Cherie A Gabbert <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Lora,I just picked up a kitty from WI that was on Fulvicin, the dosage was a quarter of a capsul 2 times a day, in all ym panick before I got her a member of the list shot me over a few places to get ringworm treament, it actually is for fleas...the links are
http://www.flea-control-plus.com/acatalog/Program_Dog.htmlI also unearthed a treatment from Revival HealthRevival Health also has a great article atHope these helpCherieLora <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:Okay Group,
I have a problem in which I have NEVER experienced
before and I need some advice from those pet guardians
who have dealt with this kind of thing.
My husband came home for Christmas 12-18-04 to
01-02-05. He is in the military and basic training
broke for "Christmas Exodus." Shortly after he
returned to basic, my cats started excessively
grooming and scratching themselves.
Symptom varied from cat to cat, but they were
excessive grooming/scratching, skin/fur twitching,
areas of alopecis (loss of hair; baldness), fur easily
removed at root, enlarged hair follices, seborrhea
sicca (dandruff) and patchy dermatitis (skin
inflammation.)
Finally, I broke down and took Felix (my second
oldest) to the vet on 02-11-05 and he told me that the
cats just had "dry skin" due to the winter air. There
is no humidity; therefore, the dry air was drying
their fur out, causing them to scratch/itch.
The vet examined Felix for fleas, mites and lice and
saw none. So the vet simply instructed me to continue
with the Revolution flea/tick topical repellent and to
incorporate Omega-3 Fish Oil into their daily diet.
With my next check, I purchased two (2) six-pack boxes
of Revolution and administered it to every cat on
02-18-05. Then I bought the Omega-3 Fish Oil 1200mg
(EPA 216mg & DHA 144mg.) Each cat gets one (1) gel-cap
daily.
Well, by 02-22-05 the situation had not gotten any
better. In fact it had gotten worse! Tabitha (my third
oldest female) had developed bald spots and
inflammation around one (1) eye.
I panicked! Ringworm!
I went back to the vet's office on 02-22-05 (with
Tabitha NOT Felix) and I actually saw a different vet
this time. I informed him what the other veterinarian
had instructed me to do, but it had not helped.
This second veterinarian just nodded his head and
turned out the lights. The next thing I know he his
holding up a "Woods Lamp" (a black light) to Tabitha's
fur.
He is looking for a fluorescent glow on my kid?!?!
What the hell?
Without saying a word, he turns the lights back on and
pulls some hair off her head for a microscopic
examination.
I am on pens and needles at this point. Well, what is
the verdict? Do I have ringworm in my house or not?!
The veterinarian lets out a sigh and turns his
attention back to me. "It's definitely fungus, but the
problem is, I cannot determine which kind."
Which kind?! You mean there is more than one?!
He asked me what was different in my house. I told him
absolutely nothing. I had no new additions for over
two (2) years now and I am a stay-at-home mom. I do
not regularly visit other people's houses nor do I
participate in animal shelter activities. I have my
hands full with my own kids, without wasting my energy
on someone else's.
However, I did mention that my husband was in the
military and that he had come home over Christmas. The
veterinarian's interest became intense.
According to the veterinarian, Christopher (my
husband) could have brought the fungus back with him.
However, since he could not confirm if the fungus was
ringworm, it very well could be jock itch or Athlete's
foot, both in which are "cousins" of ringworm.
The veterinarian prescribed an oral medication called
Fulvin a.k.a. Griseofulvin and told me to come back on
Tuesday 02-22-05 to have a fungal/hair culture sent to
a diagnostic laboratory. This would confirm what
"exactly" I am dealing with. (I could not have the
culture performed on Monday 02-21-05 as that was
President's Day and no mail ran.)
Fine. So, I returned yet again to the veterinarian's
office on 02-22-05 with a sample of Tabitha's hair/fur
to be sent to the diagnostic laboratory where they
will literally "grow" the fungus in order to confirm
which specie it is.
It will take in between one (1) to three (3) weeks for
the culture to grow. In the meantime, I was to
continue the oral medication WITH the Omega-3 Fish
Oil. If I ran out of oral medication before the
culture came back I was supposed to get more.
ABSOLUTELY NO DISCONTINUING TREATMENT WITHOUT A
CULTURE CONFIRMATION.
The downside? The Fulvin costs $60.00 and the vet will
only prescribe a six (6) day supply at a time. I
refilled the prescription yesterday 02-25-05 for the
first time.
Great. The medication needs to be given one daily for
a minimum of thirty (30) days or until the culture
comes back (which ever comes first.) That averages to
be $60.00 a week and for four (4) weeks. The total
will average around $240.00.
However, believe it or not that is not the problem.
The problem is, I have never had this "issue" before.
I have twelve (12) cats (all whom are being treated
with the Fulvin/Omega-3 Fish Oil regimen), three (3)
sugar gliders, one (1) dog and two (2) horses. How in
the hell do I contain this epidemic?
I do not have anything; no itchy spots, red marks,
lesions, etc. The sugar gliders have their own
separate room quarantined away from the cats (but I go
in there to feed), the dog cohabits with two (2) of
the cats and the horses have their own separate
barn/stable, but again I go out there to feed.
I have bleached every flat surface imaginable i.e.
hardwood/linoleum floors, counter tops, kitchen
tables, bathroom sinks, chairs, toilet seats, trash
cans, litter boxes, litter scoops, self-watering
fountain, ALL the cats plastic toys, refrigerator,
dishwasher, washing machine, drier, cabinets,
television screens, remote controls, telephone,
doorknobs, etc.
All the fabric in the house was put through the
washing machine i.e. the cats fabric toys, blankets,
bed linen, my clothes, window curtains, etc.
I have even vacuumed ALL of the carpeted rooms then
turn around and washed them via a carpet cleaner.
Besides the cleaning/sanitizing of the house and the
Fulvin/Omega-3 Fish Oil regimen for the cats, I do not
know WHAT else to do.
I suppose I need to wait until the fungal/hair culture
results are in before I decide what other course of
action must be taken. However, the veterinarian has
already told me that it was indeed fungi, he just did
not know WHICH kind. Isn't ALL fungi highly
contagious? Man, what if the dog, sugar gliders or
horses get it? How do you treat them? If you did not
kill ALL of the spores (which can live within the
environment all on their own) you risk reinfection.
Anyone have any advice? Is there anything else that I
can do? Also, has anyone ever used the Fulvin
medication with their cats? If so, what was your
dosage?
How did this happen?! It still baffles me, because
neither me nor Christopher have any "spots" on our
bodies. If you can, please help! Thanks.
Lora
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