The most common fungal skin lesion in cats is lichen. He is diagnosed not only in stray animals, but also in pets. The fact is that its pathogens are very tenacious, and can get on the animal’s hair from street shoes or the hands of the owner. If before not every veterinarian knew how to treat lichen in a cat, now you can cope with the problem even at home. However, before doing this on your own, it is better to consult a specialist and identify a type of disease. The fact is that there are types of fungi that can be transmitted to humans and cause serious illness.
Types of lichen
Most often, a cat is diagnosed with ringworm. The culprits of its appearance are fungi of the type Microsporum, Trichophyton or Epidermophyton. In addition to him, a cat can be affected by pityriasis versicolor. Yeast-like fungi cause it. Its peculiarity lies in the fact that it quickly spreads throughout the body of the animal, therefore, immediate measures aimed at its treatment are required.
A pet can also become infected with a pink or red lichen species. They are not so common, cause great discomfort to the cat, but tend to heal with proper care. Veterinarians warn that fungal skin lesions require close attention from both the specialist and the owner.
Of course, treating lichen in a cat at home is possible, and quite effective. However, it is best to consult a veterinarian and take the necessary tests to confirm the diagnosis.
Manifestations of microsporia
Fungal infection is not difficult to identify an attentive breeder at an early stage. Initially, a small rash forms on the skin. However, with thick pet hair it is easy to leave the first sign unattended. But if you observe the animal for some time, then by its behavior it will be possible to guess about health problems. The cat becomes anxious and can refuse even the most beloved delicacies. In addition, the pet is constantly combing the affected area.
As the disease progresses, round bald patches appear in the animal, in the center of which the skin is covered with scales. The spot itches and causes discomfort. If nothing is done at this stage, then the cat can scratch it to the blood, which will provoke a secondary infection. In addition, constant combing contributes to the spread of the fungus throughout the body and the emergence of new foci of the disease.
Symptoms of pityriasis versicolor
This variety is almost invisible. There are no visible manifestations on the cat's skin. After the spread of the pathology, pale pink and yellowish spots are observed. Most likely they can be found on the neck, head or limbs.
Experts warn that the risk of the disease increases with the presence of worms and malnutrition. There are also special breeds that are more susceptible to infection. So, Persian cats are completely immune from fungi.
Establishing diagnosis
Before treating lichen in a cat at home, it is necessary to show the animal to a veterinarian to establish the type of parasite that attacked the skin. For this, the doctor conducts an external examination of the pet and a set of diagnostic procedures, among which the most informative are the following:
- examination of lesions under a fluorescent lamp;
- the use of a special Wooda lamp, since other bacteria can be activated under the luminescent glow;
- scraping of infected skin and its microscopic and bacteriological examination.
Only after all the procedures, the specialist will diagnose and recommend effective drugs that can be used at home.
Rules for treating skin at home
Before treating ringworm in cats, some preparatory measures should be taken. In order for the antiseptics to work effectively, their precise application is necessary, and for this it is worth shaving the animal's hair. It is important to understand that it is a potential source of infection. Therefore, all sheared wool and the items used in this process must be discarded. Scissors are sterilized.
If crusts and scales have already formed on the skin, then they are washed with a warm soapy solution. You can use a special antifungal shampoo.
Veterinarians caution against the typical mistake that cat owners often make. Despite its great popularity, it is not recommended to use iodine alcohol tincture for treating wounds. If used excessively, a cat may burn. In some cases, anaphylactic shock was even recorded.
The use of antiseptic agents
All pet owners find it helpful to know how to treat cat lichen in a cat. Start with the treatment of the affected areas with antiseptics. This sequence is due to constant itching and the need to remove it as soon as possible. After all, from combing, microtraumas instantly appear, which become inflamed and complicate the treatment process.
Veterinarians recommend the use of the following drugs:
- Salicylic alcohol. Refers to effective antibacterial agents that can fight colonies of various microspores.
- Fukortsin. Good antiseptic and antifungal. However, its phenol can cause temporary cat lethargy. therefore, do not abuse the tool.
If the cat scratched the damaged areas badly, then you can use hydrogen peroxide, potassium permanganate or a solution of furatsilin for processing.
Special ointments for the treatment of lichen
How to treat lichen in cats, the doctor will always tell. To do this, use special ointments to suppress the growth of bacteria. The most effective and often prescribed are the following:
- "Clotrimazole." A powerful active ingredient effectively fights against all kinds of lichen in a cat and can be used at home. Of course, the full course is quite long - about a month. The ointment is applied three times a day. The drug has contraindications, it can not be used for pregnant and lactating cats. For a full course, the doctor can recommend the combined use of tablets, ointments or spray.
- "Miconazole." Very effective antifungal agent. The affected skin is treated twice a day. The full course of treatment can reach two months.
- "Sanoderm." A complex remedy that has anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effect, and also relieves itching. At the time of exacerbation, the ointment is applied to the affected area twice a day. After wound healing - once a day. The full course takes 4 weeks. If re-treatment is required, then at least two weeks must have elapsed since the last use.
- "Griseofulvin." An antifungal drug that is recommended for use in kittens. The cream is applied twice a day for two weeks. Veterinarians are usually advised to enhance the effect, its administration in the form of tablets, adding them to the feed according to the attached instructions.
- "YM". A complex drug that not only fights the disease, but also has an antiseptic effect. Processing is carried out twice a day for 7-10 days. It is important that the preliminary cutting of wool in this case is not required. It contributes to the appearance of new hairs in place of the affected areas. But the remedy is quite toxic, so it can not be used for kittens, pregnant and lactating cats.
Treatment period
How much to treat lichen in cats will depend on the severity of the lesion and the general condition of the animal. However, the full course, which is recommended for the use of ointments, must be completed. Even if the visible signs have disappeared, the cause of the disease still remains, which means there is a risk of exacerbation, which will develop into a chronic form.
The use of medicated shampoos
Before treating lichen in a cat at home, it is worth clarifying the variety of fungus at the veterinarian. However, it will be useful to use special medical shampoos.
Veterinarians often prescribe Nizoral. It is based on ketoconazole, which has an antifungal effect. There is a more budgetary analogue, but no less effective - "Sebozol". The use of these funds prevents the spread of infection throughout the body, has a therapeutic and prophylactic effect.
It is important to find out from a specialist how to treat lichen in cats, which drugs to choose and calculate the dosage. After all, the instruction gives only an informational character, and in case of poor health of the animal, any excess of the norm of drugs can cause intoxication.
The use of folk remedies in the treatment of microsporia
If the owners treat lichen in cats with folk remedies, then the use of such measures is permissible only in the early stages. Their use is dangerous when the cat's condition worsens, but does not improve. The following are considered the most effective and safe:
- Celandine juice. If the breeder identified the lesion at an early stage, then celandine juice has a good antiseptic and healing effect. It is necessary to lubricate problem areas 5 times a day.
- Lemon-olive ointment in a ratio of 1: 1. If there is no lemon juice, you can use apple cider vinegar. For treatment, a dressing is used that is saturated with an emulsion, which must be fixed at the site of formation of lichen. Every four hours, a dressing change is required.
- Ashes from the newspaper. Previously, in the absence of a wide variety of medications, this method was very common. If it is not possible to use more effective means, then it is necessary to burn the newspaper and sprinkle the infected outbreak every four hours with the resulting ash.
- Wood ash. People in the villages know how to treat lichen in a cat. To do this, they collect wood ash, add oil and the resulting mixture is applied daily to affected areas of the skin. The tool is also common among summer residents, because it can be used as fertilizer.
This is a fairly common problem. In the article you can find photos depriving cats. How to treat the disease, it is better to ask a specialist. However, it is not always possible to consult a veterinarian. In this case, you can use folk remedies. But if after 2-3 days there are no visible improvements, it is necessary to resort to drug therapy.
The use of sulfuric ointment
The main place of localization of microsporia is the head. Often, pet owners are interested in how to treat lichen in a cat’s ears. For this, it is most convenient to use sulfuric ointment. The drug is budgetary and affordable, but it is effective against fungal infections and inflammation. The essence of the pharmacological action is due to the powerful active substance, which gives an impetus to the natural formation of pentathionic acid and sulfides in the body. They have antiparasitic wound healing properties.
Sulfur ointment consists of sulfur and petroleum jelly. The substances are absolutely harmless, so the tool can be used to treat kittens, pregnant and lactating cats. There are no contraindications and side effects. Even if sulfuric ointment is applied to large areas of the skin in large quantities, intoxication is not observed. Therefore, the drug is used not only for animals, but also for people.
Varieties of sulfuric ointment and methods of treatment
On sale you can find several varieties of sulfur-containing ointments:
- Sulfur-zinc. It is indicated in the diagnosis of the inflammatory process. Zinc dries well crusts and eliminates intolerable itching.
- Sulfur-tar. The drug contains the maximum amount of sulfur (10% of the total volume), therefore, it fights fungi more effectively.
- Sulfur-salicylic. In this tool, sulfur is only 2%. But salicylic acid promotes increased blood circulation, which leads to a noticeable regeneration of the affected tissues.
You need to understand how to treat lichen in cats using sulfuric ointment. In order to get rid of a fungal infection, it is necessary to apply the drug on the affected area and along it up to two times a day until complete cure.
Conclusion
Lichen can appear in any cat. In this case, it is important to notice the first signs in time and begin treatment immediately. Usually, the pathology is completely cured at home. But so that the disease does not give a relapse, it is better to show the pet to the doctor.