vaccination of cats

Often the owners of these animals do not know what vaccinations are given to cats and when, because they believe that vaccination is not necessary for their pet. But even if it is constantly in the apartment, a cat can get sick - the infection can be brought into the house on clothes, shoes, and dirty hands. There is a risk of contracting an infection when visiting a veterinarian while waiting for your turn.

Therefore, any, including complex vaccinations for cats, in the most optimal form, should be done at home.

The most famous vaccines for cats are Nobivak (Netherlands), Leucorifelin (France), Multifel-4 and Polivak-TM (Russia)

Vaccination schedules for cats and dogs:

Vaccination schedule with Nobivac (Netherlands):

If the first vaccination is given at 4-6 weeks, the dry live vaccine against canine distemper and canine parvovirus, Nobivac Puppi DP, is used.

At 8-9 months - complex vaccination Nobivac DHPPI + Lepto.

Then after 3-4 weeks Nobivac DHPPI + Nobivac RL. Further vaccination is carried out annually.

If the first vaccination is given to a puppy at 2 months, Nobivac DHPPI + Nobivac Lepto vaccination is performed. After 3 weeks Nobivac DHPPI + Nobivac RL. Then annually once Nobivac DHPPI + Nobivac RL.

Vaccination scheme Eurican (France):

For vaccination, Eurican DHPPI2 (against adenovirus, plague, parvovirus enteritis, parainfluenza) + Eurican L (against leptospirosis of 2 types) or Eurican RL (against rabies and leptospirosis of 2 types) is used.

Primary vaccination Eurikan DHPPI2-L consists of 2 injections: 1st at the age of 7 weeks, 2nd after 3 - 5 weeks. Primary vaccination Eurikan DHPPI2+LR: at the age of 3 months.

Revaccination after a year.

Scheme for the Hexadog vaccine (France):

used starting from 3 months of age, revaccination every other year. Used against adenovirosis, distemper, parvovirosis, major leptospirosis and canine rabies.

Scheme for the Multikan-8 vaccine (Russia):

Vaccination against canine distemper virus, canine adenovirus type 2, parvovirus and canine coronavirus, leptospirosis and rabies.
Puppies are vaccinated at 8-10 weeks of age and again after 21-28 days.

Revaccination of puppies is carried out at the age of 10-12 months. Adult dogs are vaccinated once a year.

Additional vaccinations (as needed):

against dermatomycosis (microsporia and trichophytosis) with the Polivak-TM vaccine (Russia), carried out 2 times with an interval of 10 - 14 days, annually,

or the Vakderm vaccine (manufacturer Vetzverotsentr, Russia), done 2 times with an interval of 10 - 14 days, annually.

Regimen for the Nobivac vaccine (Intervet, Netherlands): Nobivac Tricat: against viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus infection and feline panleukopenia.

Done at the age of 8-12 weeks - the first vaccination. After 3-4 weeks - re-vaccination. It is given together with the Nobivac Rabies rabies vaccine.

Scheme for Leucorifelin (Merial, France):

The first vaccination with Leucorifelin (against panleukopenia, herpesvirus and calicivirus) is at 7-8 weeks.

Revaccination - after 3-4 weeks with the Leucorifelin Quadricat vaccine (against panleukopenia, herpesvirus and calicivirus plus rabies).

Revaccination must be repeated every year.

Scheme for Multifel-4 (Narvak, Russia):

Multifel-4 is used against panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis, calicivirus and feline chlamydia viruses.
The first vaccination for a kitten is at 8-12 weeks.
Repeated after 21-28 days.
Revaccination - annually

Additional vaccination (if necessary) - in addition to the schemes above.

Polivak-TM (Russia) - vaccine against ringworm.

It is done annually, twice with an interval of two weeks.

Calling a veterinarian to your home in Rostov-on-Don to vaccinate your pet is the best solution, because the cat or dog will not have to experience unnecessary stress from transportation, contact with other animals, and no one or anything will distract the doctor

Source: https://vetrostov.ru/domashnie-zhivotnye-stati-i-sovety/vakczina.html

Treatment of dermatomycosis at home

The main key to success will be compliance with the basic rules of personal hygiene, daily change of bed linen and underwear. It is necessary to strengthen measures aimed at reducing skin moisture and sweating.